NASCAR star Denny Hamlin has had the support of his parents, Mary Lou and Dennis, on his rise to the top of the motorsports world. Tragedy struck the Hamlin family on December 28, 2025 when a North Carolina residence owned by Denny and home to his parents burst into flames. The following day, officials revealed that one person was killed in the fire and another was hospitalized with "life-threatening" injuries. The names of the two victims have not been released. It is unclear if anybody else was at the home at the time of the fire. Greg Biffle's Holiday Card Arrived at Friends' Homes After Fatal Plane Crash Fire crews were dispatched to the home around 6:20 p.m. on December 28, and the blaze took nearly two hours to contain. Dennis and Mary Lou have been staples of the NASCAR community throughout their son's prolific career. According to the Associated Press, Dennis "took out multiple mortgages on his Virginia home, maxed out every credit card and nearly went broke" in attempting to finance Denny's passion. "My parents have gone through so much," Denny told USA Today in 2006. "Now, it's my job to get those debts paid off and let them lead the happy life they deserve." All of their support paid off tenfold, with Denny becoming one of the biggest and most recognizable names in all of motorsports. That success culminated in a second-place finish in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series standings in 2025. For more on Mary Lou and Dennis Hamlin, keep reading. Who Is Denny Hamlin's Mother, Mary Lou Hamlin? Mary Lou grew up the youngest of six siblings in Tampa, Florida. She met Dennis when she was in junior high school - Mary Lou was 15, Dennis was a 21-year-old divorced father of 2 - and the couple got married in December 1973, Mary Lou's senior year of high school. Shortly after giving birth to Denny, Mary Lou recalled how her son had a one-track mind about his future. Courtesy of Mary Lou Clark Hamlin/Facebook "He never wanted to be anything but a racecar driver," Mary Lou told Skirts and Scuffs in 2010. "From the age of 3 you would ask him what he was going to be and that was it. Even through his elementary school, his teachers knew that was his passion. I guess because I never had a strong passion like that, I have been in awe about someone who knew what they wanted to do with their life at such a young age." In recent years, Mary Lou has enjoyed spending time with Denny's three children he shares with his fiancée, Jordan Fish: daughters Taylor and Molly, born in 2013 and 2017, respectively, and son Jameson, born in June 2025. Mary Lou and Dennis also share a daughter, Lisa. "Happy Birthday to my beautiful sister @lisamarie.chapman," Denny wrote via social media in 2020. "Thanks for always being there for me when I needed you the most. Love ya Sis ❤️." Who Is Denny Hamlin's Dad, Dennis Hamlin? While Dennis was mainly responsible for financially supporting Denny in the early days of his career, he has largely stayed out of the spotlight. However, that all changed in 2025 when the Hamlin family revealed Dennis was battling a terminal disease. Denny, who has never won a NASCAR Cup Series title, discussed his father's illness ahead of November's NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. "I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it," Denny told the Associated Press in October. "I don't want him going and never getting to see the moment." Courtesy of Mary Lou Clark Hamlin/Facebook Denny ultimately finished second overall, just four points behind winner Kyle Larson. After emerging victorious at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September 2025, Denny emotionally discussed a recent conversation with his father at Dennis and Mary Lou's home. "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." What Are the Details of the Fire at Denny Hamlin's Parents' House? Chief David Toomey of the Lucia Riverbend Fire Department told The Athletic that the fire was reported at 6:19 p.m. ET on December 28, 2025. Toomey said 40 to 45 percent of the home was already on fire when officials arrived at the site. The chief explained that 10 to 15 fire departments responded to the call due to a lack of fire hydrants in the highly-wooded area. The Hamlins' home was described as a "total loss." "They had some really expensive cars in the garage and some racing memorabilia and stuff, so all that was saved," Toomey told The Athletic. "We were able to save all that and get it out so it wasn't damaged."