Noah Gragson Continues to Impress on His ‘Semi-Sophomore’ Season With Another Strong Finish

Noah Gragson has seriously stepped up his game since last year. Back then, his top finish was a measly 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series. But now? He’s a whole new driver. Moving to a new team has really paid off for the Vegas native. Last season was evidently bumpy for him, with his rookie year getting cut short because of an unfortunate suspension owing to his social media antics. But this year, with top-notch gear and cars over at SHR, Noah’s just getting better every time he hits the track. Plus, he really showed what he’s made of at Talladega too.

Noah Gragson is quick to tip his hat to his spotter for his killer finish

Even before they kicked things off on a sunny Sunday for the GEICO 500 at Talladega, Noah Gragson had already topped his last year’s performances three times with a couple of top P12. Rocking the #10 for Tony Stewart, Noah started his semi-sophomore season- 2024- with a bang, landing a P9 at Daytona. He kept up the heat with a P6 in Vegas. And now at Talladega? The young prodigy nailed a podium spot – a sweet P3.

While his Ford Performance buddies, Michael McDowell, and Brad Keselowski, were dodging each other through the final stretch, McDowell got clipped, causing a huge wreck that swept up most of the pack. But Gragson weaved through the chaos and snagged third place, marking his best-ever finish in his NASCAR Cup Series career spanning over 49 races.

Noah Gragson was ecstatic on Sunday, almost tasting that first race win. In his post-race chat, he spilled, “It feels good trying to get a Ford Mustang in Victory Lane. I really wanted it to be us, but you know, seeing Keselowski and McDowell coming off of Turn 4 there at the end and coming to the checkered, they started blocking each other up and down the racetrack, trying to get side by side and I thought we were going to squeak through there, but unfortunately had to check up too much.”

He didn’t skip a beat, thanking his crew, either. “Awesome job by the Overstock team all day with Stewart Haas Racing, Drew Blickensderfer (crew chief), and especially my spotter Andy Houston. They did a great job all day. The pit crew (had) fast pit stops and led some laps, it’s just good to have these days.” Plus, he did not forget to tip his hat to his learning curve this year. Perhaps hanging out with Keselowski, who’s won six times at Talladega, has been like a crash course in racing smarts. Though Gragson hasn’t won any races so far, for him, it’s all about getting better and earning respect.

The SHR racer has been showing up strong and consistent on the track, which looks like a good thing from Stewart Haas Racing’s perspective.

The #10 driver might just be the silver lining Stewart Haas Racing needs

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Heading into the NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega, known for its wild crashes, Noah was anyway gunning for some serious points. Even though he hasn’t grabbed a win yet, his consistent showings are key in such a crazy race environment. Noah’s track record shines at places like Daytona, where he’s known for hanging tough and pulling off solid finishes. Out of his three starts at Talladega, he’s managed to land in the top 20 twice.

His teammates at Stewart Haas Racing? They’re doing alright but not knocking it out of the park like boss man Tony Stewart might hope. Take Josh Berry, the rookie of the squad. Nobody’s expecting him to rock the top 5 just yet, but the driver’s certainly pushing hard, climbing from the back of the pack to nearly snagging second place in some races. However, he hasn’t turned those into wins yet.

Then you’ve got Chase Briscoe, the longest tenured driver leader at SHR currently. Sure, he’s been in the top 10 four times out of 10 races but hasn’t cracked the top 5. And Ryan Preece? He’s had a moment in the sun with a top 10 at Martinsville, but otherwise, his best post-Martinsville show was a P12 place in Texas.

Right now, among the four, Noah Gragson is definitely looking like the star of the show. Can he catapult himself to a promising position during the remainder of the season? Let us know what you think!