NASCAR driver Noah Gragson requests Legacy Motor Club release after being suspended indefinitely for liking meme mocking George Floyd

Disgraced NASCAR driver Noah Gragson has requested his release from Legacy Motor Club (LMC) after being suspended indefinitely for liking an insensitive meme about George Floyd.

Gragson was suspended by both NASCAR and LMC last week after appearing to like a meme depicting the face of Floyd, who died in 2020 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nine-and-a-half minutes.

The 25-year-old issued an immediate apology, admitting he was ‘disappointed’ in himself for a ‘lack of attention on social media’.

And two days after LMC announced he would be replaced for their next two races, Gragson has now asked the team to release him from his contract.  

He said in a statement: ‘I have asked LEGACY MOTOR CLUB to release me from my contract so that I can take time to work through the NASCAR reinstatement process.

Gragson has been suspended indefinitely by Legacy Motor Club and NASCAR after liking a meme mocking George Floyd

‘I love racing, and I am looking forward to a second chance to compete for wins at the highest level of NASCAR — and most importantly, make my family, my team and the fans proud of me once again.’

Legacy Motor Club CEO Cal Wells III also released a statement, describing the situation as ‘difficult’ while backing Gragson to ‘come back stronger’.    

‘Noah has a ton of talent and has a great personality,’ Wells said. ‘This is a difficult situation, but we are proud that Noah has taken ownership of his actions and are confident he will work through this process with NASCAR and come back stronger.’

Floyd’s death sent shockwaves across the globe, sparking mass protests in a host of countries throughout the world and forcing a national reckoning on racial injustice.

The account that posted the offensive meme that Gragson liked was an obscure one and only had close to 1,700 followers. 

After LMC announced the indefinite suspension of Gragson for violating the member conduct of its rule book, NASCAR released a statement at the weekend supporting their decision. 

After issuing an apology, Gragson is now calling to be released from his LMC contract in order to work through the NASCAR reinstatement process

‘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 Las Vegas-born driver was in his first season as a full-time Cup Series driver before receiving the suspension.