Fatal House Fire in Gaston County Claims Life of NASCAR Driver Denny Hamlin’s Father

By Michael Phillips | VABayNews

STANLEY, N.C. — A large house fire that broke out Sunday evening in rural Gaston County has claimed the life of Dennis Hamlin, the father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, and left his mother critically injured, authorities confirmed Monday.

The fire erupted around 6 p.m. on December 28 at a residence on Blacksnake Road in Stanley. The 3,724-square-foot home, built in 2015 on approximately 1.76 acres, is owned by Won One Real Estate LLC, a company associated with Hamlin and his family. The home served as the primary residence of Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69.

Multiple fire departments from Gaston and neighboring Lincoln counties responded to the scene, including Lucia-Riverbend Fire and Rescue. Officials said that by the time crews arrived, approximately 40–45% of the structure was already engulfed in flames.

Because the property is located in a rural area without nearby fire hydrants, firefighters were forced to shuttle water to the scene using tanker trucks, significantly complicating suppression efforts. It took roughly two hours to bring the blaze under control. The home was ultimately declared a total loss.

Both occupants were found outside the residence when first responders arrived and were transported to the hospital for treatment. On December 29, authorities confirmed that Dennis Hamlin died from his injuries. Mary Lou Hamlin remains in critical condition and has been transferred to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem for specialized care.

Fire crews were able to salvage several high-value items from the home’s garage, including expensive vehicles and NASCAR racing memorabilia, preventing further losses.

The Gaston County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. As of Monday, officials had not released details regarding how the blaze started.

Denny Hamlin, a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and co-owner of 23XI Racing, has not issued a public statement as of the latest reports. The tragedy follows a demanding 2025 racing season in which Hamlin finished runner-up in the NASCAR Cup Series championship. He had previously spoken publicly about the importance of his father’s support throughout his career.

Authorities said further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.