The father of celebrated NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has tragically died and his mother has been left critically injured after a fierce weekend fire gutted their North Carolina home.
Catastrophic Blaze in Stanley
Emergency crews were called to a two-storey property in Stanley on Sunday night to find the house largely engulfed in flames, with fire visible through the attic. The inferno was so severe it caused the structure to collapse.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were discovered outside the home with catastrophic injuries. Dennis Hamlin later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Mary Lou Hamlin was transported to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Centre in Winston-Salem, where she remained in treatment on Monday.
The cause of the blaze, which is under investigation, ravaged the home located roughly 20 miles northwest of Charlotte.
A Family's Profound Loss
The property is owned by a company named Won One Real Estate, which lists Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to local records. Representatives for the driver had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening.
The tragedy comes just weeks after Denny Hamlin, 45, revealed his father was battling a serious illness and had limited time left. "I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment," Hamlin told The Associated Press, referencing his pursuit of a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Dennis Hamlin had nearly gone bankrupt in earlier years trying to support his son's entry into professional racing.
Hamlin's Career and Recent Events
Denny Hamlin, a marquee driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, is one of NASCAR's most successful active competitors. He has 60 NASCAR Cup Series wins to his name, including three victories at the prestigious Daytona 500. However, he has yet to secure the Cup points championship, falling short again in the season finale in Arizona last month.
In a poignant connection, Hamlin had mentioned his father during emotional testimony earlier this month at a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR, brought in part by 23XI Racing—the team he co-owns with Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. That trial concluded with a settlement before jury deliberations.
The NASCAR community is now rallying around the driver and his family following this devastating personal loss.
