NASCAR driver Noah Gragson has been suspended by NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club due to his actions on social media.
The suspension comes after Gragson liked a meme mocking the death of George Floyd. Legacy Motor Club, Gragson's team, released a statement saying, "We have made the decision to suspend Noah Gragson effective immediately regarding his actions that do not represent the values of our team."
In Gragson's absence, Josh Berry will be driving the No. 42 entry for this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan.
NASCAR also announced an indefinite suspension for Gragson, citing a violation of the member conduct section of the NASCAR Rule Book. In a statement, NASCAR expressed their support for Legacy Motor Club's decision, stating, "Following his actions on social media, NASCAR has determined that Gragson has violated the Member Conduct section of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book and has placed him under indefinite suspension."
Gragson, who is currently in his first full season running in the Cup series, is ranked 33rd in the standings with no top-10 finishes. In response to the suspension, Gragson took to Twitter to express his disappointment in himself, saying, "I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media. 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."
Replacing Gragson for the upcoming race will be Josh Berry, who will be making his ninth Cup series start. The suspension serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible behavior on social media for professional athletes.
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