NASCAR hero Denny Hamlin’s mother desperately dragged his terminally ill father Dennis out of their burning home when he died, it has been revealed.
Mary Lou Hamlin is in hospital, badly burned from the blaze and is receiving ongoing medical treatment on Tuesday evening.
But shocking details have emerged about the fire, which broke out before 6:30pm on Sunday evening. When firefighters arrived, Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin were already outside with Mary Lou pulling him out the home to save him, according to Spectrum Local News.
Dennis died at hospital while Mary Lou is receiving treatment at a burns center. Â
The publication quoted neighbor Michael Minando saying: ‘I don’t want to get emotional, but you do when you hear that the woman tried to drag her husband out, and he didn’t make it. It’s very sad. My heart goes out to them.’
In October, in an interview with Associated Press, Hamlin revealed that father Dennis was terminally ill but did not say precisely what his condition was.
Denny Hamlin’s father died in a house fire Sunday and his mom is receiving treatment
The house in North Carolina was destroyed after the blaze broke out on Sunday eveningÂ
Explaining that his father would not be on hand to watch him try and win November’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway, Hamlin said: ‘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.’
When Hamlin recorded his 60th win in Las Vegas in September, he fought tears when he spoke with reporters afterwards about the sacrifices his father had made for him to pursue his career.
‘He was just so happy and he always tells me I’m the best, no matter if I win or not, he always says I’m the best,’ Hamlin said.Â
‘He’s a big hype guy and I sat in his garage and talked with him, he’s got all my old memorabilia and it’s just good to reminisce.Â
‘He’s a reminiscent guy and right now I am just cherishing those hours that I have with them each week.’
Dennis’s home was reportedly filled with memorabealia from his son’s racing career. While their home was completely destroyed, the chief of Lucia Riverbend Fire Department, David Toomey, said some of the mementos were saved.
‘They had some really expensive cars in the garage and some racing memorabilia and stuff, so all that was saved,’ he was quoted as saying by The Athletic.
‘We were able to save all that and get it out so it wasn’t damaged.’Â
Firefighters reportedly found Hamlin’s parents outside the house when they arrived Â
Hamlin’s father Dennis, pictured alongside his wife Mary Lou, was 75 when he died on Sunday
A young Denny Hamlin is pictured alongside his parents, Dennis and Mary Lou
NASCAR released a statement on Tuesday paying tribute to Hamlin’s father.
‘Dennis Hamlin instilled a love of racing in his son, and sacrificed greatly to develop Denny into a world-class talent in the sport,’ the statement said.
‘We also continue to offer our thoughts and prayers to Denny’s mother, Mary Lou, and hope for her full recovery.’
Denny, as of Tuesday night, had not commented on the tragedy. Officials are working to find a cause behind the fire.Â
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Harrowing new details emerge about NASCAR great Denny Hamlin’s dad and his death in house fire