OFFICIAL REPORT: NASCAR CHAMPION GREG BIFFLE IDENTIFIED IN FATAL THURSDAY MORNING PLANE ACCIDENT
NASCAR champion Greg Biffle and his family tragically passed away in a North Carolina plane crash. Read about his incredible legacy.
Before Greg Biffle became famous in NASCAR, he was making a name for himself at Tri-City Raceway.
Biffle had come back to the track to race in the ARCA Menards Series West event over the last several years.
Biffle, 55, passed away Thursday when his plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, which is about 45 minutes from Charlotte. He, his wife, and their two kids were among the seven who died.
His last race in the Tri-Cities was in August. He got third place for the Sigma Performance Services Chevrolet team. He said he liked the West Richland track so much that he thought about buying it once.
Tri-City Raceway posted something on social media Thursday to honor Biffle’s family.
“Legacy isn’t about wins or championships,” the post said. “It’s about love, changing lives, and how someone treats other people. That’s how Greg—and his family—will always be remembered.”
Tri-Cities ties
Tri-City Raceway Project Manager Laci Tolar said her family is shocked. Tolar is Wayne Walden’s granddaughter. Wayne ran the track in the 90s.
Back then, Tri-City Raceway was like a second home to Biffle. He would come from Vancouver to race.
Tolar’s father, Greg, also raced with Biffle in the 90s.
In 1995, Biffle was praised by Jeff Morrow.
Morrow wrote, “Greg Biffle is getting better than the United States Postal Service.”
“It doesn’t matter what the weather is like. The Vancouver, Wash., driver seems to win every time,” the story said about Biffle’s eighth straight NASCAR Late Model main event victory in the Tri-Cities.
Morrow said that Biffle worked hard back then.
“He would race at Portland Speedway on Friday nights. He was really good there,” he said. “Then he’d pack up everything and go to TC Raceway and be awesome there on Saturday nights.”
After being the best in the Pacific Northwest in the mid-90s, Biffle raced in his first Winston West Series in 1996 and NASCAR Northwest Series in 1997. People voted him “Most Popular Driver” that year.
Moving to the Craftsman Truck Series helped Biffle get to the big time. He won the NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year Award in 2001.
Biffle, who fans called “The Biff,” was also up for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
After being in the sport’s top division for almost 20 years, he went back to truck racing and NASCAR’s Northwest circuit.
Tolar said her family became close with Biffle’s family. Their children played while he was racing this year.
“He was a humble, amazing person,” Tolar said. “He was just like everyone else, but he really cared about racing, and it was part of who he was.”
Tolar said that Biffle didn’t let fame change him. He helped people, like the time he used his helicopter to get resources and supplies to families after Hurricane Helene.
“It’s a big loss for the Tri-Cities and the nation. He loved motorsports,” she said. “It’s everyone’s loss. It’s hard to even say how much this hurts.”
She said that Biffle was a nice man who really cared about racing.
“He never let fame change him. He was down to earth and always wanted to help racing grow,” she said. ”We’re lucky to have known him.”
Tri-Cities Raceway facilities director Jesse Brown said he raced with Biffle.
“He was so good,” Brown said. “He made everyone else better in the Northwest. He was ahead of everyone else back then.”
Brown said Biffle was a good guy, but when he came back to the track, he was a family man who cared about the community and loved racing.
Brown said he saw a side of Biffle that many people didn’t. When he wasn’t racing, Biffle was funny and loved to make people laugh.
He said that Greg Biffle was important to the whole racing community in the area.
“If you look at racing in the Northwest today, Greg started it all,” he said. “You don’t win a bunch of races if you’re not good. He made people better, and they remember that.”
He remembers Biffle’s first time back at the track in years. There were tons of fans who wanted to see the local hero.
“The racetrack will miss Greg and his family,” Brown said. “He was a great family man. He was a great dad and husband.”
LAKERS ON THE BRINK: LEBRON JAMES ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER 3-0 SERIES DEFICIT
"We still have life." LeBron James remains defiant despite a brutal 131-108 loss to OKC at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves just one loss away from elimination after a tough 131-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Although the Lakers held a halftime lead for the second consecutive game, they again fell apart in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to cruise to a 3-0 series lead.
LeBron James spoke after the game, highlighting the Thunder’s depth and relentless energy while emphasising that the Lakers still believe they have a chance to push the series further. The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 74-49 after halftime and once more dominated the third quarter, continuing a pattern that has largely defined this series.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” James said after the game. “And they never take their foot off the gas.”
Oklahoma City converted at a 56 per cent clip and spread the scoring load, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only 7-of-20 from the field with 23 points. The Thunder’s supporting players reinforced the effort alongside Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
LeBron pointed directly to the third quarter as the turning point for Game 3.
“Obviously, the third quarter is where it starts,” he noted. “We lacked the energy and effort, and they dropped over 30 points on us.”
Despite strong first-half performances from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, giving Los Angeles a one-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City seized control right after the break, forcing turnovers and capitalising on easy transition baskets.
“In that third quarter, we couldn’t hit shots,” James admitted. “We defended but didn’t get stops, which let them take control.”
The Lakers were outscored 33-20 in that quarter alone. James managed just one field goal, while Austin Reaves went scoreless in the period.
James finished the night with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but his shooting was off at 7-for-19, and he posted a minus-24 plus-minus rating.
Los Angeles also turned the ball over 17 times, which led to 30 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 64-44 in the paint as well.
When pressed about the frustration of falling behind 3-0, James kept his response measured.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed or angry,” he said. “You’re obviously disappointed being down 3-0, but we still have life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick backed up James’ take, describing Oklahoma City as an elite team in the NBA.
“They’ve beaten us three straight games,” Redick said. “They’re a really impressive basketball team.”
Redick previously drew comparisons between the Thunder and dominant teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. James acknowledged Oklahoma City’s versatility and depth, which have caused significant matchup problems.
“They have the right personnel to adapt to whatever you throw out there,” James said. “And they stay productive no matter who’s on the floor.”
Even with Gilgeous-Alexander’s uneven scoring, the Thunder have continued to win comfortably. Holmgren’s inside presence has been dominant, and Mitchell once again put up a strong stat line with 24 points and 10 assists.
James wasn’t surprised by the Thunder’s sustained pressure, given their roster makeup.
“You’ve seen them develop over the years,” he said. “They have a lot of players who can do multiple things, and that depth really helps.”
The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain from April, which has hampered their offensive rhythm, especially late in games.
Facing elimination now, James insisted the team’s focus remains squarely on Game 4 rather than any bigger questions about the group’s future.
"No", James said when asked if they considered this might be their last run together. “We’re just concentrating on the moment and moving forward from there.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will fight to avoid a sweep and keep the series alive before heading back to Oklahoma City.
MAX HOLLOWAY BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT REGARDING CONOR MCGREGOR UFC 329 RUMORS
Relive the 13-year history between Holloway and McGregor as the Hawaiian star targets International Fight Week for ultimate revenge.
Max Holloway is hungry for payback against Conor McGregor as rumours swirl about a rematch.
McGregor hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since that quick loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win was way back in 2020 when he steamrolled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in under a minute. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler in 2024, but that fell through after he got injured.
Now, at 37, McGregor’s back in training and eyeing a return for UFC 329 on July 11, right as International Fight Week rolls around. Before that, he missed out on a shot at the White House card, so this July date is shaping up to be his next window.
Dana White has flip-flopped a bit on McGregor’s comeback, but now he sounds confident: “It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.” And right now, Holloway looks like the top pick for the fight, 13 years after they first went at it.
Back then, McGregor beat Holloway by decision. Since then, Holloway’s had his own ups and downs; he lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March and hasn’t fought since. Still, he’s eager to get back, especially if it means a shot at Conor.
Talking to Paramount, Holloway laid it out: “We have history. We fought a long time ago. If someone’s got a win over me, I want that back. If he really is serious about returning, and it looks like he is, then this is an exciting fight. He looks hungry. He even did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it looks like he’s really coming back. I just want another shot. Any fight with Conor is huge, but with our past? It means even more. If I can knock a few names off my list, that’s great.”
For now, Holloway hasn’t heard anything official from the UFC about July. "Maybe we'll see what happens,” he said. “I’m seeing all the same talk you are. I haven’t heard anything yet, but July would work for me. They say you’re only as good as your last fight, and I want people to forget about that one as soon as possible.”
