NASCAR’s garage has always been a place where talent meets opportunity, but for part-time Craftsman Truck Series driver Cody Dennison, that line just blurred into controversy. Known online as “Camelot331,” Dennison was set to run select 2025 Truck races in the No. 2 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing, backed by Tim Pool’s Timcast Media sponsorship.
Announced in January 2025, the deal looked like a solid step for the streamer and commentator, who’s built a following with his right-leaning takes. But days later, Dennison claimed on his @CAMELCASTOff account that he’d been “canceled” and fired “for being a conservative.”
Promising an exposé video with “recorded calls and messages” to prove discrimination, he’s turned a personal beef into a sport-wide uproar. Reaume Brothers Racing, owned by driver Josh Reaume and known for juggling multiple part-timers on a tight sponsorship budget, hasn’t commented officially. Mainstream NASCAR outlets haven’t verified the political angle, but firings in the sport are rarely about ideology alone.
They often tie to sponsor pull or image risks. NASCAR’s Code of Conduct bans disparaging remarks that harm the sport’s rep, leading to past dismissals like Kyle Larson’s 2020 suspension for a racial slur.
Ray Ciccarelli quit Trucks in 2020 over the Confederate flag ban, calling it “political BS,” but that was self-inflicted. For Dennison, the silence from Reaume leaves the story hanging on his claims, with fans on Reddit going wild over whether it’s a real injustice or a sponsor dodge.
The Truck Series, with its underdog vibe and limited schedules, thrives on partnerships like Dennison’s, but sponsorship conflicts can kill deals fast. Tim Pool’s Timcast, with its conservative bent, might’ve clashed with a team’s image, especially in a sport pushing for inclusivity post-2020.
Dennison’s media persona, streaming and commenting on politics, adds fuel, but without the video, it’s speculation. As the 2025 playoffs wrap at Bristol, where spoilers like Kyle Busch loom, Dennison’s threat to “expose” Reaume highlights the delicate balance of politics, sponsors, and seats in NASCAR’s lower ranks. The controversy quickly spilled over onto online forums, where fans had plenty to say.
Fans go wild on Reddit
Dennison’s firing claim has Reddit exploding, with fans dissecting the politics and fallout. One user fired back, “Ah yes in a industry that is overwhelmingly conservative obviously.” NASCAR’s roots run deep in the South, with a 2016 Nielsen survey showing fans skewing white, Southern, and right-leaning.
Owners like Richard Childress have voiced conservative views, and the 2017 anthem protest threats echoed Trump-era rhetoric. The 2020 Confederate flag ban, which led Ray Ciccarelli to quit, showed the sport’s conservative core clashing with change, making Dennison’s claim feel off-base to some who see NASCAR as a safe space for right-leaning voices.
Another called it out, “Jeez, that’s embarrassing. But have a feeling he has no shame in being a clown.” Dennison’s @CAMELCASTOff persona, with its edgy commentary, mirrors Kyle Larson’s 2020 iRacing slur that got him suspended and fired by Ganassi.
Sponsors like McDonald’s and Chevrolet bailed, citing image risks. Dennison’s threat to drop “recorded calls” echoes Larson’s fallout, where the incident embarrassed NASCAR amid its diversity push. Fans see the parallel. Public missteps, real or perceived, can torch careers fast.
The sarcasm peaked, “If NASCAR teams fired people just for being conservative, there’d be no owners, drivers and probably like three crew people left in the entire sport.” The sport’s leadership, including Childress, Gene Haas, and Rick Hendrick, has leaned conservative, and drivers like Busch and Logano haven’t shied from right-leaning stances.
Red Bull’s 2011 firing of a crew member for anti-gay tweets was about corporate values, not politics alone. Fans argue that firings stem from sponsor backlash, not ideology, making Dennison’s claim ring hollow in a garage full of conservative voices.
One fan dismissed it, “Eh, nothing of value was lost.” Larson’s 2020 firing left NASCAR without a six-win talent, but his Hendrick comeback and 2021 title proved his worth. Dennison’s part-time gig and media side hustle make him less central, but the comment highlights how fans view low-stakes drivers as replaceable amid bigger issues like diversity pushes.
The principle cut deep, “Conservative or Liberal – freedom of speech isn’t freedom from consequences in the private market.” Larson’s slur was protected speech but cost him sponsors and his ride.
Red Bull’s 2011 tweet firing was the same. Private companies cut ties to protect brands. In NASCAR, where sponsors rule, Dennison’s political rants could’ve spooked Timcast partners or Reaume’s backers, turning free speech into career consequences.