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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reflects On Bond With NASCAR Drivers (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) Denny Hamlin (Daniel A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Greg Biffle (Photo by Jared Tilton/SRX/Getty Images)
For NASCAR fans, the last few months have been extremely heartbreaking and heavy.
On December 18, former driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, kids Emma and Ryder, Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Duttin, and Jack Dutton died in a tragic plane crash. It was reported that a Cessna C550 business jet crashed at the Statesville Regional Airport north of Charlotte, North Carolina.
According to FlightAware data, the plane had turned around and was attempting to land back at the airport shortly after takeoff.
55-year-old Biffle was one of the few drivers to win championships across the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000), the NASCAR Xfinity Series (2002), and the NASCAR Cup Series (2nd overall in 2005). His last full-time Cup Series season was 2016, and he stepped away from NASCAR competition without a formal retirement announcement.
Biffle had been married to his wife, Cristina Grossu, since 2023. The couple was described as loving parents and generous philanthropists who dedicated their time to helping others. They share a 5-year-old son, Ryder, who is remembered as an “active, curious, and infinitely joyful child.”
Just 10 days later, on December 28, a fire broke out at a home located in Gaston County, North Carolina. Firefighters worked for nearly two hours to extinguish the fire, facing challenges due to a lack of water in the area.
Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department Chief David Toomey later confirmed the residence belonged to NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s parents.
The fire department said the home has been deemed a “complete loss,” although firefighters managed to recover some collectibles and racing memorabilia from the house.
One day after his parents’ identities was revealed, Hamlin broke his silence on X.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences on my father’s passing,” he wrote. “My mother continues to improve, and our family truly appreciates the outpouring of support and the respect for our privacy during this time.”
RELATED: Date Announced For Memorial Service Honoring Greg Biffle & 6 Others Killed In Plane Crash
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reflects On The Tragedies
Talking on his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. reflected on both of the tragedies.
“That was really tough,” Earnhardt said of Biffle’s death. “It was hard, and I can’t imagine what it must be like for his family, his friends, his close friends, his family members, and I’m sure they all feel absolutely devastated. We’re thinking about them. Also want to give a minute to mention Denny Hamlin and what he had to experience and go through with his father, the house fire, and his mom. I don’t have any first-hand knowledge or information but I’m hoping that his mom is doing well.”
The NASCAR legend shared how “terrifying” that situation must have been for Hamlin.
“Tragically losing a parent, I mean, Denny had been open and vocal about his dad had an illness that’s he’s been dealing with and things weren’t looking real good long-term in that situation. Then to tragically lose him like that in a house fire, just scary. That is super, super scary. Can’t imagine how terrifying that might have been and sad for Denny to have to go through this.”
Earnhardt also reflected on his friendship with Hamlin, which began more than two decades ago. At the time, Hamlin was trying to land a NASCAR ride and had a meeting with Joe Gibbs Racing before the 2004 Daytona 500.
With nowhere to stay, Hamlin slept on the couch in Earnhardt’s bus. After Earnhardt won the Daytona 500, Hamlin carried the trophy back to the bus for him.
Earnhardt admitted he didn’t get to know Biffle until after he finished his racing career.
“We never had a problem on the racetrack, we raced fine,” Earnhardt said. “When I retired and we both kind of started slowing down at the same time, I started seeing him more and Amy wanted to do some of the stuff with the animal hospitals that Greg was involved in. We would go and hang out and see Greg. We would run into each other at the lake with our boats.”
You can watch Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his podcast below.
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