By Jerry Jordan, Editor
Officials with the ARCA Menards Series have confirmed that Daniel Dye is reinstated and cleared to drive this weekend at Kansas Speedway in the Dutch Boy 150 after a felony battery charge against him was reduced to a misdemeanor.
“Daniel Dye’s indefinite suspension has been lifted,” according to a statement released by ARCA Menard He has been approved to return to all ARCA racing activities effective Friday, May 13, 2022.
GMS Racing also confirmed Dye’s spot behind the wheel in their own statement, “Today, ARCA Menards Series officials announced that GMS Racing Daniel Dye was reinstated for competition. Dye and the No. 43 Chevrolet team will compete in Saturday’s event at Kansas Speedway.”
The third-degree felony came after Dye and another induvial attending the same high school were allegedly cutting up in class and Dye hit the other student in the groin, per the original Kickin’ the Tire article.
By his own admission, Dye confirmed how the incident happened that resulted in his arrest and being brought to the Volusia County Branch Jail on a $2,500 bond on April 26.
“I think it is important to explain what happened that led local police officers to take me into custody,” Dye wrote in a statement on his website – DanielDyeRacing.com – announcing that his suspension from ARCA had been listed. “The facts are that me and my classmates have been engaged in a silly and admittedly immature game commonly played at the school between boys and involves hitting each other in the groin area. This has been going on since we were in the 9th grade. The other student “got me” and then I got him back. I want to be very clear that nobody was trying to seriously injure anyone in the game and I am relieved to know that the other student has recovered.”
According to the Volusia County website, all court proceedings in the felony have been “closed” and “canceled.” A subsequent search of misdemeanor cases showed Dye’s charge is now simply, “Battery.”
According to Florida legal statutes, both battery and felony battery appear under the same criminal statute Title XLVI CRIMES, Chapter 784, ASSAULT; BATTERY; CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE, SECTION 03, “(1)(a) The offense of battery occurs when a person: 1. Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other; or 2. Intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.”
The case file confirms the reduction in charge as of Friday, May 13. Dye and his attorney, Aaron Delgado, are scheduled to appear on the new misdemeanor charge at 1:30 p.m. on June 7, for a pre-trial hearing. The official court date has been set for June 22 at 8:30 a.m. at this time.
“I am grateful to be able to pursue my ambition as a professional race car driver and will do everything in my power to rise above this incident and continue to be a positive example to others,” Dye wrote in his statement. “That continues this weekend at Kansas Speedway.”
–Staff writer Justin Schuoler contributed to this report.