A tragic house fire in North Carolina has affected NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin deeply, as it resulted in the death of his father and left his mother hospitalized with severe injuries.
Firefighters responded to the Hamlin family residence late on Sunday evening (December 28) following reports of a fire at the location near Stanley, which is approximately 20 miles from Charlotte.
Upon arrival, the fire had already engulfed the structure, causing substantial damage and presenting challenges for crews due to intense flames and limited water supply in the rural setting.
Denny’s father, Dennis Hamlin, was discovered outside the residence with critical injuries. He was transported to the hospital, but the 75-year-old succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the fire. His wife, Mary Lou Hamlin, also sustained serious injuries and was moved to a nearby burn center, where she remains in critical condition.
The fire’s cause is still under investigation, with the home partially collapsing due to the blaze’s severity.
This loss is particularly profound as Denny’s parents were instrumental in his racing career. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has frequently acknowledged their sacrifices, including financial hardships and extensive travel to support his racing ambitions from a young age.
During a press conference in Las Vegas in October, Denny expressed his dedication of the race to his dad, acknowledging his father’s declining health.
“He’s the one that got me into racing – took me to a racetrack when I was five,” he said.
“Then made all the sacrifices financially to keep me going. He sold everything we had, and you know, we almost lost our house a couple times, just trying to keep it all going. So, you know, I’m glad he was able to see 60 – that was super important to me.”
Denny’s father appeared in several episodes of Netflix’s documentary series NASCAR: Full Speed. In one episode, he reminisces about a moment when Michael Jordan gave him a cigar to smoke if his son ever won a championship.
“Him and Michael Jordan are good friends, and now they’re partners,” Dennis mentioned to the camera. “So, he [Jordan] pulls up in his Lamborghini, and he reaches down in his side door, pulls out this cigar.
“Michael Jordan signed it for me and wrote a little letter [that] says, ‘Break it when we win the championship’. I’m supposed to break that and smoke that cigar. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Unfortunately, Dennis did not witness his son win a championship, as Denny is often hailed by NASCAR fans as the greatest driver yet to capture the cup.
Hamlin has not issued a public statement at this time.