NASCAR Star Denny Hamlin Dedicated Emotional Win to His Father 2 Months Before 75-Year-Old Died in House Fire

NEED TO KNOW

• NASCAR star Denny Hamlin dedicated his win in October to his father Dennis, two months before the 75-year-old died as a result of injuries sustained in a house fire
• Denny said his father was "the one that got me into racing" after the October win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Dennis died after being transported to the hospital, while Denny's mother Mary Lou is hospitalized in Winston-Salem, N.C.

NASCAR star Denny Hamlin dedicated his 60th win in October to his father Dennis Hamlin, two months before the 75-year-old died as a result of injuries sustained in a house fire on Sunday, Dec. 28.

"It definitely means a lot," Hamlin, 45, said after his win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 12. He thanked fans for their support before he acknowledged his dad and "family back at home" after the win.

"We all know you earned that one for your dad," Hamlin's crew chief said at the time.

In his press conference after, Hamlin credited his father as "the one that got me into racing" and shared that his father began taking him to the racetrack when he was 5.

Hamlin added that his parents made "all the sacrifices financially to keep me going," and said his dad "sold everything we had" during the presser. "We almost lost our house a couple times, just trying to keep it all going," he said.

Denny Hamlin on his ill father, the sacrifices his family made for him to make it in racing and earn 60 wins. pic.twitter.com/vWo4QVV36H

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 13, 2025

Hamlin also said that it was "super important" that his dad saw his win.

The three-time Daytona 500 winner revealed to the Associated Press in October that Dennis was battling a serious illness in an interview in which he talked about the sacrifices his parents made for his NASCAR success.

Hamlin told the outlet his father "always tells me I'm the best, no matter if I win or not, he always says I'm the best."

He described his father as "a big hype guy," and recalled spending time together in the garage over the years. "He’s got all my old memorabilia and it’s just good to reminisce ... I am just cherishing those hours that I have with them each week," Hamlin said.

Officials confirmed on the evening of Monday, Dec. 29, that Dennis died in the fire, which destroyed the Hamlin's Stanley, N.C. 3,700-square-foot home. Denny's mother, 69-year-old Mary Lou Hamlin, was "critically injured" in the blaze, WCNC and NASCAR reported.

The fire broke out shortly after 6:19 p.m. local time on Sunday, Dec. 28. Authorities shared that both occupants were able to escape the home. Dennis was transported to a hospital, where he later died. Mary Lou is hospitalized in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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