NASCAR lifts Daniel Dye suspension over ‘gay voice’ comments – but driver parts ways with Kaulig Racing
The driver was previously suspended at 18 years old after being charged with felony battery for punching a classmate in the groin area
By Eve Ellis
Daniel Dye has been reinstated by NASCAR following the second suspension of his career over homophobic remarks directed at IndyCar’s David Malukas.
The driver will not, however, return to Kaulig Racing, with the team confirming it has accepted his resignation.
In the video, which circulated last month (17 March), another participant told Craftsman Truck Series driver Dye that Malukas “plays for the other team”.
NASCAR previously suspended Daniel Dye and ordered him to undergo sensitivity training
After the comment, Dye mimicked Malukas, who competes in the IndyCar Series for Team Penske, using what he called a “David Malukas gay voice”.
He said: “It’s like ‘Oh my gosh, yas, we race Indianapolis. Love Indianapolis and Roger Penske, I love Roger, love you Roger.”
— Daniel Dye (@danieldye43) March 31, 2026
“As soon as I start doing a David Malukas gay voice, I get a gold, so let’s keep it going,” he added, referring to the rare ‘gold’ cards streamers chase when opening packs live online.
Following the incident, NASCAR suspended Dye and ordered him to undergo sensitivity training in line with its code of conduct that explicitly states criticism against “sexual orientation” or “gender” is not allowed.
Kaulig Racing said in a post that it accepted his resignation and wishes him well
“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,” Dye posted on X about the controversy.
Kaulig Racing said in a post that it accepted his resignation and wishes him well. Corey LaJoie will take over the No.10 truck.
Dye previously issued an apology on the platform, describing his comments as “careless”.
“I want to first apologise to David Malukas,” he said. “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.”
David Malukas himself has not yet addressed the comment
“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 realise that a true friend would know better than to act the way I did and for that I need to be a better friend.”
This isn’t Dye’s first suspension – the driver was previously suspended in 2022 after being charged with felony battery for punching a classmate in the groin area.
Malukas himself has not yet addressed the comments.