Denny Hamlin's mother, Mary Lou Hamlin, was critically injured in a Dec. 27 house fire that took his father's life. During a recent news conference, the NASCAR star provided an update on his mother's condition.
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"She's getting better, she's actually down in Florida with some family this week, so she's definitely getting better," Hamlin said. "Physically and mentally, it will certainly take some time. But it feels like she's getting in a better place."
It's been a rough start to 2026 for Hamlin, dealing with the loss of his father and his mother's recovery. Unfortunately, when sifting through the debris of his parents' now burned-down house, he also felt the effects of a previous shoulder injury following a fall.
"I don't think that it ever healed properly," Hamlin said on Wednesday. "Just noticed some issues, really kind of right after the season. It just was nagging me a little bit. Took a little fall at my mom's house, going through all the rubble and stuff and just didn't feel right. Got it re-scanned and re-tore it again."
Nevertheless, Hamlin appeared to be in good spirits ahead of the Cook Out Clash preseason exhibition at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Denny Hamlin Plans To Race Despite His Shoulder Injury
During that same news conference, Hamlin admitted that it's too late to receive surgery on his shoulder if he still wants to participate in this years Cup Series. As such, he's made the decision to race through the pain.
"I'm gonna have to go the rest of the season the way I was before there," Hamlin said. "I don't think that it ever healed properly. Just noticed some issues, really kind of right after the season. It just was nagging me a little bit. Took a little fall at my mom's house, going through all the rubble and stuff and just didn't feel right. Got it re-scanned and re-tore it again."
Hamlin was honest about the impact the injury could have on his racing ability. He admitted that he will limit his activities throughout the Cup Series with the hope of getting it fixed later in the year.
"Limiting, honestly, the things I love to do. That's not going to be a priority during the season, unfortunately. So I'm just going to miss out on a lot of the fun things, but I can't do some things I like to do, simply because that aggravates it, and it certainly causes the tear to get worse. It's kind of hanging on. It's torn, but it's still got a little few parts and pieces hanging on that I need to keep intact for the full year."
Considering the fire was only five weeks ago, Hamlin is showing incredible commitment and mental fortitude by participating in the Cup Series this year, and that alone should be commended.
