NASCAR Driver Suspended for Allegedly ‘Liking’ George Floyd Meme

Noah Gragson, driver of the #42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, waits on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, on July 29, 2023. Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

NASCAR has announced an indefinite suspension of driver Noah Gragson after he is alleged to have “liked” a meme about George Floyd.

“We have made the decision to suspend Noah Gragson effective immediately regarding his actions that do not represent the values of our team,” Legacy Motor Club, Gragson’s team, said in an Aug. 5 statement. NASCAR backed the suspension.

“NASCAR fully supports Legacy Motor Club’s decision to suspend Noah Gragson. 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,” the organization said in an Aug. 5 post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Mr. Gragson responded by stating that he was “disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media,” according to an Aug. 5 post.

“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.”

Neither Legacy Motor Club, NASCAR, nor Gragson revealed which social media post resulted in the suspension. Daniel McFadin, a NASCAR writer at Frontstretch, suggested that his report about Mr. Gragson liking a meme about George Floyd was the reason behind the driver getting suspended.

“Noah Gragson made a big mistake. I did my due diligence to make sure it was real,” Mr. McFadin said in an Aug. 6 tweet.

On May 27, an Instagram account called LBuddah_ posted a meme that showed Mr. Floyd’s head pasted onto the body of a crab, with the caption “Under da knee, under da knee,” which was a mashup of a song from “The Little Mermaid” and a reference to the way Mr. Floyd died.

When Mr. McFadin saw that Mr. Gragson liked the video, he “immediately sent an email” to Legacy’s PR representatives. He followed it up with multiple emails.

Legacy and NASCAR then announced suspending Mr. Gragson. “Good. NASCAR had to take this action,” Mr. McFadin wrote in an Aug. 5 post at Frontstretch.

Criticism Against Suspension

The suspension of Mr. Gragson comes as the 25-year-old was taking part in his first full season as a driver in NASCAR’s top league, the Cup Series. He has been replaced by driver Josh Berry.

The action against Mr. Gragson is being criticized online, with some people calling for a boycott.

“Being born and raised in the South, I can tell you @Nascar has forgotten their fan base. Go woke, go broke. Bud Light the hell out of them,” author and journalist Breck Worsham said in an Aug. 7 tweet.

Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 Jockey Chevrolet, Noah Gragson, driver of the #42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, and Ryan Preece, driver of the #41 Mohawk Northeast Ford, race during the NASCAR Cup Series HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on July 23, 2023. Logan Riely/Getty Images

“MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT: I will NEVER watch NASCAR again for as long as I live. First, they peddled Bubba Wallace’s lie about a noose being in his garage. Now, they’re suspending Noah Gragson for liking a meme making fun of George Floyd. Go woke, go broke!” Nick Adams, the founder of Foundation for Liberty & American Greatness, said in an Aug. 6 tweet.

George Floyd died in May 2020 after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for over nine minutes. He had been stopped by police who were investigating a counterfeit $20 bill.

Mr. Floyd’s death was officially attributed, in part, to asphyxiation. The incident sparked widespread protests, giving a boost to the Black Lives Matter movement. However, there has been pushback against using Mr. Floyd’s death to promote a racial justice agenda, specifically owing to his criminal past.

Mr. Floyd had a history of being arrested, first in his 20s for theft and then later for armed robbery. In 2007, he entered a woman’s home, pressed a gun into her stomach, and searched the house for money and drugs. For the crime, Mr. Floyd was sentenced to five years in prison in 2009.

According to his girlfriend’s testimony, Mr. Floyd had overdosed two months prior to his death.

NASCAR Woke History, Musk’s Legal Aid

NASCAR has long been criticized as pushing progressive ideologies. On June 1, NASCAR posted an image announcing support for Pride month.

“We celebrate the LGBTQ+ community during #PrideMonth and beyond,” it said in the post.

In June last year, NASCAR issued an apology after it allowed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to wave the green flag ahead of a race. Mr. Abbott has taken action against transgender treatments for minors.

“As we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, we acknowledge that recent actions have not aligned with NASCAR’s mission to be a welcoming sport for all. We remain steadfast in our commitment to create a more inclusive environment—in our workplaces, at the race track & in the stands,” NASCAR said in a June 1, 2022 tweet.

While some are being expelled by businesses for sharing their opinions online, billionaire Elon Musk is voicing support for legal action against companies that mistreat employees for posting or engaging with content on X.

“If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill. No limit. Please let us know,” Mr. Musk said in an Aug. 5 post.

“And we won’t just sue, it will be extremely loud, and we will go after the boards of directors of the companies too,” he added.