Laura Moore
Aug 05, 2023 - 08:10

Noah Gragson suspended by race team and NASCAR for disappointing social media behavior

NASCAR driver Noah Gragson has been suspended indefinitely by Legacy Motor Club and NASCAR after liking a controversial meme on Instagram. Gragson has since apologized.

Legacy Motor Club, the NASCAR team that Noah Gragson competes for, has taken the decision to suspend their 25-year-old driver ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway this Sunday. This suspension comes after Gragson liked a meme on Instagram that depicted the face of George Floyd, edited onto the character Sebastian from Disney's Little Mermaid, with the caption "under the knee."

In a statement released by the race team, they explained that they made the choice to suspend Gragson due to his actions not aligning with the values of their team. Shortly after Legacy Motor Club made their announcement, NASCAR also weighed in on the situation.

NASCAR expressed their full support for Legacy Motor Club's decision to suspend Gragson, stating that his actions on social media violated the member conduct section of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book. As a result, NASCAR has placed Gragson under indefinite suspension.

Following the news, Gragson took to Twitter to issue an apology. He expressed his disappointment in himself for not paying enough attention and for his actions on social media. Gragson emphasized that he understands the seriousness of the situation and that he loves and appreciates everyone. He also stated that he tries to treat everyone equally, regardless of who they are, and acknowledged that he made a mistake.

The duration of Gragson's suspensions remains uncertain. Currently, he is ranked 33rd in points with four regular-season races remaining in the 2023 season.

In Gragson's absence, Josh Berry will be taking over the No. 42 entry for this weekend's race. Berry currently drives for Junior Motorsports in the Xfinity Series full-time and will be given the opportunity to compete full-time in the Cup next year with Stewart Haas Racing.