Denny Hamlin’s Father, Dennis Hamlin, Dies Following House Fire
Dennis Hamlin, father of NASCAR Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin, has died from injuries sustained in a house fire on Sunday night. He was 75 years old.
The announcement was confirmed by Gaston County EMS on Monday. Dennis Hamlin and his wife, Mary Lou, 69, were both transported to CaroMont Regional Medical Center following the incident. Mary Lou remains in critical condition and has been transferred to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center for further treatment.
The fire broke out shortly after 6 PM ET on Blacksnake Road in Stanley, North Carolina. Firefighters arrived to find the residence engulfed in flames. Due to the fire’s intensity and limited water access, efforts to extinguish it took over two hours, with multiple fire departments responding to the scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Dennis Hamlin has been an influential figure in his son’s racing career, providing financial support during the early years that often led to significant strain, as Denny Hamlin noted this season. The family’s sacrifices ultimately facilitated Denny’s discovery by JD Gibbs and subsequent signing with Joe Gibbs Racing in the early 2000s.
Denny Hamlin, who has spent his entire Cup Series career with Gibbs, expressed deep emotion after securing his 60th career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this season, a win he dedicated to his ailing father. He remarked to the Associated Press before the season finale, “I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it.”
While Dennis was unable to travel to races this year due to health issues, Mary Lou remained a steadfast presence at the track, supporting her son throughout his career.
