NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
NASCAR released a statement Tuesday mourning the death of Denny Hamlin’s father, who tragically died as a result of injuries sustained in a house fire in North Carolina on Sunday. Dennis Hamlin was 75 years old.
Dennis Hamlin and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were found outside the two-story home near Stanley suffering from what officials called catastrophic injuries. Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital, while his wife was taken to a special hospital in Winston-Salem to be treated for her burns.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin walks next to the championship trophy as he presents it before the NASCAR Championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
“NASCAR extends its deepest condolences to Denny Hamlin and the entire Hamlin family,” the organization said in a statement Tuesday.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
“Dennis Hamlin instilled a love of racing in his son and sacrificed greatly to develop Denny into a world-class talent in the sport. We also continue to offer our thoughts and prayers to Denny’s mother, Mary Lou, and hope for his full recovery.”
Last month, Denny Hamlin spoke about his father and the financial sacrifices he made to help him achieve his dream of becoming one of NASCAR’s top drivers. In an interview with The Associated Press, Hamlin revealed that his father was dying as a result of a serious illness.
“I know for a fact that this is the last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him to go away and never be able to see the moment,” Hamlin said of his father watching him win a championship, a goal he then fell short of after this season’s final race in Arizona.
Denny Hamlin, driver of the (11) Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California on February 3, 2024. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
FATHER OF NASCAR STAR DENNY HAMLIN DIES FROM INJURIES IN HOUSE FIRE, OFFICIALS SAY
According to the AP, Dennis Hamlin took out multiple mortgages on his Virginia home, maxed out all his credit cards and nearly bankrupted himself financially to give his son the opportunity to become a NASCAR driver. His sacrifice paid off, as Hamlin created a legendary career that boasts 60 victories, including three Daytona 500s.
The tragic news of Dennis Hamlin’s death comes amid a difficult time for the NASCAR community, which is still mourning the heartbreaking death of driver Greg Biffle, 55, who died alongside his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, in a plane crash in North Carolina.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, 2025. (Gary A. Vásquez/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
The accident claimed seven lives on board, including Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
