NASCAR announced an indefinite suspension for Craftsman Truck Series driver Daniel Dye on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after he made disparaging remarks about NTT IndyCar Series driver David Malukas during a livestream that went viral on social media.[1][2]

Dye, a 24-year-old driver from Horton, Alabama, races full-time for GMS Racing in the No. 43 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.[3] In the video, Dye mocked Malukas' voice, describing it as "gay" and referencing his sexuality.[1]

The incident marks the second suspension of Dye's career. In October 2020, at age 18, he was indefinitely suspended by the ARCA Menards Series following an arrest on a felony battery charge for allegedly punching a classmate in the groin, which required hospital treatment for a potential ruptured testicle; the charge was later reduced to misdemeanor assault, and he was reinstated in December 2020 after completing requirements including sensitivity training.[4][5]

David Malukas Jr., a 23-year-old Lithuanian-American driver, competes in the NTT IndyCar Series; he most recently raced with A.J. Foyt Enterprises ahead of the 2025 season following a leg injury that sidelined him for much of 2024.[6][7] Malukas has not publicly commented on the incident.

Dye issued an apology on X, stating: "I 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."[1] He added that he has friends in the LGBTQ+ community and committed to sensitivity training ordered by NASCAR, along with personal efforts to be more respectful.[1][2]

The suspension came shortly after Dye competed in the ARCA Daytona 200 on February 14, 2026, and the Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 qualifying on February 13, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway.[1]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital, "NASCAR driver Daniel Dye was suspended indefinitely Tuesday after making disparaging remarks about IndyCar driver David Malukas", February 18, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nascar-driver-daniel-dye-suspended-indefinitely-malukas-livestream
2. NASCAR.com, "NASCAR suspends Daniel Dye indefinitely", February 17, 2026, https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2026/02/17/nascar-suspends-truck-series-driver-daniel-dye-indefinitely/
3. Wikipedia, "Daniel Dye (racing driver)", accessed February 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Dye_(racing_driver)
4. NASCAR.com, "ARCA indefinitely suspends driver Daniel Dye", October 15, 2020, https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/10/15/arca-menards-series-driver-daniel-dye-indefinitely-suspended/
5. RACER.com, "ARCA suspends Dye indefinitely", October 15, 2020, https://racer.com/2020/10/15/arca-suspends-dye-indefinitely/
6. Wikipedia, "David Malukas Jr.", accessed February 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Malukas_Jr.
7. IndyCar.com, "A.J. Foyt Racing signs David Malukas Jr.", November 2024, https://www.indycar.com/News/2024/11/11-21-AJ-Foyt-Racing-signs-David-Malukas-Jr