What Infamous Incident Called into Question the ‘Kiss the Trophy Girl’ NASCAR Tradition?

NASCAR is a sport that is steeped in traditions, and some run deeper than others. Back in the day, there used to be a tradition where the race winner got a chance to earn a kiss from a trophy girl. Now, this tradition has evolved with every passing year and with the changing times and values. In other words, instead of randomly chosen trophy girls, the honor falls on the drivers’ wives or girlfriends.

However, there were many times when this tradition drew some flack due to some controversies. One of them was when Wendell Scott won at Speedway Park in Florida. For some strange reason, NASCAR officials were hesitant to award the win to Scott. They were concerned that the trophy girl would be uncomfortable with kissing a colored person.

READ MORE: Despite 10x Bigger TV Deal Than F1, Fans Slam NASCAR’s Unethical Tactics in $820 Million Annual Package

It was not the only controversy involving a NASCAR driver

A few decades later, there was another significant incident that called in to question the tradition. This was actually a more recent one, where Noah Gragson came under fire for his actions. Admittedly, this was not in a NASCAR race, as the incident took place at the Snowball Derby in Pensacola.

The then 20-year-old ecstatically jumped out of his car to celebrate his win. As was protocol, the trophy girl approached him to offer her congratulations. However what Gragson did next, stunned a lot of people on social media. He went to try and kiss her on the lips, prompting her to recoil in shock. Of course, Gragson was a little surprised at the rejection, and after a bit of negotiation, succeeded in pecking her on the lips.

However, the damage was done, as many labelled the act as classless and creepy. Needless to say, he caught a lot of flak for his actions, as unexpected as they were. Eventually, the girl forgave him, but the internet never forgets.

WATCH THIS STORY: “Calm Down” – Bubba Wallace Calls Out Noah Gragson for “Overdoing It” in NASCAR