Tragedy has struck the family of top-tier Nascar driver Denny Hamlin, following a devastating house fire in North Carolina that claimed his father's life and left his mother critically injured.
A Catastrophic Blaze
Emergency services were called to a two-storey home near Stanley, North Carolina, on Sunday night. Upon arrival, firefighters found the property mostly engulfed in flames, with fire visible through the attic. The inferno was so severe it caused the structure to collapse.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were discovered outside the home, both suffering from what officials described as catastrophic injuries. Dennis Hamlin was transported to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Mary Lou Hamlin was taken to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Centre in Winston-Salem, where she remained in treatment on Monday.
Hamlin's Personal and Professional Turmoil
The incident comes during an emotionally fraught period for the 45-year-old racing star. Just weeks before the fire, Hamlin had revealed his father was battling a serious illness and had limited time left. "I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it," Hamlin told the Associated Press, referring to his pursuit of a first Cup points championship.
Hamlin, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, is one of Nascar's most successful active drivers, with 60 Cup Series wins including three Daytona 500 victories. He narrowly missed out on the championship title in the final race of the season in Arizona last month.
Property records indicate the home is owned by a company named Won One Real Estate, which lists Denny Hamlin as its manager. The cause of the blaze, which occurred roughly 20 miles northwest of Charlotte, remains under investigation by authorities.
A Family's Sacrifice and a Driver's Tribute
Hamlin has often spoken of the immense sacrifices his parents made to support his racing career, noting his father nearly went bankrupt in the effort. Dennis Hamlin was also mentioned by his son during emotional testimony earlier this month at a federal antitrust trial against Nascar, brought in part by Hamlin's own team, 23XI Racing, which he co-owns with basketball legend Michael Jordan. That trial concluded with a settlement before jury deliberation.
As of Monday evening, representatives for Denny Hamlin had not responded to requests for comment, as the racing community and fans offer their condolences for the devastating loss.
