Officials from the Gaston County, North Carolina Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services have confirmed that NASCAR star Denny Hamlin’s father, Dennis, is dead from Sunday night’s house fire in Stanley, North Carolina. Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou, remains in critical condition from burns suffered in the massive blaze that erupted on December 29.
Hamlin’s parents lived in the house in Gaston County, North Carolina, about 20 miles northwest of Charlotte. The house is owned by a reality company owned by their NASCAR driving son.
When firefighters arrived Sunday night, Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were found outside the home, suffering from catastrophic injuries, officials said. Monday evening, Gaston County officials confirmed Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital.
Mary Lou Hamlin was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, where she was being treated Monday, according to Gaston County officials.
The huge blaze that erupted Sunday night and caused the structure to collapse. The home is owned by a company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to local property tax records and a business document filing with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, the Associated Press reported.
Representatives for Hamlin had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening.
Dennis Hamlin was also battling a serious illness, and according to Denny Hamlin in an interview late in the season, did not have much time to live. Hamlin’s father made tremendous sacrifices to get his son into NASCAR, including taking out mortgages on the family home early in his career.
Hamlin Wanted To Win A Championship For His Dying Father
The 45-year-old Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s biggest stars with 60 NASCAR Cup Series wins, including three victories in the Daytona 500. He drives for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Hamlin desperately wanted to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship for his dying father in 2025 and was within four laps of reaching that goal in the NASCAR Championship Race before a caution period thwarted that attempt. After making a pit stop, Hamlin was shuffled back in the running order on the restart and Kyle Larson went on to win the race and the championship.
Hamlin, who finished second in the championship to Larson, believed it would be the last time his father would be alive to see him race for a title.
“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 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after he won his 60th race in October.
“He’s the one that got me into racing,