Lower than every week after being suspended, Noah Gragson has parted methods with Legacy Motor Membership. Gragson was initially sidelined final Saturday, the day earlier than the NASCAR Cup Collection at Michigan Worldwide Speedway. He had appreciated a meme on Instagram mocking the homicide of George Floyd. Now, it’s not clear when or if the 25-year-old will return to the inventory automotive racing’s highest division.
The meme in query options George Floyd’s face superimposed over the crab Sebastian from Disney’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” with the caption, “Below da knee, underneath da knee.” The caption references the movie’s music “Below The Sea” and the way Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for 9 minutes in 2020.
Legacy Motor Membership suspended Gragson indefinitely, changing him within the No. 42 Chevy Camaro with Josh Berry. NASCAR adopted the crew’s determination and likewise suspended Gragson indefinitely, citing a violation of the Member Conduct part of the 2023 NASCAR Rule E book. The identical part of the rule ebook was used to levy Kyle Larson’s 2020 suspension when he was a racial slur throughout a widely-publicized iRacing occasion.
As we speak, Legacy Motor Membership printed a press release that Gragson has requested to be launched from his contract. Within the assertion, Gragson stated:
“I’ve requested Legacy Motor Membership to launch me from my contract in order that I can take time to work by the NASCAR reinstatement course of. I like racing, and I’m trying ahead to a second probability to compete for wins on the highest stage of NASCAR – and most significantly, make my household, my crew and the followers pleased with me as soon as once more.”
Mike Rockenfeller will race the No. 42 Camaro this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and on August twentieth at Watkins Glen. Who will drive the No. 42 throughout the different remaining rounds is unclear.