On Sunday evening, a devastating fire erupted at a home on Blacksnake Road, northeast of Stanley, North Carolina, resulting in one fatality and leaving another individual with life-threatening injuries. The incident, which has drawn significant attention due to its connection with NASCAR star Denny Hamlin, has prompted an ongoing investigation as officials work to determine further details.
Event Response and Emergency Efforts
Authorities from Gaston County received reports shortly after 6 p.m. on December 28 that a residential property was ablaze. Emergency responders arrived to find the structure significantly engulfed, with estimates indicating that between 40 and 45 percent of the home was consumed by fire upon their arrival. Multiple fire departments, anywhere from 10 to 12 according to local officials, collaborated to tackle the flames.
One notable challenge reported by David Toomey, Lucas-Riverbend Fire Department Chief, was the absence of nearby fire hydrants. This necessitated that all water employed to battle the fire be brought in by truck, complicating efforts to control the rapidly advancing blaze.
Occupants Linked to NASCAR Star Denny Hamlin
David Toomey confirmed to news outlets that the residence belonged to Denny Hamlin’s parents, with public records listing Won One Real Estate—a company owned by Hamlin—as the official property owner. While Chief Toomey acknowledged who occupied the house, he did not specify whether Hamlin’s parents were the two individuals hospitalized, and the identities of the deceased and the critically injured remain withheld as authorities await further information and notify next of kin.
Damage Assessment and Recovery of Racing Memorabilia
Chief Toomey described the property as a “total loss,” though emergency crews managed a critical salvage operation in the garage area. According to Toomey, responders were able to preserve valuable racecars and personal racing memorabilia from destruction. As he recounted to The Athletic:
“They had some really expensive cars in the garage and some racing memorabilia and stuff, so all that was saved,”
Toomey, Lucas-Riverbend Fire Department Chief.
“We were able to save all that and get it out so it wasn’t damaged,”
Toomey, Lucas-Riverbend Fire Department Chief.
Denny Hamlin’s Legacy and Connections
Denny Hamlin is renowned in the motorsport community, recognized as a three-time DAYTONA 500 champion and a winner of 60 NASCAR Cup Series races. The Chesterfield, Virginia native currently competes for Joe Gibbs Racing, driving the No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE. Beyond his driving achievements, Hamlin also serves as co-owner of 23XI Racing—a team jointly owned with basketball legend Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk. Recently, 23XI Racing was noted in the news regarding an antitrust lawsuit settlement aimed at improving terms for NASCAR’s chartered teams.
Ongoing Investigation and Community Impact
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, and further details are expected to emerge as the situation develops. The incident has cast uncertainty and concern not just over the future of those directly affected, but also across the local Stanley community and within the broader NASCAR circle. Updates are anticipated as officials release more information and as the families impacted work to recover from this tragic event.
