Denny Hamlin has revealed that his father, Dennis Hamlin, has been battling a serious, undisclosed illness for several months now. And as Hamlin enters the Phoenix final at 44 years old, he carries not only the weight of his legacy but also the heartbreak of knowing his father, now 75, is too ill to attend.

Speaking to the Associated Press ahead of the finale, Hamlin said , “I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment.”

The first time Danny mentioned his father’s health publicly was in September, following his win at the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway. In his victory interview, Hamlin became emotional, saying, “And so happy to get this victory and my dad’s not feeling well at home. So j

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