NASCAR announced on Saturday that driver Noah Gragson has been indefinitely suspended. The decision was made after Gragson seemingly endorsed an insensitive meme featuring a photo of George Floyd on social media. Gragson, who was in the midst of his first full season as a driver in NASCAR’s top league, the Cup Series, was replaced by Josh Berry in the No. 42 car, according to a statement from his team, Legacy Motor Club. The club cited that Gragson’s actions do not align with their values.
NASCAR stated that Gragson violated the member conduct section of the rules, specifically the portion that prohibits public disparagement of individuals based on their background, as reported by NBC Sports. Although the suspension is currently indefinite, previous instances have shown that drivers under indefinite suspension have had the opportunity to rejoin NASCAR.
In a statement on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Gragson addressed his actions but did not directly mention the alleged meme. However, his statement seems to support the notion that his suspension is a result of his approval of the George Floyd meme. He expressed disappointment in himself for his lack of attention and actions on social media and emphasized his commitment to treating everyone equally.
Both NASCAR and Legacy have yet to provide further details regarding the reason for Gragson’s suspension. However, Fox Sports reported that NASCAR confirmed the suspension was related to the meme. TMZ first reported Gragson’s apparent liking of the post, sharing a screenshot from an account believed to belong to Gragson. The meme featured a photo of George Floyd with a reference to his tragic death in May 2020.
Floyd, a Black man, was approached by officers investigating a report of counterfeit money. During the encounter, a white Minneapolis officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes, leading to his tragic demise. His death sparked widespread protests and resulted in successful prosecution of the four officers involved.
Gragson’s suspension coincided with NASCAR’s events at Michigan International Speedway, including the Firekeepers Casino 400. Chevrolet, the brand associated with Legacy Motor Club’s No. 42 car, released its own statement, expressing misalignment between Gragson’s actions and their beliefs and brand values. They pledged to collaborate with Legacy Motor Club on determining next steps.
Dennis Romero, a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital, contributed to this article.
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