GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina house fire that killed NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s father and injured his mother has been ruled an accident, but it’s not yet clear what caused the blaze.
A report from the Gaston County Emergency Management and Fire Department said the Dec. 28 fire at the two-story home originated in a bedroom, but the cause “has not yet been determined.”
Otherwise, the investigation determined the fire was accidental, Gaston County spokesman Adam Gaub wrote in an email Friday.
Hamlin’s parents, Dennis and Mary Lou Hamlin, were found seriously injured outside their home the night of the fire, officials said. Dennis Hamlin, 75, later died, and his wife survives.
The home, located near Stanley, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Charlotte, is owned by a company with Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to government records.
Dennis Hamlin’s son previously said he became very ill last year.
Denny Hamlin is a leading driver on NASCAR’s premier circuit with 60 NASCAR Cup Series wins, including three Daytona 500 wins. Hamlin and Michael Jordan co-own the car driven by Tyler Reddick that won this year’s Daytona 500 last weekend.