Dennis Hamlin, the 75-year-old father of NASCAR Cup Series star Denny Hamlin, died Monday from injuries sustained in a devastating house fire that destroyed the family’s home.
Firefighters from multiple departments responded to the blaze on Sunday, finding the home already heavily engulfed with flames visible through the attic. Reports indicate 40-45 percent of the structure was involved.
Both Dennis Hamlin and his wife, Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, had escaped the burning house but suffered catastrophic injuries; they were found outside when crews arrived.
Dennis was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Mary, critically injured with severe burns, was airlifted to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem for specialized treatment, where she remains in active care.
🕯️ RIP Dennis Hamlin.
— Steven Latham (@wienerdogwifi) December 30, 2025
A devoted father who, alongside Mary Lou Hamlin, sacrificed everything to help their son chase a dream.
Without Dennis Hamlin, there is no Denny Hamlin as we know him today.
A man of integrity.
A quiet pillar behind greatness.
Deeply respected. Never… pic.twitter.com/YvbT5xzDFo
Denny Hamlin’s Father’s Role in His Career
The fire, which took over two hours to extinguish, resulted in a total loss of the 3,724-square-foot home built in 2015. Officials from the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services stated that the extensive damage and structural collapse have made determining the cause difficult at this time.
An investigation is ongoing.
Dennis Hamlin played a pivotal role in his son’s racing career, making significant personal and financial sacrifices—including multiple mortgages on their family home and selling cherished classic cars—to support Denny’s early dreams in motorsports.
Denny Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 winner and co-owner of 23XI Racing, had publicly shared earlier this year that his father was in declining health. That fact adds a sad layer to the tragedy.
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More NASCAR Tragedy
This heartbreaking loss marks another profound tragedy for the NASCAR community in a matter of weeks, coming shortly after the plane crash near Statesville Regional Airport that claimed the lives of former Cup Series champion Greg Biffle, his wife, two young children, and three others.
The plane, registered to Biffle, had taken off but attempted an emergency return, ultimately crashing short of the runway amid reported low visibility and rain. His wife’s mother revealed that she received a heartbreaking last text from her daughter.
“We’re in trouble,” it read.
The tight-knit racing world continues to reel from these consecutive blows. Condolences have begun pouring in for the Hamlin family during this difficult holiday season.