On Tuesday afternoon, NASCAR issued its weekly penalty report following the race weekend at Kansas Speedway, and highlighted in the report was the sanctioning body reinstating a previous indefinitely suspended driver.
Noah Gragson, who had been suspended since August 5th, after a like on an insensitive meme regarding the death of George Floyd, which was shared to Instagram was unearthed, is now eligible to return to NASCAR activity.
Following the report from NASCAR, Gragson issued a statement expressing his gratitude to the sanctioning body.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to NASCAR for reinstating me,” Gragson said. “Over the past several weeks, I have dedicated myself to personal growth and reflection, and I believe I have become a better person because of it.
“I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and the NASCAR industry. I am now more focused and committed than ever to representing my future team in the best way possible. I’m eager to get back behind the wheel and compete at the highest level, giving it my all on and off the track. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey, and I can’t wait to make the most of this second chance.”
Gragson, who was in the midst of his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series was first suspended by his LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team, then NASCAR backed the team up by suspending the driver indefinitely from the sport.
Five days after the suspension, Gragson asked for his release from LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, which was granted, so he could devote his time and resources to righting his wrongs.
While it is unknown what tasks NASCAR had on the docket for Gragson to accomplish before he could return, the driver completed said tasks in just over a month.
Gragson, 25, is a 13-time NASCAR Xfinity Series race winner, who finished runner-up in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship standings in 2022, a season where Ty Gibbs was crowned the champion.
The Las Vegas native sits 33rd in NASCAR Cup Series championship points as it stands, and he recorded a season-best finish of 12th in the spring at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Also on the penalty report were three lug nut infractions in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Jeff Stankiewicz, the crew chief for Sheldon Creed and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series has been suspended for one event, and fined a total of $10,000 due to the No. 2 car having two missing lug nuts at the end of the race at Kansas.
Andy Street, the crew chief for Austin Hill and the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing team, and Shane Whitbeck, the crew chief of the No. 27 Jordan Anderson Racing team, have been fined $5,000 due to one lug nut being missing from their cars at the conclusion of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300.
On the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series side of things, the No. 12 Young’s Motorsports crew chief Tyler Young has been fined $2,500 for a missing lug nut in post-race inspection. Meanwhile, the No. 02 Young’s Motorsports team and No. 9 CR7 Motorsports team have been both docked 10 championship points due to violating sections 14.4.12.2A&B of the NASCAR Rule Book, which pertains to Triangular Filler Panels on the trucks.
