NASCAR driver Noah Gragson has been suspended indefinitely by Legacy Motor Club and NASCAR after he liked a meme on social media that made light of George Floyd's death. The meme featured a screenshot of Gragson appearing to mock Floyd's May 2020 death, in which a white police officer used his knee to pin Floyd's neck down for 9 1/2 minutes as he gasped for breath. The incident sparked nationwide protests and led to the conviction of the officer, Derek Chauvin.

Screenshots of Gragson liking the meme circulated on social media, prompting outrage and calls for action. Gragson took to Twitter to express his disappointment in himself, acknowledging the severity of the situation and stating that he tries to treat everyone equally, regardless of who they are. He admitted to making a mistake and apologized for his lack of attention and actions on social media.

As a result of his actions, Gragson will not be racing in Sunday's Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway. Legacy Motor Club, co-owned by Maury Gallagher and seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, swiftly made the decision to replace Gragson with Josh Berry as the driver for its No. 42 car. The duration of Gragson's suspension remains unclear.

Legacy Motor Club issued a statement explaining their decision, stating that Gragson's actions did not align with the values of their team. NASCAR fully supported this decision, citing Gragson's violation of their "member conduct" section in the 2023 NASCAR rule book. In response, NASCAR placed Gragson under indefinite suspension, emphasizing that his actions on social media were unacceptable.

Gragson, 25, is currently in his first full season in the Cup series and is ranked No. 33 in points. Prior to this incident, there were already discussions within the Legacy team about potentially replacing Gragson after the season, possibly with John Hunter Nemechek, as Gragson has only achieved a top-10 finish in a race once.

This suspension serves as a reminder of the consequences that public figures face for their actions on social media. NASCAR has been implementing measures to address racial injustice, including banning the Confederate flag at events and venues following Floyd's death. Gragson's suspension demonstrates NASCAR's commitment to upholding their values and ensuring that all members conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the sport.