In a surprising turn of events, Noah Gragson, a promising rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series, has been handed a suspension by both Legacy Motor Club and NASCAR. The suspension comes in response to Gragson’s behavior on social media, as reported by Auto Sport on a recent Saturday.
Legacy Motor Club, through a statement on social media, revealed that Gragson would be excluded from participating in the upcoming race in Michigan on Sunday due to “actions that do not align with the core values of our team.” This move has paved the way for Josh Berry to step into Gragson’s shoes and race in the No. 42 vehicle for the Sunday event. Berry, who had previously followed Gragson in the No. 9 Xfinity Series car at JR Motorsports, has been tapped as a replacement due to his familiarity with the setup.
Notably, Josh Berry is also set to make waves in the racing world by taking over Kevin Harvick’s position at Stewart-Haas Racing in the coming year, 2024.
Responding to the suspension, the 25-year-old Gragson took to his social media channels to issue a heartfelt apology. “I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media,” Gragson expressed. “I understand the severity of this situation. I love and appreciate everyone. I try to treat everyone equally regardless of who they are. I messed up, plain and simple.”
In a swift follow-up, NASCAR made its own announcement of an indefinite suspension for Gragson, citing his “actions on social media” as the reason for the punitive measure.
The controversy revolves around an Instagram meme that Gragson allegedly liked, which mocked the tragic 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The screenshot of the like was captured by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, further intensifying the public scrutiny.
Gragson’s performance on the racetrack this season has been far from stellar. With an average finish of 28.2, he currently ranks 33rd in terms of points, trailing significantly behind his peers. Among the full-time drivers, only Ty Dillon, with an average finish of 28.1, has a poorer performance record.
The brightest spot in Gragson’s season so far was a 12th-place finish in the Atlanta spring race. Unfortunately, across the span of the initial 22 races this season, he has only managed to secure a top-20 finish once.
Interestingly, even prior to the suspension, there were murmurs about Gragson’s uncertain future at Legacy Motor Club due to his underwhelming performance during his debut season in the Cup Series. The Athletic, in a report published on Tuesday, hinted that Gragson’s association with the team might be in jeopardy.
Compounding matters, Legacy Motor Club is set to shift its allegiance to Toyota in 2024. Although there was a possibility for Gragson to make a comeback, the suspension has undoubtedly cast a shadow on that prospect.
As the racing community and fans await further developments, it remains to be seen how Gragson’s career trajectory will be impacted by this suspension and the broader implications for his standing in the NASCAR world.
