A few NASCAR fans made headlines for the wrong reasons during this past weekend’s Daytona 500.
For starters, a fan crashed Daniel Suarez’s post-race interview on pit road and shouted, “47! 47, baby!” Most people are convinced that was a reference to President Donald Trump. Others, however, believe it was a nod to Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and his second-place finish – albeit that seems like a reach.
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Although a punishment hasn’t been announced yet, NASCAR fans and media members are calling for a permanent ban.
“Why? Just why?” Joseph Srigley of TobyChristie.com wrote. “I hope it was worth it for that guy because it’ll probably be the last time he’s at a #DAYTONA500 (maybe even a #NASCAR pit road if we’re lucky) in his life.”
NASCAR fans hold up three fingers on Lap 3 of the Daytona 500 to honor Dale Earnhardt, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway.© Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
(© Nadia Zomorodian/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.)
“Needs to be a permanent ban for whoever this is,” Jeff Gluck of The Athletic said.
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“Imagine if a fan went up to Drake Maye after the Super Bowl during a tv interview and touched him,” one person replied. “They would be thrown out by security immediately.”
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have that kind of access,” another person wrote. “As a fan, you must first recognize the teams, media, officials, sponsor are there to work. Even with that, they’re often exceedingly gracious to fans. There’s no excuse to act like that.”
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But wait…there’s more drama.
Footage of a fan apparently scattering ashes on the track during the final lap of the Daytona 500 has already gone viral on social media. Although it’s unclear if NASCAR will punish this person, it’s definitely a safety concern.
The actions behind this gesture might not have been cynical, but it wouldn’t shock us if NASCAR dishes out some form of punishment.
NASCAR’s Cup Series will resume on Feb. 22 with the Autotrader 400.
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This story was originally published by The Spun on Feb 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the NASCAR section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
