The NASCAR community has been shaken by recent tragedies, with the Denny Hamlin NASCAR tragedy and the loss of Greg Biffle and several others casting a somber tone over the offseason. These events, occurring in December and impacting families, friends, and fans across the country, have prompted Dale Earnhardt Jr. to publicly reflect on the emotional toll during his latest podcast episode.
Losses Strike the NASCAR Community in Quick Succession
December brought significant grief to NASCAR. On December 18, Greg Biffle—who shared a lasting bond with Dale Earnhardt Jr.—lost his life alongside his wife, their two children, and three additional people in a devastating plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport. Less than two weeks later, Dennis Hamlin, father of racer Denny Hamlin, passed away due to injuries from a fire at his home in Winston-Salem. These tragedies hit close to home for many in the racing industry.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who grew closer to Biffle after their retirements, acknowledged the emotional weight of these losses. He took time on his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast to recognize the pain suffered by not only the families but also friends and NASCAR colleagues.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Expresses His Grief and Support
During the podcast, Earnhardt described the heartbreak so many felt after these incidents. He emphasized his sympathy for both families, highlighting how his thoughts remain with them, especially as they face the aftermath of these tragedies. He mentioned he did not have direct or current information about Denny Hamlin’s mother following the house fire but offered public hope for her recovery.
“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.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Lasting Bonds Within NASCAR: Earnhardt’s Friendships with Hamlin and Biffle
Earnhardt recounted his longstanding relationship with Denny Hamlin, which began over two decades ago. Their friendship formed during a formative period for Hamlin, who sought opportunities in the sport and, before the 2004 Daytona 500, found support in a simple offer: Earnhardt gave Hamlin a place to stay on his bus. When Earnhardt secured a Daytona 500 victory, it was Hamlin who carried the trophy back for him.
“And then he would go on to become Denny Hamlin,”
Earnhardt said.
In contrast, Earnhardt admitted that he and Greg Biffle became friends after their racing days wound down. Retirement gave them more time to connect, with frequent meetings at the lake and shared interests, such as the animal hospitals supported by Biffle’s wife, Amy. Earnhardt described outings with Greg, reflecting on simple joys like boating and spending time together, as well as connecting over racing content and charitable activities in recent years.
“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.”
“… I got to know him — we all got to know him watching him do some YouTube, his dirt race on his farm, become friends with Cleetus [McFarland]… I think we all got to see the true individual that he is.”
– Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Plans for Memorial and Looking Forward
To honor Greg Biffle and the others lost in the plane crash, a Gathering of Remembrance has been scheduled for Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. This public memorial, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, will be streamed live by NASCAR across its channels, ensuring friends, fans, and the broader community can join in grieving and celebrating Biffle’s life alongside the other victims.
As the NASCAR world processes these events, the impact stretches beyond statistics and headlines, deeply affecting families, friends, and sports figures like Dale Earnhardt Jr. The shared grief underscores the close-knit nature of the racing community, where bonds formed through competition and friendship endure beyond the racetrack. The outpouring of support and plans for collective remembrance highlight NASCAR’s strength and resilience, even in its most turbulent moments.
