NASCAR great Denny Hamlin has spoken for the first time since losing his father Dennis in a house fire last December in a tragic incident that also left his mother badly hurt.
Dennis, 75, was struggling already with his health due to a lung condition but died from the injuries he sustained in the fire at the couple’s home in Gaston County, North Carolina, on December 28.
He had managed to get out of the burning building thanks to the help from Denny’s mother, Mary Lou, and the NASCAR driver revealed that by the time he had made it to the house, his parents were already on their way to hospital.
In a moving interview with Fox before Sunday’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.
Denny Hamlin has spoken for the first time about losing his father Dennis back in December
His father Dennis died in December from injuries suffered in the horrific fire at their home
NASCAR legend Hamlin had bought the house for his parents, Dennis and Mary Lou
‘What made it real was seeing my dad,’ Hamlin said. ‘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. She saw it all first-hand.’
Hamlin had bought the house that burned down for his parents to live in.
Denny’s mother survived the fire and her recovery is ongoing – in a hugely positive sign, she was even at the Daytona 500 to support her son in Sunday’s race.
‘I’m confident he is with his best friend, George, up there in heaven,’ Hamlin added of his father. ‘Him and George are going to watch me race on Sunday for another Daytona 500.’
Last October, during an interview with Associated Press, Hamlin revealed that father Dennis was terminally ill but did not say precisely what his condition was.
Explaining that his father would not be on hand to watch him try and win November’s NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway, he said: ‘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.’
When he recorded his 60th win in Las Vegas in September, Hamlin fought tears when he spoke with reporters afterwards about the sacrifices his father had made for him to pursue his career.
Hamlin’s father Dennis, pictured alongside his wife Mary Lou, was 75 when he died
‘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,’ Hamlin said.
‘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.
‘He’s a reminiscent guy and right now I am just cherishing those hours that I have with them each week.’
