NASCAR, Legacy Motor Club suspend Noah Gragson over social media actions

Legacy Motor Club suspended Noah Gragson “effective immediately” and named Josh Berry to drive its No. 42 Chevrolet Sunday.

“We have made the decision to suspend Noah Gragson effectively 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,” an official statement from Legacy Motor Club read.

The team reportedly suspended Gragson over this social media interaction. Gragson responded to the team’s statement, saying:

“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.”

NASCAR backed up Legacy Motor Club’s decision and suspended Gragson. Here is the sanctioning body’s statement:

“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.”

In the NASCAR rulebook, “member actions that could result in a fine and/or indefinite suspension, or membership revocation” include:

• Statement and/or communication made public (including social media platforms) that demeans, criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, or handicapping condition

In November 2020, NASCAR suspended owner-driver Josh Reaume over what some reports say was an anti-Semitic social media post. Then, in April 2021, NASCAR reinstated him after he went through sensitivity training.

Josh Berry is on the pole for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at Michigan. Next season, he will drive the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford, replacing Kevin Harvick.

Already this season, he has a top-5 finish and two top-10s plus 10 laps led filling in for Chase Elliott five times this year. He also has a top-10 and three laps led filling in for Alex Bowman three times.