Noah Gragson to Revive Cup Series : In a significant announcement today, Noah Gragson is set to make a return to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024. Stewart-Haas Racing revealed that Gragson, a former Legacy Motor Club driver, will take over Aric Almirola’s seat in the No. 10 car for the upcoming season and beyond. Gragson’s rookie year in the Cup Series back in 2023 was cut short, competing in 21 races before being suspended by Legacy and NASCAR. His suspension stemmed from an ill-judged Instagram action, liking a meme that mocked the tragic death of George Floyd.
Following the suspension by Legacy and NASCAR in early August last year, the team parted ways with Gragson. Despite being reinstated by NASCAR in September, Gragson didn’t return to compete in any of NASCAR’s top three series.
During his first Cup Series year, the 25-year-old driver averaged a 28th-place finish, failing to secure a single top-10 finish in any of the races. Prior to his tenure at Legacy Motor Club, Gragson showcased impressive performances, bagging 13 Xfinity Series victories over three seasons with JR Motorsports.
His arrival at Stewart-Haas Racing coincides with the retirement announcement of Aric Almirola from full-time NASCAR racing. On the other hand, Joe Gibbs Racing declared Almirola’s part-time participation in the Xfinity Series for the upcoming season.
Details regarding Gragson’s sponsorship with SHR weren’t disclosed during the announcement. Notably, Almirola’s long-time sponsor Smithfield bid farewell to NASCAR at the end of the 2023 season.
Gragson’s journey to SHR echoes a previous instance in NASCAR history. Similar to Kyle Larson, who joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 after being dismissed by Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020 for an unfortunate racial incident, Gragson seeks a comeback to the top tier of the sport.
The Stewart-Haas Racing stable will now comprise drivers with less than five years of Cup Series experience. Chase Briscoe, entering his fourth season with SHR, leads the pack, joined by Ryan Preece in his second season. Meanwhile, Josh Berry takes over in the Xfinity Series at JR Motorsports, stepping into the retiring Kevin Harvick’s shoes.
In 2023, Harvick notably emerged as the top performer among SHR drivers, securing a 13th-place finish in the points standings. Almirola ended the season in 22nd place, Preece in 23rd, and Briscoe finished 30th following his ninth-place finish the previous year.
Also read: Noah Gragson Return to NASCAR Cup Series: Joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024