Daniel Dye reinstated by NASCAR after ‘gay voice’ jibe as he resigns from team
Daniel Dye was suspended from NASCAR after mocking David Malukas in a homophobic tone. (Image: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NASCAR has reinstated Craftsman Truck Series driver Daniel Dye after suspending him over remarks in which he mimicked IndyCar driver David Malukas using what he called a “gay voice”, but Kaulig Racing says it has accepted Dye’s resignation and he will not return to the team.
Dye addressed the controversy in a post on X on 31 March.
A clip circulated on 17 March from a livestream in which another participant told Dye that Malukas “plays for the other team”. Dye then mimicked IndyCar Series Team Penske’s Malukas, using what he described as “David Malukas gay voice”.
In the video, Dye said: “It’s like ‘Oh my gosh, yas, we race Indianapolis. Love Indianapolis and Roger Penske, I love Roger, love you Roger.’” He also added: “As soon as I start doing a David Malukas gay voice, I get a gold, so let’s keep it going,” referring to rare “gold” cards sought during livestream pack openings.
NASCAR suspended Dye and he was made to undergo sensitivity training, as per the organisation’s code of conduct. It explicitly states criticism of “sexual orientation” or “gender” is forbidden.
Kaulig Racing has confirmed it accepted Dye’s resignation and that he will not return to the team. Corey LaJoie will take over the No10 truck.
Apology and resignation
After the clip circulated, Dye posted an apology on X, describing his comments as “careless”. “I want to first apologise to David Malukas,” he wrote. “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.”
In his 31 March post, Dye wrote: “After a lot of honest self-reflection and guidance from mentors I trust, I’ve decided the smartest move for my career is to realign my focus on my long-term objective of becoming a successful driver at the highest level of stock car racing,” alongside video from the livestream.
This was not Dye’s first suspension. He was suspended in 2022 after he was charged with felony battery for punching a classmate in the groin.
