---
title: "Conor Daly’s NASCAR Backing Pulled After Father’s Alleged Use of the N-Word"
description: "The racial slur appears to have been said in the '80s, years before Daly was even born."
date: "2018-08-25"
modified: "2018-08-25"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/23138/conor-dalys-nascar-backing-pulled-after-fathers-alleged-use-of-the-n-word"
categories:
  - "NASCAR"
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Conor Daly"
  - "Mustang"
  - "racing"
  - "Racing News"
  - "Road America"
  - "Roush Fenway Racing"
  - "Xfinity Series"
---

# Conor Daly’s NASCAR Backing Pulled After Father’s Alleged Use of the N-Word

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/08/gettyimages-960280176.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

American racing driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series [Conor Daly](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19660/the-casual-fans-2018-indycar-spotters-guide>) will no longer be sponsored by Eli Lilly due to allegations that his father, former IndyCar and Formula 1 driver Derek Daly, used the N-word during a radio interview in the early '80s.

The allegations surfaced last week when the employee of an Indianapolis radio station overheard longtime NFL Colts radio commentator Bob Lamey narrate a story that took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway nearly 30 years ago. According to the [*Indy Star*](<https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2018/08/24/eli-lilly-pulls-sponsorship-conor-daly-nascar-ride-road-america-racial-slur-derek-daly/1089166002/>), Lamey's usage of the actual N-word while retelling his story motivated the anonymous employee to submit a complaint to the company's HR department, which resulted in an investigation that targeted Derek Daly as the culprit. As a result, Lamey was forced into retirement, Derek Daly was fired from his racing analyst position at a local TV station, and his son Conor, who wasn't even born when the racial slur was allegedly said, lost his main sponsor.

![message-editor%2F1535232850569-gettyimages-1022766168.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1535232850569-gettyimages-1022766168.jpg>)
**GETTY**

“Our sponsorship in Saturday’s race is intended to raise awareness of treatment options and resources for people living with diabetes," read an Eli Lilly statement released on Friday. "Unfortunately, the comments that surfaced this week by Derek Daly distract from this focus, so we have made the decision that Lilly Diabetes will no longer run the No. 6 at Road America this weekend. We remain committed to our mission of supporting people with diabetes.”

Sources close to Conor Daly shared with *The Drive* that although the decision made by Eli Lilly was unforeseen and disappointing, the former GP2, GP3 and [IndyCar driver](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22358/conor-daly-retains-harding-seat-for-indycar-mid-ohio-race>) remains focused on delivering a great result at Road America. Despite being unfairly forced to pay for his father's actions from over 30 years ago, Daly released a class-act statement on Twitter where he thanked his team, fans and even the pharma company for its support up until that point.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1033141329436528640

In what's been a year from hell for the popular Indianapolis native, this recent announcement will see his chances for finding a full-time racing gig with Roush Fenway Racing diminish after being forced to run the Road America round of the Xfinity Series without a headlining sponsor. Daly, who has Type I diabetes, partnered with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly to spread awareness of its Drive Down A1C initiative and motivate others to improve or manage their health, much like fellow IndyCar driver [Charlie Kimball](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/19660/the-casual-fans-2018-indycar-spotters-guide>) has done with a different pharmaceutical company.

Following two races with new IndyCar team Harding Racing, Daly jumped behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang stock car and qualified 15th for Saturday's NASCAR race at [Road America](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/21771/relive-the-atmosphere-of-road-americas-racing-weekend>). No other announcements have been made regarding his future in IndyCar or NASCAR.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)