NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin is breaking his silence after the death of his father, Dennis Hamlin, after a house fire. "Thank you to everyone who has reached out with condolences on my father's passing," Denny, 45, wrote via X on Wednesday, December 31. "My mother continues to improve, and our family truly appreciates the outpouring of support and the respect for our privacy during this time." The Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services confirmed on Monday, December 29 - according to WSOC-TV - that Dennis, 75, died after a fire in their North Carolina home. Denny's mother, Mary Lou, remains in the hospital. Her injuries were initially described by authorities as "life-threatening." Dennis and Mary Lou, 69, were both transported to a local hospital with "catastrophic injuries." Us Weekly reached out to Gaston County EMS for comment at the time. NASCAR Star Denny Hamlin's Father Killed, Mother Hospitalized After House Fire The fire began on Sunday, with crews receiving a call around 6:20 p.m. ET. The fire took approximately two hours to extinguish once on scene. "I was horrified last night for them," a neighbor who wanted to stay anonymous told WSOC. "I felt so bad to see it in person." Brett Hager, a neighbor of the family, told WSOC, "Our driveway was full of volunteer firemen and vehicles, and our yards were lined and all that. The people that came out to help did their jobs." Meg Oliphant/Getty Images When first responders arrived, 40 to 45 percent of the Hamlin's home was already on fire, Lucia Riverbend Fire Department's David Toomey told The Athletic. Toomey shared that 10 to 12 fire crews worked together to fight the blaze as the heavily wooded area around the home did not have fire hydrants. All of the water had to be trucked in. No cause for the fire has been given. The investigation is ongoing. NASCAR's Denny Hamlin Cries Over Ailing Father During Courtroom Testimony Months before the fire, Denny had been candid about the health of his father, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed terminal illness. (The family did not disclose the specifics of the health battle.) "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." After winning the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September, Denny recalled a conversation he had with his father. "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 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." Denny continued, "He's the one that got me into racing. Just took me to a race track when I was 5, then made all the sacrifices financially to keep me going. Sold everything they had. We almost lost our house a couple times. Just tried to keep it all going."