NASCAR community offers support after the death of Denny Hamlin's father

Briah Lumpkins, The Charlotte Observer on Dec 30, 2025

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NASCAR drivers, teams and other powerhouses in the sport offered an outpouring of support for Denny Hamlin and his family after the passing of his father in a house fire Sunday evening.

Dennis Hamlin, 75, died from “catastrophic injuries” sustained during the fire. Denny Hamlin's 69-year-old mother, Mary Lou, was transferred to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where is she actively receiving treatment, according to a press release from Gaston County.

The fire resulted in “complete structural collapse.” The cause of the fire is undetermined and still under investigation.

Denny Hamlin, considered a legend in the sport despite never winning a championship, has had a standout career, winning 60 races — including three at the Daytona 500. It’s a career his father heavily invested in. Dennis Hamlin took out multiple mortgages, maxed out several credit cards and nearly went broke, the Associated Press reported, all in pursuit of the dream to get his son into NASCAR.

In October, Hamlin dedicated his win in Las Vegas to his father who was home battling a “serious illness.” He believed 2025 would be the last opportunity his father would have to watch him, finally, win a championship.

“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 told The Associated Press.

The fire comes just weeks after Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan settled a multimillion antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.

The NASCAR community shared its support widely online.

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