Noah Gragson has been on a mission to rebuild his NASCAR career after a pretty rough 2024 season that started out somewhat promising but quickly unraveled. The Cup Series driver faced major setbacks on and off the track this year, struggling to find the consistency that once made him one of the sport’s rising stars as well as briefly losing his job. So when the offseason rolled around, it wasn’t a surprise to see Gragson diving into a different kind of racing — one that promised a mix of adrenaline, competition, and maybe even a shot of redemption.

Spectators were eager to see how Gragson would stack up against a stacked lineup of racers and action sports celebrities at the fan-favorite 2.4 Hours of Le Mullets at Freedom Factory. But what he didn’t expect was getting bested by a NASCAR veteran on a short 3/8-mile asphalt track in Florida.

McGee and Bieri steal the show

The spotlight of the night ended up shining brightest on Keith McGee, a part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor, who teamed up with Derek Bieri from Vice Grip Garage. The duo clinched a thrilling victory in the annual 2.4 Hours of Le Mullets, leaving the competition in the dust. The event, which featured a mix of professional racers, YouTube stars, and action sports icons, turned into an endurance showdown around Freedom Factory’s iconic 3/8-mile track.

McGee couldn’t contain his excitement after the win. “It’s awesome,” McGee told TobyChristie.com in an exclusive interview. “I mean, this is a field that is stacked with legends of action sports, tons of YouTube stars, and other forms of celebrities. I think the total was like 45 million followers combined was what the number was for the drivers in attendance. To go down there as a small potato in the grand scheme of things and pull out the victory was incredible.”

The race, which pits two-driver teams in old-school Ford Crown Victorias, saw McGee and Bieri facing stiff competition right from the start. Despite starting towards the back due to a full-field inversion after qualifying second, they clawed their way through the 21-car grid. Bieri did the heavy lifting in the first half, climbing up to take the lead, before handing the car over to McGee for the final 89 laps. The pair edged out Cleetus McFarland and Justin Hildebrand by just over a second to take the win.

Adding to the star power, the event had its fair share of fan-favorite entries, including the likes of Liam Doran and Danger Dan, who secured third place, and YouTube sensations Roman Atwood and Demo Matt, who came in fourth. Even NASCAR legend Greg Biffle made an appearance, teaming up with Brad DeBerti to finish seventh despite battling mechanical issues. Biffle, who made a serious impact during his career. With 19 Cup Series wins and 82 top-five finishes, he proved time and again that he was a force to be reckoned with. Biffle spent most of his career with Roush Fenway Racing, which included several top-10 finishes in the championship standings. He even nabbed a NASCAR Truck Series championship in 2000, something Gragson himself came just short of accomplishing in 2018. Speaking of Gragson, it just was not his night in Florida.

Gragson’s rough night out

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While McGee and Bieri celebrated their triumph, Noah Gragson had a night he’d probably like to forget. Paired with action sports superstar Travis Pastrana, Gragson came into the event with high hopes. But the duo, driving the No. 199 entry, finished a disappointing 15th overall. He only managed to complete 16 laps in the final stint of the race, far behind the leaders.

The 2024 season had already been a rollercoaster for Noah Gragson. He enjoyed a decent first half, which saw him claim multiple top 10s and a career-best third, but he also faced numerous challenges after losing his full-time ride in the Cup Series after Stewart-Haas Racing closed their doors for good. As a result, Gragson ended up signing with Front Row Motorsports for the 2025 season driving their Ford Mustang. The Freedom Factory event was supposed to be a fun way to shake off the rust and maybe grab a win to boost his morale during the offseason. Instead, it turned into another tough lesson as he continues to navigate the ups and downs of his racing career.

Despite the setback, Noah Gragson remains a fan favorite with a knack for entertaining on and off the track. And his partnership with Pastrana was one of the most anticipated of the night, even if it didn’t produce the results they were hoping for. “It’s just one of those nights where nothing seemed to go our way,” Gragson shared post-race. “But it was a blast to race alongside Travis and compete with so many big names. We’ll come back stronger next time.”

As he looks to rebuild his career, events like the 2.4 Hours of Le Mullets are all part of the journey. For now, Gragson will have to shake off this latest result and focus on making a stronger comeback, both on the track and in the eyes of the NASCAR community.