NASCAR faced backlash online over the weekend after it suspended a driver for “his actions on social media.”
Noah Gragson was suspended by NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club after he reportedly liked a meme on Instagram that mocked George Floyd’s death.
NASCAR driver Noah Gragson has been suspended indefinitely after liking this meme about George Floyd.
Do you think it's justified? pic.twitter.com/LV0dt0pR2p
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) August 5, 2023
Both NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club released statements confirming the decision.
“NASCAR fully supports Legacy Motor Club’s decision to suspend Noah Gragson,” NASCAR said in a statement. “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.”
Legacy Motor Club said in a statement: “We have made the decision to suspend Noah Gragson effective immediately regarding his actions that do not represent the values of our team.”
“Josh Berry will drive the No. 42 entry for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan,” the team added.
Gragson apologized for liking the meme, writing: “I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media.”
“I understand the severity of this situation,” he continued. “I love and appreciate everyone. I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple.”
Some of the backlash that NASCAR faced included:
Suspending people for liking memes? NASCAR is officially WOKE
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) August 5, 2023
NASCAR is officially dead give them the bud lite treatment
— Leonard Soares (@leonard_per) August 5, 2023
NASCAR looking pretty ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/fckUn2mgX4
— 𝔻𝕠𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖 (@georg3) August 6, 2023
NASCAR has faced increasing backlash in recent years for becoming increasingly woke despite the core of its fanbase being comprised mainly of conservatives.
During Pride Month last year, NASCAR was mocked and criticized after it appeared to apologize for letting Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott wave the green flag ahead of the May 22, 2022, All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway.
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Abbott had told state health agencies in February that highly controversial “sex change” operations for children who claim to be transgender “constitute child abuse under existing Texas law.”
NASCAR responded: “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 appears to acknowledge that having Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as the honorary starter at its all-star race last month had pretty bad optics. https://t.co/QWPKfrY1lA pic.twitter.com/dt95I58byC
— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) June 1, 2022
NASCAR faced a wide range of negative responses to the tweet, including:
- Dave Rubin, podcast host: “What freakin’ flag is that? You virtue signaling weirdos….”
- Dana Loesch, radio host: “Are people shooing gays away from the track or something?”
- Jesse Kelly, radio host: “NASCAR feels comfortable doing this because you’ll still sit down with your family and watch the races. They spit in your face constantly because you’re too weak to do anything about it. 90%+of NASCAR fans hate this. But they all watch and cheer anyway.”
- Caleb Hull, digital strategist: “Perfect example of wokeness invading a business to the point where they have completely lost touch with their customer base.”
- Curtis Houck, NewsBusters: “Apparently #NASCAR is super sorry to the LGBTQ woke mob that Greg Abbott was allowed to be at the All-Star Race and wave the green flag. … People on here triggered that a politician was allowed to be at a race in a red state and wave the green flag need to grow up. People who don’t vote as you do shouldn’t be forced into either caving or be silenced.”
- Collin Pruett, former DHS official: “America needs a new racing circuit so badly. Identical cars, Bubba Wallace debacle, rebel flag bans… now this. Bring back moonshine and dirt tracks!”
- Harmeet K. Dhillon, attorney: “Woke NASCAR? WTH?! What next, woke MMA?”