Stewart-Haas Racing’s #10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse driver, Noah Gragson, returns to his hometown track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, this Sunday for the Pennzoil 400. This race holds an opportunity for Gragson to redeem himself after finishing 30th last year, driving for his former team, Legacy Motor Club but more so, because it marks a potential turning point after an unexpected 2023 suspension and a consequent contract termination from Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson’s organization.​

Last year, Gragson received an indefinite suspension from NASCAR for “liking” a social media post concerning the controversial George Floyd incident in May; an action that was labeled ‘insensitive’ by many. This incident forced the Nevada native without a car and severed ties with Legacy halfway into the 2023 season. While Gragson eventually received a second chance with Stewart-Haas Racing for 2024, the infamous incident sparked an ongoing debate about the impact of social media on professional athletes and the evolving boundaries of acceptable online behavior.

Kenny Wallace’s social media comments shine light over Noah Gragson again

Veteran NASCAR driver and former FOX commentator Kenny Wallace, a vocal advocate for driver rights, recently weighed in on this ‘ongoing debate,’ echoing the anxieties of many surrounding social media engagement today. Wallace tweeted, “People get in trouble by simply ‘liking’ a social media post nowadays… Check this example out pictured here. 2,400 views, and only 50 likes. It is just an example of the societal shift in our human nature today.” He wrote while sharing a screenshot of the metrics on one of his own posts, highlighting the significant disparity between the views to likes ratio.

This resonated with fans, who actively linked Wallace’s thoughts to Gragson’s situation. One fan interestingly tweeted, “Well, look what ‘happened’ to @NoahGragson (which I still think was a hit job by Legacy, but whatever…),” directly connecting the dots between Wallace’s commentary and Gragson’s “unnecessary” suspension.

Many echoed similar sentiments, expressing their belief that Gragson’s “like” might not have been a deliberate endorsement of the insensitive content but only the freedom of a fellow human being trying to express themselves in an evolving landscape.

Read More: “We Need More of This”- NASCAR’s Self-Mocking Social Media Gimmick Has Racing Fandom Going Bonkers

While the 25-year-old has publicly acknowledged his ‘social media’ mistake and committed himself to learning from it, it is interesting to see the incident continue to spark debates almost a year later. As Noah Gragson steps back onto the familiar asphalt of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the echoes of his 2023 ‘disrespect’ will undoubtedly linger in the mind of the former legacy driver. The Pennzoil 400 looks set to be a true chance for him to flip the script on his defamed image.

A redemption beckoning for #10 at Sin City?

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A strong performance this Sunday could be exactly the turning point Gragson desperately needs. His ninth-place finish at the Daytona 500 showcased his talent and speed this year, but the Atlanta race last weekend, where he finished 36th after a second lap pileup, was a stark reminder of the competitive Cup Series landscape he faces. The Las Vegas track, however, is familiar territory for Gragson, having raced there twice before. His 11th-place finish in 2022, while driving for Hendrick Motorsports, is a testament to his comfort level on this track.

Beyond personal redemption, Gragson’s potential performance also holds extreme significance for his future as well as Stewart-Haas Racing’s. The team’s recent struggles and potential shift away from Ford Performance add another layer of pressure to an already boiling cauldron. A strong showing in Vegas will only solidify his position as a frontrunner within the SHR organization, while a disappointing finish could fuel speculation about his long-term prospects at Tony Stewart’s team.

As Noah Gragson steps back onto the track where it all began for him, the weight of his past ‘mistakes’ and the hope for future redemption intertwine. His homecoming will be closely watched, not just by fans and competitors, but also by veterans like The Hermanator, balancing the ever-evolving landscape of social media and its profound power to make or break an entity.

Read More: Rumors Around Stewart-Haas Racing Impending Break-Up With Ford More Significant With Recent Outings