The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) indefinitely suspended 22-year-old driver Daniel Dye for mocking IndyCar driver David Malukas and insinuating that he is gay during a recent livestream, Outsports reported. Kaulig Racing, Malukas’ team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, also indefinitely suspended him for his homophobic comments.

NASCAR said Dye must complete sensitivity training before he may return to competition. Dye has since apologized, saying he meant no offense and adding, “I should hold myself to a higher standard.”

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While opening packs of sports cards on the Whatnot video streaming platform, another person said that Malukas “plays for the other team” (a euphemism for being gay). Malukas, a 24-year-old racer, has never publicly identified as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and regularly posts pictures on social media with a girlfriend, Outsports noted.

Dye then used a lispy, high-pitched voice to imitate Malukas, saying, “It’s like ‘Oh my gosh, we race Indianapolis. Love Indianapolis and Roger Penske, I love Roger, love you Roger!'” He later referred to his imitation as a “David Malukas gay voice.”

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Dye’s actions violated NASCAR rules prohibiting members from criticizing, ridiculing, or otherwise disparaging “another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, or handicapping condition.”

On Wednesday, Dye apologized in social media posts, saying, “I chose my words poorly and I understand why it upset people. I’m sorry to anyone I offended…. 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 realized that a true friend would know better than to act the way I did, and for that I need to be a better friend,” Dye continued. “What I said was a roughly 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 always 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,” he added.

In 2022, Dye was suspended from ARCA competition, a premier American stock car organization owned by NASCAR, for allegedly punching a high school classmate in the groin. The alleged attack resulted in a felony charge that was reduced to a misdemeanor before eventually being dropped, NBC News reported.

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