Officials have released new details surrounding the North Carolina house fire that killed NASCAR Driver Denny Hamlin‘s father and injured his mother.
Gaston County spokesperson Adam Gaub revealed the blaze was ruled accidental in a newly released email reported on by NBC News on Friday, February 20.
A report released by Gaston County Emergency Management & Fire Services determined the “cause of ignition” is “undetermined,” although it was clarified the blaze started in a bedroom.
Hamlin’s parents, Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin, suffered catastrophic injuries and were found outside the two-story, four-bedroom home that went up in flames on December 28, 2025. Dennis, 75, tragically died, while his wife, who was in critical condition, miraculously survived.
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The fire took nearly two hours to extinguish due to a lack of water in the area, WCNC reported.
Denny recently broke his silence about losing his father so suddenly during an interview with Fox News ahead of the Daytona 500 on February 15, revealing he remembered the moment he found out about the blaze.
“I got a call from my sister that said the parents’ house is on fire, the whole house is gone,” he shared with the outlet. “My mom took him from the bedroom to outside in the front yard. I was just driving so fast to try to get there and they said they had already been taken to the hospital.”
“What made it real was seeing my dad. I saw him laying there after he had passed, I just knew that it was real in that moment. Obviously I saw how burned he was and, you know, at that time I felt for my mom,” he added. “She saw it all first-hand.”
Dennis had been facing health struggles prior to the fire after being diagnosed with late-stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, according to the famous race car driver.
Denny said that he was “confident” that his dad was looking down from heaven in pride with his best friend, George, claiming they were “going to watch me race on Sunday for another Daytona 500.” Mary Lou was able to see her son race amid her road to recovery.
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Back in September 2025, Denny gushed about how supportive his father was as he chased his dreams. “He was just so happy and he always tells me I’m the best, no matter if I win or not, he always says I’m the best,” Denny told reporters after his 60th career victory, according to the Associated Press.
“He’s the one that got me into racing and took me to a racetrack when I was five,” Denny fondly recalled. “Then made all the sacrifices financially to keep me going, sold everything we had, we almost lost our house a couple times to just try to keep it going.”
Plus, Dennis also made sure to celebrate each and every one of his accomplishments.
“He’s a big hype guy and I sat in his garage and talked with him, he’s got all my old memorabilia and it’s just good to reminisce,” Denny shared. “He’s a reminiscent guy and right now I am just cherishing those hours that I have with them each week.”
