Former NASCAR Driver Chase Pistone Passes Away at 42

Former NASCAR driver Chase Pistone has died, prompting an outpouring of grief from the racing world. A heartbreaking message from his brother reveals just how devastating the loss has been.

Former NASCAR driver Chase Pistone has died at the age of 42, according to statements shared by his family and members of the racing community.

News of his passing quickly prompted an outpouring of condolences from those who knew him throughout the sport.

What Chase Pistone's Brother Shared Online

In an emotional Facebook post on March 2, 2026, Nick Pistone confirmed his brother's death and described Chase as both his younger sibling and his best friend.

He said the news left him heartbroken and struggling to cope, adding that he already missed Chase deeply and hoped he had found peace.

But the racing world knew Chase for far more than the tragedy now surrounding his name.

How Chase Pistone Built a Name Beyond NASCAR

Beyond NASCAR, Chase remained active in motorsports and became widely recognized in Legend Car racing, where he competed and ran his own team. According to a statement shared by Legends Nation, he had long been "a fixture in motorsports and especially Legend Car racing."

The outlet added that his Chase Pistone Inc. Legends team regularly competed at the front of the field and often left events with the winner's trophy. Nick also told the publication, "I was his biggest fan and I loved him so much."

No official cause of death has been released. However, Chase's brothers, Nick and Tom, asked that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline be shared alongside the announcement.

The hotline provides free, confidential support for people experiencing mental health struggles, emotional distress, or substance-related concerns. Counselors are available 24 hours a day by calling or texting 988.

As the news spread, members of the racing community began sharing tributes online.

Bubba Wallace Shares Emotional Messages on X

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace shared a message on X describing a difficult morning. He wrote that he woke up around 2 a.m. and came across an "old tune" that affected him emotionally. Later, he realized that the same time coincided with a shooting in Austin.

Wallace also said that a driver he had raced with in Legends cars had taken his own life, adding that the combination of events left him feeling a deep sense of sadness.

In a separate message shared shortly afterward, he continued reflecting on the situation, saying it made him think about how fragile and valuable life can be. He also referenced the song "Nutshell" by Alice In Chains and ended the post by sending love to his followers.

Bubba did not name anyone in the posts. As tributes continued to appear online, others who knew Chase also shared personal memories.

Brian Murphy Remembers Chase Pistone

Motorsports figure Brian Murphy also paid tribute to Chase in a post on X.

He wrote that he was "heartbroken" to learn of Chase's passing and described him as not only a talented racer but also a mentor who gave his time, knowledge, and passion to the next generation of drivers.

He concluded the message with the words "RIP CP." As those messages circulated, his obituary offered a fuller look at the racing career that shaped his life.

Chase Pistone's Racing Career and Legacy

According to his obituary published on MemoriTree, Chase was a racing driver, car builder, and team owner who spent decades involved in motorsports.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, he came from a family with deep roots in the sport. He was the grandson of two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner "Tiger" Tom Pistone.

Chase began racing at just six years old, quickly establishing himself as a strong competitor. Over the years, he won the Summer Shootout Championship Legends title four times between 1999 and 2005 and recorded more than 80 feature race victories across Legends, Late Model, and USAR events.

His career later included appearances in the NASCAR developmental series. Chase made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005 at Martinsville Speedway and later competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the ARCA Menards Series.

The 2014 season marked one of the most active periods of his national-series career. That year, he competed in 14 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races with NTS Motorsports, earning a career-best ninth-place finish at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Beyond driving, Chase also worked to support other racers. He founded Chase Pistone Incorporated, a company that built and prepared Legends and Late Model stock cars while offering setup and development support to drivers.

In recent years, he continued contributing to the sport as a crew chief, working with Stephen Nasse Racing in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car Division in 2024.

His work both on and off the track helped shape the careers of younger drivers and left a lasting mark on grassroots motorsports.

For the racing community, Chase's death comes during a difficult time for the sport. In another tragedy reported earlier, a private plane crash near Statesville, North Carolina, killed seven people, including a NASCAR figure and members of his family.

As previously reported, the aircraft went down shortly after takeoff on Thursday, December 18, 2025, crashing into a nearby field and bursting into flames.

Witnesses and aviation experts have since spoken about what may have gone wrong, as tributes continue to pour in for the family at the center of the tragedy.

Victims Identified as Investigators Examine Flight Path and Weather

Among the seven victims were four members of one family: retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children, Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5.

The other victims were Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol released the names on Friday, December 19.

The jet, a Cessna C550, took off from Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Weather conditions at the time included drizzle and low cloud cover. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff while attempting to return to the runway.

The aircraft was registered to a company operated by Biffle, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. He was also rated to fly helicopters, as well as single- and multi-engine planes. It was not immediately clear if he was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash.

Video Shows Jet's Final Seconds Before Explosion

Footage shows the private jet crashing into a field and erupting in a massive fireball just moments after takeoff. Captured by a nearby security camera and published by KSLA News 12, the video documents the aircraft’s final seconds before impact.

In the clip, the jet hits the ground and explodes, sending flames surging across the grass and thick black smoke rising into the sky. The fire spreads rapidly, with flames yards from nearby vehicles and buildings.

The camera, positioned in a parking lot close to the crash site, captures the full scale of the explosion, from impact to the rising plume of smoke.

The footage spread quickly online, and the contents matched several eyewitness reports.

Witnesses Describe the Crash

Residents near Statesville Regional Airport were left reeling as the jet plunged from the sky, trailing smoke and flames, before smashing into the ground with terrifying force.

At Lakewood Golf Club, which borders the airport, golfers watched in horror as the aircraft roared overhead and debris rained down across the course. "We were like, 'Oh my gosh! That's way too low,'" said Joshua Green. "It was scary."

Nearby on Airport Road, James Jones heard sirens and stepped outside to a chaotic scene. Thick black smoke was rising fast. "At first it was just a flame, then black smoke," he told the Charlotte Observer. "I thought it was a house because there are residences on that side, too."

Across from the airport, Alex Etman described the crash as deeply unsettling, especially given how normal the skies had always felt. "We are pretty close," he recalled.

Etman also added that the crash felt "spooky" close to home. He noted that his neighborhood typically sees frequent plane traffic, especially after NASCAR races when the teams fly back. Until now, everything had always felt routine and uneventful, which made the sudden tragedy all the more unsettling.

Meanwhile, Michael Wingo had been standing on his porch with his dog, completely unaware that tragedy was about to unfold just across the field. "I looked over and saw it. When it exploded, I could feel the heat from here," he shared.

The blast prompted him to call 911. He later said the possibility that the plane could have struck his house, had it approached from a different angle, left him deeply shaken.

Aviation Expert Suggests Engine Trouble Could Be a Factor

Aviation expert Greg Feith, a former senior air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told NBC that early flight data pointed to engine trouble. He explained that while pilots can land with one engine, a severe failure may lead to total loss of control.

"In the flight path, it looks like they're trying to fly a normalized pattern to get back to the runway that they took off on rather than taking a 200-degree turn and land opposite direction," Feith said. "Land slightly downwind if you need to, but get the airplane on the ground under control and that's the key."

Feith added that investigators would examine the flight's timeline, crew response, and the aircraft's maintenance history to determine what went wrong.

Tributes From the Racing World

Tributes poured in for Greg's family from those who knew the family both professionally and personally. Garrett Mitchell, a close friend of the Biffles, revealed on Facebook that the family had been on their way to visit him when the tragedy occurred. He called the loss devastating.

Over X, North Carolina Congressman Tim Moore praised Biffle not only for his prowess on the track but for his efforts off it, highlighting his support for local recovery after Hurricane Helene.

On the same platform, fellow NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer described Biffle as a skilled racer, a generous individual, and a devoted family man.

In an official statement, NASCAR honored Biffle as a champion across multiple racing series, a respected figure in the sport, and a man who had given back through service and disaster relief. The organization extended its condolences to all the families affected by the plane tragedy.