North Carolina blaze that claimed the life of Denny Hamlin’s father deemed accidental

GASTONIA, N.C. — The house fire in North Carolina that resulted in the death of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s father and injuries to his mother has been classified as accidental, although the exact cause remains unknown.

A report from Gaston County Emergency Management & Fire Services indicated that the fire, which occurred on December 28, started in a bedroom, but the “cause of ignition” is still “undetermined.”

Furthermore, the investigation concluded that the fire was accidental, as stated by Gaston County spokesperson Adam Gaub in an email sent on Friday.

Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were discovered outside their residence on the night of the fire with severe injuries, according to officials. Dennis Hamlin subsequently passed away, while his wife survived.

The residence, situated near Stanley approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Charlotte, was owned by a company that identified Denny Hamlin as its manager, based on government records.

Dennis Hamlin had been seriously ill the previous year, as noted by his son.

Denny Hamlin is a prominent driver in NASCAR’s premier series, having secured 60 NASCAR Cup Series victories, including three Daytona 500 titles. Hamlin and Michael Jordan co-own the car driven by Tyler Reddick, which triumphed in this year’s Daytona 500 last weekend.

Source: espn.com