The father of celebrated Nascar driver Denny Hamlin has tragically died and his mother has been left critically injured after a fierce fire destroyed their North Carolina home over the weekend, officials confirmed on Monday.
Catastrophic Blaze Engulfs Family Home
Emergency crews were called late on Sunday night to a two-storey property near the town of Stanley, located roughly 20 miles northwest of Charlotte. Upon arrival, firefighters found the home largely consumed by flames, with fire visible through the attic. The inferno was so severe it caused the structure to collapse.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, and his wife Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were discovered outside the residence with catastrophic injuries. Dennis Hamlin was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Mary Lou Hamlin was airlifted to the specialist Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Centre in Winston-Salem, where she remained in treatment on Monday. The exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation by local authorities.
A Family's Sacrifice and a Driver's Tribute
Property records indicate the home is owned by a company named Won One Real Estate, which lists Denny Hamlin as its manager. Representatives for the driver had not issued a public statement as of Monday evening.
The tragedy comes just weeks after Hamlin, 45, emotionally shared that 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, referring to his pursuit of a Nascar Cup Series championship.
He has often credited his father, who nearly faced financial ruin to support his son's early racing career, for his success. Hamlin, a marquee driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, is a three-time Daytona 500 champion with 60 Cup Series wins, though he has yet to secure the season points championship.
Recent Personal and Professional Challenges
Hamlin's recent testimony in a federal antitrust trial against Nascar, brought in part by the 23XI Racing team he co-owns with basketball legend Michael Jordan, also featured poignant references to his father. That trial concluded with a settlement before jury deliberation.
This devastating personal loss follows a narrowly missed championship opportunity for Hamlin, who fell short of the title in the season's final race in Arizona last month.
