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.
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.
Getty Images/NASCARThe 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, behind Kyle Larson, for the NASCAR Cup Series championship.
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.
NASCAR issued a statement on what happened:
“NASCAR extends its deepest condolences to Denny Hamlin and the entire Hamlin family. Dennis Hamlin instilled a love of racing in his son, and sacrificed greatly to develop Denny into a world-class talent in the sport. We also continue to offer our thoughts and prayers to Denny’s mother, Mary Lou, and hope for her full recovery.”
NASCAR faced off against Hamlin's 23XI Racing team and Front Row Motorsports in court in an antitrust trial that kicked off a tumultuous off-season for the motorsport as just a few days into the trial, 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 charter 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 it 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.