Can Noah Gragson Live Up to Tony Stewart’s SHR Hype at the Daytona 500 After Dismal 2023 Cup Series Debut?

Last year Noah Gragson made his debut in the Cup Series with Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club. However, due to his liking an insensitive post on social media, he got suspended and subsequently requested to be released by Legacy Motor Club, which is moving to Toyota in 2024.

But in December he signed a deal with Tony Stewart’s Stewart-Haas Racing, and it is definitely going to be better for him. Earlier when he was with Legacy Motor Club, he struggled in the #42 car. He had an average finish of 28.2 through 22 races. But hopefully, SHR’s well-equipped practice sessions will help him do better at Daytona 500 and other upcoming races.

Is Noah Gragson capable of making it big with SHR?

Stewart-Haas Racing, a top-tier NASCAR team that’s left its mark on the Cup Series, is at a crossroads with Kevin Harvick’s departure. It might be the time for a fresh start, but with all the right tools already in their shed, steering their own fleet of four cars, and backed by a crew that’s all in, landing a spot with them is like striking gold.

The team’s known for rolling the dice on drivers looking for a second wind, like Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch, or those itching to climb the ranks, such as Aric Almirola and Ryan Preece. It’s been hit or miss, but Noah Gragson, aiming to rebuild his career from the ground up, fits right into their playbook.

Gragson’s stint with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, where he notched 8 wins, 21 top-5s, and 26 top-10s in 33 races, finishing 2nd in 2022, then snagging 3rd in 2021, proves he’s got talent. A rough patch with a less-than-stellar team shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for any driver.

Sure, SHR’s been hitting some bumps, grappling with sponsorship hiccups and whatnot, but they’ve got a knack for keeping the ship steady. Gragson’s struggles at Legacy Motor Club might’ve been due to pushing the gear too hard, something SHR, with its deep roots in NASCAR, is well-equipped to handle, possibly setting Gragson up for a shot at Daytona glory.

Watch This Story: SHR Unveils Noah Gragson’s First Paint Scheme of the Season

What’s more, SHR’s likely to let Gragson be Gragson, something he might’ve missed out on at Legacy. They’re all for letting him take the reins, potentially unlocking his full potential on the track.

Noah Gragson and his Daytona experience

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Last year when he debuted with Legacy Motor Club, Gragson could only manage to finish 24. However, before that, while he was racing for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he won the 2020 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona and straight away made his place in the playoffs.

Besides that, out of 4 starts in Xfinity at Daytona, he has managed to finish top-5 twice. Stewart-Haas Racing has drivers like Tony Stewart, who has won four Daytona races so, he can possibly guide the young prodigy better.

Besides that, the bond that the drivers share among themselves is definitely going to create a rapport and will be seen on the track as well, where all might help each other reach the next round.

Read More: SHR Unveils Noah Gragson’s First Paint Scheme of the Season; Fans Left Divided