CHARLOTTE, N.C. β The NASCAR community is mourning the loss of a dedicated father who helped his son’s NASCAR career flourish.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, died from injuries suffered in a fire on Blacksnake Road in Gaston County. The fire happened on Sunday. Hamlin was confirmed as the victim on Monday. Mary Lou Hamlin, Hamlin’s wife, was critically injured in the fire.
The Hamlins are the parents of Denny Hamlin, a 60-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner and one of the sport’s greatest competitors.
Denny Hamlin’s parents notably sacrificed money, time, and energy to help their son pursue his goals. Dennis Hamlin took out two mortgages on their Virginia home and sold multiple cars to help Denny pay for racing costs.
Hamlin reached the NASCAR Cup Series and has remained one of the sport’s top drivers for nearly 20 years. He has won 60 races with Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan.
After hitting the 60-win milestone at Las Vegas in October, he noted how special it felt to win for his father, who was in poor health at the time. He told the Associated Press later that month that he believed 2025 was his last opportunity to win a championship while his father was alive.
The personal sacrifices and dedication to racing are true NASCAR moments, which is why Dennis Hamlin’s passing hits the racing community so hard.
Hamlin has not commented on the situation, but many NASCAR voices have chimed in.
The fire that led to Dennis Hamlin’s death remains under investigation. No cause has been determined.