There are several racers in NASCAR whose achievements speak for themselves and don’t require an introduction. Something similar is the case with Stewart-Haas Racing, as its owner, Tony Stewart, unfurled the rationale behind signing Xfinity Series champ Noah Gragson, who will be behind the #10 Ford’s wheel in the 2024 season.

Noah Gragson’s story in NASCAR is different from other drivers owing to his suspension in August 2023 when he drove for the Legacy Motor Club. Unlike on-track fiascos or disobeying the stewards, it was Gragson’s lack of attention to detail on social media that ripped off his prospects for the 2023 season.

Tony Stewart unfurls the brainchild behind Noah Gragson’s 2024 signing

Before coming to terms with the previous team, Noah Gragson clinched the 2022 Xfinity Series championship, which paved the way for his seat in the #42 Chevrolet. However, due to a social media fiasco, Gragson was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club.

It meant that Gragson’s performance was never the reason behind his cessation from racing on the tracks, which is what Tony Stewart focused on when he searched for the perfect candidate for his #10 Ford. The 3x NASCAR Cup Series champion unveiled the no-brainer stat behind his decision to sign Gragson for the 2024 season and said, “Obviously it’s talent behind the wheel, we don’t need to explain that. I mean the stat show what he did in the Xfinity Series, but literally his transformation into who he is as a person now, I think, is going to make him even a better racecar driver that he’s ever been.”

Tony Stewart then unraveled that Noah Gragson has immense talent, is hardworking, and with his return to the NASCAR scene, is more focused on the sport than ever and shared his expectations on X and said, “He’s got the talent, he’s got the motivation, he’s got the drive, and now he’s got focus on his personal life and how to channel that energy into positive things. So I think we’re going to see a lot of great things out of him.”

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Gragson is undoubtedly one of the best options out there to showcase his skills under the mentorship of Tony Stewart. But what did the 25-year-old driver do that led to a stringent step by NASCAR, leading to his suspension?

Gragson’s social media fiasco that led to an indefinite suspension

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It dates back to the horrific incident that happened in May 2020, when George Floyd, a black American native, was brutally kneeled by a white police officer for nearly 10 minutes, leading to Floyd’s death. The situation sparked massive outrage, not only in the United States but globally.

2 years after the incident, a meme featuring George Floyd’s face was doing the rounds on the internet when Gragson came across it, and without paying much attention to the meme, he liked the cold post. His lack of attention to understand the meme brutally fired back, and within no time, Gragson found himself without a seat for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Within no time, Gragson realized the magnitude of the controversy he’d created, following which he posted a confession on X and wrote, “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.”

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Even though indirectly, it’s safe to say that Noah Gragson’s suspension from the LMC paved the way for his future with Stewart-Haas Racing. Now that the Xfinity champ has learned from his blunder, it’s unlikely that a similar event will take place in the future.