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With only one veteran returning to GMS Racing’s truck series program in Grant Enfinger, the 3-truck team has an impressive lineup of youngsters. We already took a deep dive into Rajah Caruth’s (driver of GMS’s No. 24 Chevy Silverado) budding racing career, and we at the Daily Downforce thought it’d be cool to take a close look at his teammate, driver of the famous #43 for GMS Racing, Daniel Dye.
Daniel Dye has been around racing his entire life. His father, Randy Dye, has been on the Board of Directors for the NASCAR Foundation since 2017. During a pandemic laden 2020, Dye made his first starts in the ARCA Eastern and Western divisions respectively, making 2 starts in the former division which would see him DNF at New Smyrna Raceway though he would score his first top-10 at Five Flags where he would come in 7th.
During the 2020 season, he would drive the iconic #43 for current Truck Series Director, Ben Kennedy. In 2021, he was scheduled to run full-time in the Eastern Division but would only run 4 of his scheduled 8 starts. As he left Ben Kennedy Racing, he moved over to his permanent home at GMS driving their No. 21 car.
He would score his first and only ARCA Series victory at Berlin Raceway in Michigan driving for his new team, holding off no other than 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, Ty Gibbs. He would cap off the season by scoring a 2nd place points finish in the Eastern Division.
Prior to the beginning of the 2022 season, Daniel Dye and GMS Racing made the commitment to go full-time, running all 20 rounds of the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. He would not win a race during the 2022 season though he would go on to finish in the top-5 13 times.
The season was not without controversy, however, as Daniel Dye would be suspended by ARCA after the third race of the season, Talladega. We will talk more about that a little later on. He was eventually reinstated and before the fourth race of the season so he was able to complete the entire ARCA schedule as planned. He finished second in the ARCA Menards Series standings getting edge out by fellow 2023 Truck Series rookie, Nick Sanchez.
After running a number 43 Chevy Silverado stylized after the famous Richard Petty font with Petty’s grandson, Thad Moffit, in 2022 to disappointing results, it was announced in October of 2022 that Daniel Dye would be joining GMS Racing’s truck series lineup for the 2023 season.
After crashing out and finishing a dismal 30th place at Daytona, Dye has run consistently in the top-20 thus far in the 2023 season. Only time will tell how he will progress throughout the season and his career.
Now for the real meat of the story. Remember earlier when I said that Daniel Dye was suspended by ARCA following Talladega and prior to Kansas? Well, this is why.
Daniel Dye was arrested on April 26, 2022 with Felony Battery Charges. Dye is currently a high school student and, in a moment of stupidity crossed with teenage boy immaturity, he punched a fellow student in the groin, causing significant bruising to the boy’s scrotum and possibly a ruptured testicle.
Eventually the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and ARCA reinstated the driver. Daniel Dye stated that it was part of a game boys at his school partake in and seemingly laughed it off. Vanillawafer on YouTube did this video essay about the incident.
Well, I guess that’s everything you need to know about Daniel Dye, his young career, and a very unfortunate/immature incident. Let us know what you think.
