Kaulig Racing and NASCAR suspended Craftsman Truck Series driver Daniel Dye over remarks he made online about NTT INDYCAR Series driver David Malukas.
Kaulig Racing and NASCAR suspended Craftsman Truck Series driver Daniel Dye over remarks he made online about NTT INDYCAR Series driver David Malukas.
Dye made remarks on a stream, making allegations about Malukas' sexuality based on his voice and speaking in a "David Malukas gay voice." NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Brent Crews is seen in the video, quietly excusing himself from the conversation as Dye starts to speak in the voice.
Dye was vaguely referring to an appearance Malukas made during the Trucks' weekend with INDYCAR at St. Pete.
This isn't the first time Dye has been in trouble. In late-April of 2022, ARCA suspended Dye over an incident at his high school where he allegedly punched someone in the groin and may have ruptured that person's testicle. Weeks later, in mid-May, ARCA reinstated him right before charges were dropped.
The next two years, in 2023 and 2024, Dye raced full-time for GMS Racing and then Bill McAnally Racing. He made the Chase in his second year, scoring two top-five finishes, nine top-10 finishes and a 10th-place finish in points.
When Dye moved up to the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series with Kaulig Racing in 2025, he scored eight top-10s in 33 races and finished 20th in points.
In 2026, Dye has competed in three races in the Craftsman Truck Series so far this year. He finished 17th at Daytona, 13th at EchoPark Speedway Atlanta and 17th at St. Petersburg.
Now, it's unclear when Dye will be back. He issued this statement on the suspension:
"want to first apologize to David Malukas. I recently went on a live stream with some friends and made some careless
comments. I chose my words poorly, and I understand why it upset people. I'm sorry to anyone who was offended. That's not how I want to represent myself.
I have some close friends in the LGBTQ+ community who I would never want to feel less of themselves because of what I said, and that's exactly why I should hold myself to a higher standard. In talking with them, I realize that a true friend would know better than to act the way I did and for that I need to be a better friend. What I said doesn't reflect how I feel about them or anyone else.
I didn't think enough before I spoke, and I in no way meant any harm. I know that intention does not erase impact and I need to do better.
I'm taking this seriously and working on being more aware and respectful moving forward. I'm sorry to everyone I let down. I am committed to learning from this and better understanding that the impact that my decisions can have on others. That includes educating myself, listening to those affected, and taking meaningful steps to ensure my actions reflect respect and inclusivity going forward.
I know I've got a platform and a responsibility, and I need to use it better."