Due to his “actions” on social media, driver Noah Gragson has been placed on an indefinite suspension and will not take part in the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, according to NASCAR and his team, Legacy Motor Club.
According to a screenshot making the rounds on social media, Gragson liked a meme making fun of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a White police officer in Minneapolis in 2020. The suspension’s cause was not disclosed by NASCAR or Legacy Motor Club, and CNN has not independently confirmed the post.
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“I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media,” Gragson said. “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.”
Gragson has been placed on indefinite leave by Legacy Motor Club, which stated in a statement on Saturday that his actions “do not represent the values of our team.” For the Cup Series race at Michigan this weekend, Josh Berry will take Gragson’s spot.
In a statement, NASCAR stated that it “fully supports” the suspension of Gragson and noted that his social media posts breached “the Member Conduct section of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book”—which was the basis for the punishment.