NASCAR driver’s father dies of injuries suffered from house fire

Dennis Hamlin, the father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, died from injuries suffered during a house fire that destroyed the home of Denny Hamlins’ parents in North Carolina on Sunday, Dec. 28, according to a news release issued Monday by the Gaston County Emergency Management and Fire Services, as reported by Fox Sports and multiple other outlets.

Dennis Hamlin was 75.

Denny Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, was listed in critical condition and transferred to a hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, according to NASCAR.com, which reported the Hamlins’ house was about 20 miles outside of Charlotte.

Authorities in Gaston County, North Carolina, told WCNC-TV took firefighters about two hours to extinguish the blaze at the two-story home. According to The Athletic, Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department Chief David Toomey said 40% to 45% of the home was already burning by the time fire crews arrived.

According to the Associated Press, Denny Hamlin’s parents were found outside the home, suffering from catastrophic injuries. Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital, according to the Associated Press.

A company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager owns the home, according to multiple published reports.

“They had some really expensive cars in the garage and some racing memorabilia and stuff, so all that was saved,” Toomey told The Athletic. “We were able to save all that and get it out so it wasn’t damaged.”

Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion, finished second in Cup Series 2025 standings, losing to champion Kyle Larson by four points. He has won 60 races, ranking jo, tied for 10^th all-time in overall victories.

In October, after winning the 60th race of his career, Hamlin grew emotional while talking about the sacrifices his father and mother made so he could pursue his dream of being a NASCAR driver.

“He’s the one that got me into racing and just took me to a racetrack when I was five and then made all the sacrifices financially to keep me going,’’ Hamlin said of his father. “Sold everything they had and we almost lost our house a couple times and just tried to keep it all going.’

Dennis Hamlin owned his own trailer business but it wasn’t enough to pay all of the bills, according to NASCAR.com, which reported he took out two mortgages on the family’s home and sold four classic cars to help cover expenses as Denny Hamlin climbed the ranks as a race car driver and became a multimillion.

Hamlin co-owns the 23XI Racing NASCAR team with NBA legend Michael Jordan. Earlier this month, the team settled a multimillion-dollar antitrust lawsuit it and Front Row Motorsports filed against NASCAR.