NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s father dead, mother hospitalized after house fire
STANLEY, N.C. — Dennis Hamlin, the father of NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin, has died after a fire at the family home Sunday night, Gaston County EMS confirmed.
The fire happened Sunday night at around 6:19 p.m. When firefighters arrived at around 6:27 p.m., they found Dennis and his wife, Mary Lou, outside of their home with what the Gaston County EMS described as “catastrophic injuries.”
Paramedics took Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin to CaroMont Regional Medical Center where Dennis later died. Mary Lou was transferred to a burn center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she is in critical condition.
Investigators don’t know the cause of the fire yet due to the extent of the fire and the structural collapse. The investigation is ongoing.
Dennis and MaryLou Hamlin were integral to their son becoming one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all-time. The couple mortgaged their home and Dennis sold several beloved classic cars to help fund his career that eventually led to him getting into the NASCAR Cup Series in 2006.
Together, the couple saw their son win 60 points races in the NASCAR Cup Series, putting him 10th all-time on the series’ wins list after a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.
The win gave him a chance to race for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship three weeks later at Phoenix Raceway in what he said was likely his dad’s last chance to see him race for a championship due to a terminal illness.
The 20-year veteran of the series was just a few laps away from getting to celebrate with his father — with a celebratory cigar — when a caution flew for a blown tire and a subsequent overtime shuffled him to second.
Champion Kyle Larson was gracious in victory and acknowledged Hamlin in his championship speech. Larson also posted a statement on social media following the passing of Hamlin’s father:
Richard Petty, the seven-time champion and 200-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, issued a statement expressing condolences and strength for Hamlin’s family.
Dave Alpern, the president of Joe Gibbs Racing, issued this statement in support of his driver:
Dennis Hamlin was 75 years old.
Hamlin’s passing comes as the NASCAR community has experienced immense loss and contentious times since the checkered flag dropped at Phoenix Raceway.
The NASCAR antitrust trial, with Hamlin’s 23XI Racing team and Front Row Motorsports at the center of it, raised questions about the future of the sport. Then, just a few days into the sport, the sport learned of the death of former driver Michael Annett.
The trial eventually reached a Dec. 11 settlement that saw Hamlin and other team owners get some of the provisions they sought in negotiations with NASCAR.
Then, just a week later, a fiery plane crash claimed the lives of 19-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Greg Biffle, his wife and his two kids, as well as Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton and his son Jack.
Hamlin expressed his condolences with the families after that happened:
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season unofficially kicks off Feb. 1 with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, just 34 days away. The season officially kicks off Feb. 15 with the Daytona 500.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com