STANLEY, N.C. — Dennis Hamlin, father of NASCAR driver and Chesterfield native Denny Hamlin, was killed in a North Carolina house fire on Sunday.
The fire started around 6 p.m. Sunday on Blacksnake Road in Stanley.
When firefighters arrived at the house, the two residents, Dennis and Mary Lou, were outside suffering from catastrophic injuries while escaping the home. Both were taken to a hospital, where Dennis Hamlin later died. He was 75.
Mary Lou Hamlin is currently being treated.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown and is under investigation.
The home is owned by a company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to local property tax records and a business document filing with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office.
Representatives for Hamlin had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening.
Hamlin is one of the marquee drivers in NASCAR's top circuit, having won 60 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times.
The 45-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to win a Cup points championship. He fell short of the title during this season's final race in Arizona last month.
Weeks earlier, Hamlin said his father — who nearly went broke with financial sacrifices to try to get his son into NASCAR — was battling a serious illness, and that he didn't have much time left to live.
“I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment,” Hamlin told The Associated Press.
Hamlin also mentioned his dad in emotional testimony this month at the start of a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR brought in part by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Hamlin and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. NASCAR, 23XI Racing and another race team reached a settlement during the trial before jurors ever deliberated.
NASCAR shared the following statement with CBS 6:
“NASCAR extends its deepest condolences to Denny Hamlin and the entire Hamlin family. Dennis Hamlin instilled a love of racing in his son, and sacrificed greatly to develop Denny into a world-class talent in the sport. We also continue to offer our thoughts and prayers to Denny’s mother, Mary Lou, and hope for her full recovery.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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