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Ty Dillon ran over a squirrel on pit road

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jun 8, 2025 6:45 PM ET

An unfortunate squirrel found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time during Sunday’s NASCAR race in Michigan.

Ty Dillon hit the squirrel while heading into pit road during Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mi. Dillon was aware of it as it happened, telling his team on the radio that he was pretty certain he “just murdered a squirrel getting into my pit box.”

"I think I just murdered a squirrel getting into my pit box," Ty Dillon says. Team confirms that is what happened.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) June 8, 2025

There was a brief glimpse of the squirrel on Dillon’s onboard camera. There was also other video of the squirrel dashing in front of Dillon’s vehicle, though it does not quite catch the moment of contact.

You can see the squirrel scampering across pit road to its doom from Ty Dillon's onboard https://t.co/bzv45AqRqu pic.twitter.com/SiFqwpxQUQ
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) June 8, 2025

Unfortunately…

(not a graphic video but the point is made) https://t.co/lXlW3HGRma pic.twitter.com/R1Rhfu2Idt
— Zach Sturniolo (@zachstur) June 8, 2025

When squirrels invade sporting events, the situation they find themselves in is usually less lethal. Unfortunately, that was not the case for this poor rodent.

Dillon ultimately finished 24th, so the squirrel didn’t prove lucky or unlucky. Denny Hamlin ultimately won the race for his third victory of the season.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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