A fire destroyed a home owned by Denny Hamlin in Stanley, North Carolina, on Sunday night, sending two people to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation. The house has been the longtime home of Hamlin’s parents, according to property records. Fire officials described the damage as severe and said the structure did not survive.
According to Jordan Bianchi and Matt Moret of The Athletic, the fire was reported at 6:19 p.m. ET on December 28 in a wooded area of Gaston County. Emergency crews arrived to find a large portion of the house already burning. Both people taken to the hospital were outside when firefighters reached the scene, and officials did not release their identities.
Fire response and conditions at the scene
Firefighters faced significant challenges because the home is located in a rural area without nearby fire hydrants. According to The Athletic, between 10 and 15 fire departments responded to the scene to help haul water and control the blaze. Flames pushed through the roof and sides of the house for several hours. Crews did not fully wrap up operations until close to midnight.
Lucia Riverbend Fire Department Chief David Toomey said the fire had already spread quickly before crews arrived. According to The Athletic, Toomey stated that approximately 40 to 45 percent of the structure was burning when firefighters arrived at the property. He later confirmed the home was a total loss.
Firefighters were still able to save items from the garage. “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.”
Officials said the two people taken to the hospital were treated for possible smoke inhalation. As of Monday, authorities had not provided updates on their conditions.
Denny Hamlin’s home details and family connection
Property records show the house measured 3,724 square feet and was built in 2015. According to The Athletic, the property sits on 1.76 acres and is owned by Won One Real Estate, a company owned by Hamlin. The company purchased the land in 2014 and built the home the following year.
Neighbors identified the residence as the longtime home of Hamlin’s parents. Emergency vehicles lined Blacksnake Road throughout the evening as crews worked to control the fire.
Hamlin has not issued a public statement about the incident. According to Soumava Datta of Profootballnetwork.com, local officials have not confirmed who was inside the home when the fire started, and Hamlin remained silent publicly as of Monday morning. Authorities later confirmed that both individuals made it out of the house before firefighters arrived.
Fire occurred during a difficult offseason for Hamlin
The fire adds to an already challenging offseason for Hamlin. According to Pro Football Network, the incident came only weeks after Hamlin’s 23XI Racing team finalized a multimillion-dollar antitrust lawsuit settlement involving NASCAR.
On the track, Hamlin remains one of NASCAR’s top drivers. He won six races during the 2025 season and recorded 14 top-five finishes. He finished second in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, four points behind champion Kyle Larson.
Fire officials said investigators are still working to determine the cause of the blaze. As of December 29, authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, and no cause has been announced.
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