A significant fire broke out at a home owned by NASCAR driver and team owner Denny Hamlin in Stanley, North Carolina, on Sunday night, resulting in two individuals being hospitalized for potential smoke inhalation. The Denny Hamlin house fire prompted an extensive emergency response, while valuables and vehicles were rescued from the scene.
Emergency Response Challenged by Water Access
The blaze was reported at 6:19 p.m. ET, according to David Toomey, Chief of the Lucia Riverbend Fire Department. When responders arrived at Hamlin’s Gaston County property, nearly half of the home was already engulfed. The fire required approximately two hours to be extinguished due to the absence of nearby hydrants, which forced firefighters to bring in water via tanker trucks.
“Well, this house was about 40-45% involved when we got here. Of course, where we are located there are no hydrants, so all the water had to be trucked in and there were times we would run out of water and we had to wait for more water to get here,”
David Toomey, Lucia Riverbend Fire Department Chief.
“We had to call for more, additional tankers throughout the county.”
David Toomey, Lucia Riverbend Fire Department Chief.
Property Damage and Notable Rescues
The house, owned via Hamlin’s real estate firm Won One Real Estate, is home to his parents, as confirmed to local media by neighbors. First responders succeeded in preserving valuable racing memorabilia and several high-value cars from fire damage, as Toomey later told The Athletic. Despite the losses to the structure, these efforts prevented greater personal and financial loss.
Background on Denny Hamlin and Recent News
Denny Hamlin, 45, is a distinguished NASCAR figure, co-owning 23XI Racing with basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. He recently completed the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series in second place and has a career spanning 60 top-level wins. Earlier in the month, Hamlin’s team, along with Front Row Motorsports, reached a settlement in a multimillion-dollar antitrust legal dispute with NASCAR, marking a notable recent event involving the organization.
Aftermath and Forward Outlook
The fire leaves Hamlin’s parents’ house extensively damaged, with two individuals receiving medical attention due to smoke exposure. While the incident caused frustration and concern in the Stanley, N.C. community, the swift response by firefighters helped preserve significant property of sentimental and material value. The situation underscores both the risks homeowners face in rural areas without hydrant access and the critical role of coordinated emergency services in responding to such crises.
