Internal Conflict Stirs Up at McAnally-Hilgemann Racing After Daniel Dye Tells Spotter to “Kiss his A**”

Although family is an essential part of NASCAR, it can act as a double-edged sword. When second-generation drivers like Earnhardt Jr succeed in living up to the legacy left behind by their fathers, fans rejoice all around. But if they fail to live up to expectations, the community is the first to point out the missed opportunity. That’s exactly the predicament that Daniel Dye found himself in after an altercation with his spotter during the Martinsville Truck Series race.

As Dye makes his full-time NCTS debut with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing this year, the pressure was higher than ever owing to his father’s ties with the sport. But now that Daniel Dye’s Silverado is failing miserably compared to the other MHR cars, tensions may have reached a boiling point within the #43 garage.

Daniel Dye’s full-time Truck Series debut unravels for the worst at Martinsville

The 2024 Long John’s Silver 200 was a race filled with spins, chaos, and dominance by the #19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing car driven by Christian Eckes. The #18 HMR car, belonging to Tyler Ankdum, also brought home a solid top-five result. However, Daniel Dye’s race was nothing like his teammates’. Throughout the race, the #43 quickly was mocked on social media owing to how frequently his onboard camera caught an incident.

Every few laps, it would appear that Daniel Dye was in the midst of chaos once again. This theme kept on going until Dye inevitably tagged up a few other Trucks, resulting in a major pile-up. Drivers like Kaden Honeycutt had tried their best to get past Dye, but the rough taxing may have been too much, as it also left a ginormous dent on the #45’s hood. But that wasn’t all, Layne Riggs and Spencer Boyd both spun out after the #43 rubbed paint with the former.

Naturally, fans weren’t too happy with Daniel Dye’s performance. But neither was his spotter. Speaking of which, Speedway Digest insider Brett Winningham, took to X and shared the heated conversation between Dye and the #43 spotter. He stated, “You and I are gonna have a chat when the race is over because there’s a reason why you’re six spots …” says the spotter of the 43 of Dye. On what I’m assuming is their second channel: “This kid tells me to kiss his a** one more time you’re going to be down there on the box by yourself.”

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It seems like this weekend at Martinsville  Speedway may have touched a nerve within the team as Dye reportedly told his spotter to ‘kiss his a**’, something that even veterans refrain from doing. Compared to his teammate’s top fives, Dye’s run outside the top ten certainly made the dynamic worse between him and his spotter. So when the #43 crossed the checkered flag to finish in 13th, the NASCAR community pulled no punches against his behavior.

Fans on Reddit call out Daniel Dye’s family ties amidst the #43’s struggles

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While it’s safe to say there’s a lot of pressure on Daniel Dye, why would that be the case for a 20-year-old rookie? The answer might lie in the connection his father has to the sport. Randy Dye is not just a veteran in the late model racing scene but is also a vital part of the Daytona community as a businessman and leader. Through his Dodge Chrysler Jeep and Maserati Afa Romeo dealerships, Dye has also gained a solid footing with NASCAR executives.

Naturally, the family’s ties with NASCAR teams and officials put Daniel Dye’s debut as a second-generation racer under great pressure. So after things went ugly at Martinsville within the #43 garage, fans pointed out that Dye seems to be missing out on his golden opportunity. This user pulled no punches as they shared, “What happens when spoiled brats get fast rides. Crazy how much better Eckes and Ankrum are running compared to him.”

Anyone catch Daniel Dye and his spotter going at it on the radio?
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Compared to Tyler Ankrum’s P5 and Eckes’ win, Daniel Dye has a lot of work to do after Martinsville to turn around fan sentiment. Users were clearly not happy with the third MHR car’s performance. Fans commented, “Legitimately crazy that’s all one team. If Ankrum can come out of nowhere and compete every week while you’re struggling to crack the top 15, something ain’t right.”

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At the same time, others were only now catching on – “Guess I haven’t been paying attention, didn’t realize Dye has been as rough as he has until this thread. His teammates are 3rd and 4th in owner points and he’s 17th.” But the critics were the most ruthless. Continuing along the theme of calling Daniel Dye a ‘pay driver’ of sorts, fans resorted to calling out the family ties. Another user shared, “Nothing another check from Daddy Dye can’t fix..”

At the end of the day, the pressure seemed to be poling on Dye not just from his spotter but also the fandom. A keen-eyed viewer laid out the current scenario; “It really is, considering the other BMR guys seem to be on the ball. You’d think Dye could crack the top 10 when Ankrum and Eckes are pumping out top 5s, but it’s not a stretch to say he’s struggling.”

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Now that Daniel Dye’s full-time NCTS debut seems to be off the rails, can the #43 crew get up to speed with their MHR counterparts before the playoffs?