The NASCAR world came to a standstill when it heard the unfortunate news of Denny Hamlin’s father’s passing in a tragic house fire in December. A couple of months later, as Hamlin and the garage gear up to begin the season at Daytona, FOX Sports paid tribute to the late Dennis Hamlin and showcased it to the world just ahead of the race, leaving fans teary-eyed and emotional.

FOX Sports’ dedicated documentary on Dennis Hamlin

Ahead of the 2026 Daytona 500, FOX Sports aired a documentary on television, in which the JGR star discussed his father’s impact on his life and NASCAR career. During this time, he recalled how Hamlin Sr. had to sell the family home twice and sell classic cars to fund his son’s racing career.

In the documentary, Hamlin also stated how he and his father shared a common dream of a Cup Series championship, something the #11 driver failed to achieve while Dennis Hamlin was alive. Interestingly, Dennis Hamlin, who is no longer in this world, also vowed to smoke a cigar gifted by Michael Jordan, a friend and co-owner of the JGR star, if Hamlin won the Cup Series title.

However, a tragic incident on December 28, 2025, changed Denny Hamlin’s course of life when Dennis Hamlin’s family home caught fire, killing him and injuring his wife. Hamlin Sr. died after suffering burns, while Mary Lou Hamlin also suffered critical injuries, but she survived.

“I got a call from my sister that said the parents’ house is on fire, that said that the whole house is gone,” an animated Hamlin said in the interview. “My mom took him (father) from the bedroom to the outside on the front yard. I was just driving so fast to try to get there, and they said that they had already been taken to the hospital.”

Prior to his father’s death, Denny Hamlin revealed that his father suffered from a terminal illness, which brings out the fact that the 2025 Cup Series season was perhaps the last time Dennis Hamlin could have seen his son picking up the prestigious NASCAR trophy.

As Hamlin’s father is resting in peace, his mother decided to accompany him at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, where the JGR star geared up to secure his fourth win in the Great American Race.

Fans react as FOX aired the documentary ahead of Daytona 500

“Definitely made my eyes sweat. Great to see Mary Lou there today,” wrote a fan, sharing his thoughts as FOX aired the documentary where he spotted Denny Hamlin‘s mother, Mary Lou Hamlin.

“It was good. Not the heart tugger that you’d typically get from a Rinaldi interview but I think that had to do with Denny’s calm demeanor,” wrote another fan, analyzing Hamlin’s demeanor and how Rinaldi portrayed the entire documentary.

“Hard to listen to. Heartbreaking and will make a grown man cry. Tom Rinaldi does such a fabulous job telling a story,” another fan wrote as he watched the documentary and praised Tom Rinaldi, the FOX Sports host.

“It was really good. I teared up especially when he said what the one thing that didn’t get destroyed in the fire,” a fan wrote, recalling how an emotional Denny Hamlin looked in the documentary, and the diary that didn’t burn in the fire.

“It was really good and emotional. I can’t believe his mom is there today. Glad to see she’s ok!,” wrote another fan, as he spotted Mary Lou Hamlin at the Daytona International Speedway ahead of the Daytona 500.

Dennis Hamlin passed away at the age of 75. However, before leaving, he helped nurture a driver who has become one of the best drivers in NASCAR history, without a doubt.