In a recent twist of unexpected wildlife encounters during racing, the Josh Berry bird strike incident at Talladega NASCAR race was quickly followed by Ty Dillon colliding with a squirrel at Michigan. The sport has faced back-to-back cases of animals caught in the chaos, raising concerns about safety and the unpredictable presence of nature on the track.
Ty Dillon’s Unexpected Incident with a Squirrel in Michigan
Ty Dillon, behind the wheel of the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Camaro, was involved in an unfortunate accident with a squirrel during last Sunday’s race in Michigan. As he steered into pit road for urgent car repairs, Dillon relayed the incident to his team, saying,
“I think I just murdered a damn squirrel getting into my pit box.”
—Ty Dillon, NASCAR Driver. His pit crew soon confirmed the squirrel had not survived the ordeal, to which Dillon responded in frustration and sadness with the words, ‘Bad timing, little buddy.’
Despite the incident, Dillon completed the race, securing a 24th-place finish in what was his 15th event of the season. The veteran’s challenge to reach a top-10 result remains unresolved, as he stands 30th in the points standings, trailing leader William Byron by a significant 344 points. The episode has sparked reactions from NASCAR insiders, who offered sympathetic remarks regarding the squirrel’s fate, highlighting the odd intersection between professional racing and local wildlife.
NASCAR Community’s Response and Commentary
The aftermath of Dillon’s squirrel encounter did not go unnoticed in NASCAR circles. On The Teardown podcast, experienced journalists Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi touched on the unusual situation. Gluck commented,
“It’s a tough loss to see something like that happen. RIP, man. I don’t know what his name was, Squirrely McSquirrel, Peanut. Ty Dillon, what a monster, Ty. How could you?”
—Jeff Gluck, Reporter. The discussion took a light-hearted turn as they speculated that animal rights organizations, such as PETA, might be particularly upset with recent events on the track.
Recapping Josh Berry’s Bird Strike Incident at Talladega NASCAR Race
Just days before the squirrel incident, Wood Brothers Racing driver Josh Berry found himself in a similarly unfortunate situation at the Talladega Superspeedway. While racing his No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse and holding third place, Berry struck a bird that had made its way onto the track, traveling at a speed of 190 miles per hour. The collision was captured for fans via HBO MAX’s in-car camera, quickly becoming a talking point among viewers and commentators alike.
The bird impact coincided with the first caution of the race, prompted by a crash involving Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch. Berry made a timely pit stop for refueling and to have his car cleaned. Fortunately, his Ford sustained no significant damage, allowing him to continue competing in the event.
Reflecting on the incident, Berry’s crew chief Miles Stanley explained the recurring presence of birds during race weekends. He stated,
“A lot of times when we come here for like first practice or qualifying and stuff, we’ll see birds flying out around the racetrack. So, it’s not a huge surprise that we ended up getting one on the windshield.”
—Miles Stanley, Crew Chief. This pointed to the inherent unpredictability drivers face, even at organized venues like Talladega Superspeedway.
The Ongoing Challenge of Nature and Racing
Moments like the Josh Berry bird strike incident at Talladega NASCAR race and Ty Dillon’s squirrel accident in Michigan underscore the challenge of completely insulating major auto racing events from natural interruptions. Despite controlled conditions, wildlife remains a variable that no amount of preparation can entirely prevent. The response from drivers, crews, and the NASCAR community reveals a complex mix of remorse, dark humor, and recognition that professional racing—even at its highest levels—is still subject to the unpredictable movements of animals sharing the environment with the sport. As the season continues, drivers and teams may be more vigilant, though it is clear that nature’s surprises can occur at any given moment on the track.
