Conor Daly, the Juncos Hollinger Racing driver, has openly condemned a parody account for circulating false rumors that impact his IndyCar career. The controversy arose in 2025 when the fake claims about driver moves involving Dennis Hauger caught public attention.
False Rumors About Driver Transfers Stir Tensions
The parody account known as The Daily Downfords on X sparked the rumors, suggesting that Daly’s team planned to loan Andretti Global’s Indy NXT driver Dennis Hauger for the 2026 season. Daly firmly rejected these claims during episode 187 of the Speed Street Podcast, clarifying that the story was entirely fabricated.
“The rumor mills are flying around. There was one rumor that did include myself that I would like to let people know is not real. There’s an account on the internet that I really don’t know how people continue to fall for this stuff.I really don’t. But the Daily Down Fords is not a real website. It’s not a real place, it’s a parody account.” —Conor Daly, Driver
Further complicating the situation, a journalist amplified the rumor without confirming its validity, implying uncertainty about the future of both Daly and his teammate Sting Ray Robb. Daly criticized the practice of republishing unverified information without acknowledging that it originated from a parody source.
“And then it’s, of course, you know, journalism that if someone sees that, they basically just copy and paste the tweet and put it out on their own account, which is not then identified as a parody account.” —Conor Daly, Driver
Daly expressed strong frustration about The Daily Downfords, condemning how the account’s efforts to be humorous interfere with real lives and careers.
“I am not a fan of the Downford anymore. I’m not a fan ot it, sorry. I mean I respect you guys for trying to be funny, but a lot of it messes with people’s actual lives.” —Conor Daly, Driver
Amid these uncertainties, it was confirmed in May 2025 that Daly’s main sponsor, ampm, will continue their partnership with IndyCar, extending support into the 2026 season.
Conor Daly’s 2025 Season Shows Improvement for Juncos Hollinger Racing
Since his intermittent debut in 2013 at America’s top open-wheel racing level, Conor Daly has steadily built his career. In 2024, he finished 26th in the drivers’ standings with 119 points. Through the 2025 season, with just two races left to run, Daly has improved significantly, sitting 19th with 220 points—a substantial gain for his team.
Daly’s best career finish in the IndyCar championship is 17th place, and he currently trails Kyffin Simpson by just 20 points, with Simpson holding 240 points in 17th position. With two races remaining, Daly has a realistic chance to match or surpass that previous best.
In contrast, his teammate Sting Ray Robb is positioned much lower, ranked 25th with 160 points after 15 races in the 2025 campaign.
Impact of False Information on Racer Careers and Public Perception
The spread of inaccurate rumors around driver contracts in IndyCar not only undermines the drivers but also causes confusion within the fan base and associated media. For a driver like Conor Daly, who is actively working to strengthen his standing, such misinformation threatens to destabilize professional momentum and create unwarranted tension.
Daly’s outspoken criticism highlights the importance of verifying news about professional athletes, especially in a social media era where parody accounts can be mistaken for legitimate sources. His remarks underscore the emotional toll these rumors inflict, as well as the need for responsible journalism going forward.
