NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin makes first public comments since fire killed his dad, injured his mom

Joe Marusak, The Charlotte Observer on Jan 2, 2026

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In his first public comments since his father died in a Gaston County house fire this week, NASCAR star driver Denny Hamlin thanked the community Wednesday for its support.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences on my father’s passing,” Hamlin said on the social media site X.

He also provided a brief update on his mother’s condition after she was badly hurt in the Sunday night fire too. “My mother continues to improve, and our family truly appreciates the outpouring of support and the respect for our privacy during this time,” Hamlin wrote.

Dennis Hamlin, 75, died from “catastrophic injuries” suffered in the fire in Stanley, according to a news release from Gaston County. His 69-year-old mother, Mary Lou, was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, officials said.

The fire caused a “complete structural collapse,” The Charlotte Observer previously reported, citing county officials. Investigators are still determining what caused the fire.

First responders arrived at the couple’s home in Stanley just before 6:30 p.m., NASCAR.com reported. They found the couple outside the four-bedroom home and took them to a hospital.

Denny Hamlin previously credited his parents for getting him into racing, according to NASCAR.com. “Sold everything they had,” he said.

Denny Hamlin became a NASCAR icon with 60 wins, including three at the Daytona 500.

In October, Hamlin dedicated his win in Las Vegas to his father, who was home battling a “serious illness,” The Associated Press reported. He believed 2025 would be the last chance for his dad to see him win a championship, according to AP.

NASCAR grapples with tragedies

NASCAR drivers and others connected with the sport offered support to Hamlin and his family on social media, including from drivers Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson and racing legend Richard Petty.

The tragedy was the second in as many weeks to hit the tight-knit NASCAR community.

Driver Greg Biffle died in a plane crash Dec. 18 at Statesville Regional Airport along with his wife, their two children and three others. The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause.