The father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has died and his mother is in a critical condition after a fire destroyed their North Carolina home, officials have confirmed.
Emergency services responded to the blaze at a two-storey property near Stanley on Sunday evening, finding the house largely engulfed in flames. Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were discovered outside with catastrophic injuries. Dennis later died in hospital, while Mary Lou was transferred to a specialist burn centre in Winston-Salem.
The cause of the fire, which caused the structure to collapse, remains under investigation. The home is owned by a company listing Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to property and business records.
Hamlin, 45, is a leading figure in NASCAR's Cup Series with 60 race wins, including three Daytona 500 victories. He recently spoke of his father's serious illness, describing the 2024 season as a final chance for his dad to witness a championship triumph.
The driver also referenced his father during emotional testimony in a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR earlier this month, which was settled before jury deliberations.
