NASCAR reinstates Noah Gragson

NASCAR officials have confirmed the reinstatement of driver Noah Gragson, permitting him to resume his activities within the NASCAR sphere. Gragson faced a suspension on August 5 due to a breach of the member conduct guidelines in the NASCAR Rule Book, specifically linked to his behavior on social media. This suspension came shortly after his team, Legacy Motor Club, imposed an indefinite suspension on him, citing actions inconsistent with the team’s core values.

A representative from NASCAR shared that Gragson has successfully completed a diversity and inclusion training program conducted by RISE, their partner organization. Following this, RISE recommended Gragson’s reinstatement, effectively restoring his membership privileges. Gragson took to social media on Tuesday evening to share a statement regarding this development.

At the time of his suspension, Gragson was 21 races into his debut season in the Cup Series with the No. 42 Chevrolet team of Legacy Motor Club. A mere five days after the penalty, Gragson and the team mutually agreed to part ways. The 25-year-old driver requested his release from Legacy—co-owned by Maury Gallagher, Jimmie Johnson, and Richard Petty—and the team acceded to his request.

In his statement on August 10, Gragson expressed his intention to step back and navigate through the NASCAR reinstatement process. He emphasized his love for racing and his eagerness to earn a second chance to compete at NASCAR’s top level, with the ultimate goal of making his family, team, and fans proud once again.

In Gragson’s absence, Legacy MC has rotated a series of substitute drivers for the No. 42 Chevy, including Josh Berry, Carson Hocevar, and Mike Rockenfeller, each taking the helm for two races. The upcoming race at Bristol Motor Speedway will see Hocevar, a regular in the Craftsman Truck Series, behind the wheel for Legacy Motor Club. On September 6, the team announced that John Hunter Nemechek, currently racing in the Xfinity Series, will be taking over the No. 42 seat for the next season.

Photo courtesy of NASCAR