Who is Denny Hamlin’s father Dennis Hamlin? Fire reported at NASCAR star’s parents home months after deteriorating health revelation

Two people were hospitalized after a fire broke out on December 28 at the home of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin's parents in Gaston County, North Carolina.

According to a report from WSOC, two people made it out of the house fire but “needed to be transported when crews arrived.” The individuals have not yet been publicly identified. However, property records confirmed that Denny Hamlin owned the home.

The father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin is Dennis Hamlin and his mother is Mary Lou Hamlin. Dennis introduced his son to racing at a young age. He and Mary played a significant role in shaping Denny’s career.

According to a report in Brobible, Dennis is battling a serious illness at the age of 75. He revealed in an interview that this year's NASCAR Cup Series championship will be the “last chance” for his father to see him fulfil his dream.

Continue to read for more details.

All we need to know about Denny Hamlin’s family

Denny Hamlin’s parents played a crucial role in supporting their son in his professional racing career.

During an in-person interview with NASCAR, he thanked his parents for their sacrifices and said:

“Just thank him for sacrificing really his and my mom’s life to chase around my dreams.”

He then elaborated on how his parents struggled while making financial sacrifices. He recalled:

“My parents had no money. My parents had very normal jobs, but they found a way. That way is a path I would never recommend anybody taking. Every credit card that comes to the mail, ‘OK, we’ll use it.’

He continued:

"Asking people to help. Second- and third-mortgaging the house. All these things. The arguments I had to listen to. I’m in my room, and my mom and dad are going at it. One is saying, ‘I can’t do it anymore.’ The other one saying, ‘Please, just one more week.’”

Denny Hamlin’s mother worked for decades at AAA and contributed to the family's efforts to fund his racing. He was born on November 18, 1980 in Tampa, Florida. He was then raised in Chesterfield in Virginia. He is the youngest among his siblings.

Denny Hamlin’s father introduced him to racing at the age of seven, when he began competing in go-karts. This ignited his lifelong interest in motorsports.

The New York Times reported that to support their son’s career, Dennis and Mary had put two second mortgages on their home. They sold their classic cars - Dennis’s 1932 Ford and Mary Lou’s 1967 Camaro.

Denny Hamlin’s big break into professional NASCAR racing came through J.D. Gibbs, who discovered and signed him to a driver development contract in 2004. In the early 2000s, Jim Dean sponsored Hamlin after overhearing him say he might quit due to a lack of funding. He told The New York Times:

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“I knew he was a good driver, very talented. Lots of times, he beat a guy who had a better car.”

Hamlin is not currently married. However, he has been in a long-term relationship with Jordan Fish. They share two daughters, Taylor James Hamlin and Molly Hamlin, and a son, Jameson Drew Hamlin.

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