NASCAR racer Denny Hamlin shared an emotional moment with his family as he won for the first time since tragically losing his father in a house fire.
Hamlin’s father, Dennis, 75, died from the injuries he sustained in the fire at the home the driver bought for his parents in Gaston County, North Carolina, on December 28.
Two and a half months later, the driver tearfully celebrated with his mom, who also sustained injuries in the tragic incident, after he raced across the line for his 61st NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Pennzoil 400.
His mother, Mary Lou, joined her son on the track, wrapping him in a tight embrace and emotionally repeating, ‘That’s my boy!’
Hamlin was also joined by his fiancée Jordan and their children – daughters Taylor, 12, and Molly, eight, and son, James, who was born last June.
Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan but races for rival team Joe Gibbs Racing, returned to victory lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
NASCAR racer Denny Hamlin emotionally embraced his mother after winning on Sunday
The 45-year-old won his 61st NASCAR Cup Series victory at the Pennzoil 400
He overcame an early speeding penalty and drove from 31st through the field in a fairly dominating win for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. He led a race-high 134 laps for his 61st career Cup Series victory.
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and William Byron finished second and third in Chevrolets; JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs were fourth and fifth to give JGR three cars in the top five.
It also marked Hamlin’s first series win since he lost the NASCAR championship four months ago.
Hamlin used his Las Vegas victory last October to lock into NASCAR’s championship-deciding finale three weeks later. He dominated last year’s finale at Phoenix Raceway but the wrong call on the final pit stop cost him the title that has eluded the three-time Daytona 500 winner.
What followed was an emotional rollercoaster: Hamlin, as co-owner of 23XI Racing, was part of the winning team in a federal lawsuit against NASCAR last December. Weeks later, his father was killed in a fire that destroyed the home Hamlin purchased to thank his parents for getting him into NASCAR.
A report released by Gaston County Emergency Management & Fire Services said the December 28 fire at the two-story home originated in a bedroom, but the ’cause of ignition’ was ‘undetermined.’
Hamlin’s parents, Dennis and Mary Lou, were found outside the home suffering from catastrophic injuries, officials said.
It was reported by a neighbor that Mary Lou had dragged Dennis from the home but he later died in hospital, while she survived after spending time in critical condition.
The race marked Hamlin’s first win since he tragically lost his father, Dennis (left), last year
His father Dennis died in December from injuries suffered in the horrific fire at their home
Hamlin poses with the trophy alongside his mother Mary Lou, his fiancée Jordan and their children – daughters Taylor, 12, and Molly, eight, and baby son, James
Last October, during an interview with the Associated Press, Hamlin revealed that father Dennis was terminally ill but did not say precisely what his condition was.
In a moving interview with Fox before last month’s Daytona 500, Hamlin explained: ‘I got a call from my sister that said the parents’ house is on fire, the whole house is gone.
‘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.’
Hamlin then spoke about the impact of seeing his father’s body after he had passed away.
‘What made it real was seeing my dad,’ Hamlin said. ‘I saw him lying 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. She saw it all first-hand.’
Hamlin returned for the start of his 21st season and went to Victory Lane with Tyler Reddick as the 23XI Racing driver won the Daytona 500 and then set a NASCAR record by winning the first three races of the year.
Most of the attention went to 23XI co-owner Jordan as Reddick won Daytona, Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas.
Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane with his daughters Molly (left) and Taylor
Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing with NBA legend Michael Jordan (pictured)
‘Tyler did a good job,’ Jordan told Fox Sports in Austin. ‘He beat some good competition.
‘I’m proud of the team we put together. Denny, I’m pretty sure is the same way. He feels the same way as I do. And I think a lot of credit goes to him because he’s the mastermind behind finding Tyler.
‘I think Denny’s done an unbelievable job in terms of helping build this team. And I think this team has done a good job of taking on leadership and just winning. That’s what it’s about. Winning.’
Yet, Hamlin did his part at Las Vegas to put himself back in the spotlight.
