The fallout continues.
Earlier today, Legacy Motor Club announced that they were suspending NASCAR Cup Series driver Noah Gragson, effective immediately.
“We have made the decision to suspend Noah Gragson effective immediately regarding his actions that do not represent the values of our team. Josh Berry will drive the No. 42 entry for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan.”
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) August 5, 2023
The suspension came as a result of Gragson liking a meme of George Floyd on Instagram, which many were quick to condemn as racist.
— TBlake (@TBlake0) August 5, 2023
Gragson issued a statement apologizing for his actions, saying that he was disappointed in himself for his “lack of attention and actions on social media.”
I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media.
I understand the severity of this situation.
I love and appreciate everyone.
I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple. https://t.co/PCX6iMJxRF— Noah Gragson (@NoahGragson) August 5, 2023
And soon after, NASCAR issued their own statement on the matter, announcing that they have suspended Gragson indefinitely:
“NASCAR fully supports Legacy Motor Club’s decision to suspend Noah Gragson. Following his actions on social media, NASCAR has determined that Gragson has violated the Member Conduct section of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book and has placed him under indefinite suspension.”
NASCAR fully supports Legacy Motor Club’s decision to suspend Noah Gragson. Following his actions on social media, NASCAR has determined that Gragson has violated the Member Conduct section of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book and has placed him under indefinite suspension.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 5, 2023
Xfinity Series driver Josh Berry, who has already filled in for Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman in the Cup Series earlier this year when the Hendrick Motorsports drivers were injured, will replace Gragson in this weekend’s race at Michigan International Speedway. Berry has already been announced as the replacement for Kevin Harvick in the #4 car for Stewart-Haas Racing next season.
Gragson is having a tough rookie season in the Cup Series, his first with a Legacy Motor Club team co-owned by Jimmie Johnson and Richard Petty.
After moving to NASCAR’s top series as one of the most promising young drivers in the sport, Gragson has zero top 10 finishes this season and an average finishing position of 28th.
His team owner, Jimmie Johnson, was also instrumental in organizing a video of NASCAR drivers promising to learn from George Floyd’s death in 2020, so it shouldn’t really come as any surprise that the team was quick to drop the hammer on Gragson once his social media activity came to light.
I will listen and learn pic.twitter.com/XWgautn4cy
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) June 7, 2020
It’s not the first time Gragson has drawn headlines this year. Earlier in the season, Gragson confronted Ross Chastain after a series of on-track run-ins, and Chastain ended up landing a punch on Gragson’s jaw.
Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson fight after the NASCAR Cup Series finish in Kansas! pic.twitter.com/EEbA4VeVZ0
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) May 7, 2023
And Gragson also missed the Cup Series race at Sonoma in June due to concussion-like symptoms sustained after a wreck in the previous race.
