Officials have confirmed that the father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin died in a house fire over the weekend.
According to a news release from the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Service in North Carolina, Dennis Hamlin, 75 died at a hospital after a fire destroyed a two-story home near Stanley on Sunday.
Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, was critically injured in the blaze, officials said. She was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, where she was being treated.
The fire caused the structure to collapse, but the cause is under investigation.
Hamlin has 60 NASCAR Cup Series victories in his career and is widely regarded as the greatest driver in NASCAR history to never have won a championship.
NASCAR’s 2006 Cup Series rookie of the year and three-time Daytona 500 champion, finished second in the 2025 standings, losing to champion Kyle Larson by four points.
He won six races and had 14 top five finishes this season. Only legends like Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin. Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon have more Top 5 points finishes.
Hamlin also co-owns the 23XI Racing NASCAR team with NBA legend Michael Jordan and was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
Earlier this year, Hamlin told the Associated Press that his father was battling a serious illness.
“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 said.