Does Noah Gragson Need to Grow? (Questioning the Narrative)

The 2023 NASCAR Cup series season was shorter than expected for Noah Gragson. He left 2022 in top tier Xfinity series equipment to drive bottom tier Cup series equipment.  His shortened rookie season was one of bad results, bad haircuts, punches thrown, and memes of questionable taste.  Gragson was indefinitely suspended by NASCAR, fired by Legacy Motor Club, and sent to NASCAR’s re-education camp for sensitivity training.

Gragson completed NASCAR’s program and was reinstated back into the wilds of NASCAR’s silly season as a free agent.  With Aric Almirola’s part-time retirement, the #10 car became the rumored 2024 landing spot for Gragson.  As time went on, however, many people openly wondered if Ford had been holding up the deal for Gragson and Stewart-Haas.  I mean, after all, that’s what happened when Tony Stewart wanted to sign Kyle Larson after his time in NASCAR’s re-socialization program was up.

Racing can make you. It can also break you.

A new challenge awaits, and @NoahGragson is ready to prove himself.

Let’s ride, No. 10. pic.twitter.com/58VM0ERqtB

— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) December 13, 2023

Then came December 13th 2023, and the rumor became official. It was announced that Noah Gragson would get his second chance at Stewart-Haas Racing. Media narratives focused on Noah Gragson’s need to show growth during the 2024 season soon followed.  I am speaking of the racer.com article, “Growth is Key to Gragson’s Second Chance.”

Revisiting the Controversy

Before getting into the media narrative that Noah Gragson requires growth, one should probably revisit the main controversy.  As stated, Gragson had been having a difficult season already.  Then he did something that he probably thought was very minor at the time.  He liked a George Floyd meme of questionable taste on social media and his season ended ahead of schedule. 

For journalistic purposes, you can view the meme via this link to the TMZ story covering his suspension. The meme was a mash up of a song from the Disney film, “The Little Mermaid” and with George Floyd’s face on a crab.  The caption reads, “Under Da Knee.” Of course, Legacy Motor Club suspended him, Gragson issued an apology, NASCAR suspended him, and eventually he was released from Legacy.

I don’t think that it’s up for debate that the meme was built on some rather dark humor.  It was insensitive and of very questionable taste.  Still, clicking like on a meme of this nature, is something many other people did.  In fact, over 75,000 people liked the same meme.  Gragson’s name was just listed first.  Gragson issued an apology and was essentially temporarily cancelled.

Looking at NASCAR media’s “Growth for Gragson” Narrative

The time for debate over whether or not the punishment fits the crime has, long ago, come and gone.  Yet, there seems to be a popular narrative growing in NASCAR related media.  This narrative appears to involve the idea that for Gragson’s second chance to be earned, he needs to show some personal growth. It is this narrative that is concerning, and I’m not entirely sure that it is an accurate take.

When it comes to Gragson liking memes of questionable taste, I’m pretty sure that his suspension and subsequent completion of NASCAR’s sensitivity program has already provided all the growth necessary.  This growth narrative takes his one truly questionable action and combines it with a bunch of inane eccentricities and an embarrassing moment or two.  This is all combined to justify the claim that 25 year old Noah Gragson needs to show some growth on a personal level in his return to the cup series.

The only area that Noah Gragson needs to show any further personal growth, is on the race track (and maybe in fisticuffs).  He needs to show statistical improvement.  In all honesty, as much as I hate to admit this as a Stewart-Haas fan, Stewart-Haas is in need of statistical growth, as well. Personal growth, of the existential variety, will come with age and experience.  As far as Gragson’s personality goes, there isn’t anything wrong with it.  Noah Gragson is very much a personality in a sport that is increasingly lacking personality, I might add.

NASCAR needs MORE Personality (Not Less)

I don’t know if anyone noticed, but a major personality in the sport just retired.  No offense, I’m not talking about the guy Gragson is replacing.  I’m sure Aric Almirola is a great guy and all, but he was always a mild-mannered nice personality.  He’s no snooze-fest of a personality, like Jimmie Johnson back in his prime, but he’s no Kevin Harvick or Tony Stewart either.  One of the best features of this sport is all the different personalities out there on the same track.

I remember after Dale Earnhardt’s death, as a fan, I was worried the sport would be boring.  There was no Intimidator to rattle anyone’s cages when they needed it done, or when he wanted to win.  Thankfully, there were drivers like Tony Stewart, Jimmy Spencer, Kurt Busch, and Kevin Harvick to make up for the massive loss of personality.  Jeff Gordon was still around, but his personality just didn’t pop as much without the contrast of Dale Sr.

Take away the personalities, the teams and crew chief’s ability to innovate when it comes to setups, and the horsepower, and the next gen era of NASCAR just doesn’t seem so interesting. Depending on the track, you either get no passing or over aggressive chaos.  Without personalities to make this product interesting, I don’t see ratings improving. Who wants to watch a three hour race where nothing happens and then the last ten laps have twenty accidents and whoever survives is the winner? There is a pattern here. The winner may essentially be random, but the only thing that randomly happens is sometimes the guy who wins will wear a big over-sized hat.

Final Thoughts on Gragson’s “Need” for Growth

My advice to Noah Gragson, as a long time fan of the sport and as a fan of his new team, is pretty simple.  Stay away from the like button on anything that could get you cancelled.  You’re not Dave Chappelle or Ricky Gervais, yet. If you’re really into free speech absolutism and extraordinarily dark humor, save that like on a questionable meme for when your stats can talk for you. You could always leave that stuff alone, all together. You’re neither a comedian nor a politician.

Yet, when it comes to everything else that sets you apart from the field of competitors off the track. Keep it. Develop it. Yes, grow it, even, into the driver you will become. There’s a great Dale Jr Download video somewhere with Kevin Harvick talking about keeping your name out there in rough times. Watch it. The driver in this sport sometimes needs to be more than, simply another driver.  Whether or not those running this sport know it, sometimes this sport needs personalities that stand out rather than blend in.

It’s not like Noah Gragson needs my advice, but he doesn’t need any advice from anyone in NASCAR related media.  My point is simply that the necessary growth that some in media seem to be suggesting, is more like blending in.  In sociology, it’s called assimilation. It is boring, and the only way it works out well for you is if you can drive like Jimmie Johnson.  Long story short, Gragson doesn’t need to worry about showing growth anywhere but on the track. He can continue being himself everywhere else.