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NASCAR released a statement Tuesday mourning the death of Denny Hamlin’s father, who tragically died from injuries suffered 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 authorities called catastrophic injuries. Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital, while his wife was transferred to a special hospital in Winston-Salem to treat her burns.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin walks past the championship trophy as it is presented before the NASCAR championship race at Phoenix Raceway on November 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.
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“Dennis Hamlin instilled a love of running in his son and made great sacrifices 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 opened up about his father and the financial sacrifices he made to help him realize his dream of becoming one of NASCAR’s star drivers. In an interview with the Associated Press, Hamlin revealed that his father was dying after a serious illness.
“I know for a fact that this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him to go there and never get to see that moment,” Hamlin said of his father seeing him win a championship, a goal he later failed to achieve after the final race of that season 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 OF 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 left himself in financial ruin in order to give his son a chance to become a NASCAR driver. His sacrifice paid off, as Hamlin created a legendary career that includes 60 career 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 was killed 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. Vasquez/Imagn Images)
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The accident claimed the lives of seven people on board, including Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
