{"id":1992384,"date":"2023-08-06T09:24:02","date_gmt":"2023-08-06T13:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nascar-suspends-driver-for-liking-george-floyd-meme-nascar-is-officially-woke\/"},"modified":"2023-08-06T09:25:18","modified_gmt":"2023-08-06T13:25:18","slug":"nascar-suspends-driver-for-liking-george-floyd-meme-nascar-is-officially-woke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nascar-suspends-driver-for-liking-george-floyd-meme-nascar-is-officially-woke\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR suspends driver over George Floyd meme &#8216;like&#8217;: NASCAR embraces social awareness."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnascar-suspends-driver-for-liking-george-floyd-meme-nascar-is-officially-woke%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1992384&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>NASCAR faced\u2064 intense backlash online over the weekend following the suspension \u2063of a driver for his controversial actions on social media.<\/p>\n<p>Noah\u2063 Gragson, a \u200bNASCAR driver, \u200cwas suspended indefinitely by NASCAR\u2063 and Legacy Motor Club after he liked \u200ba meme on Instagram that mocked the tragic death of \u200bGeorge Floyd.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NASCAR driver Noah Gragson has\u2063 been suspended indefinitely after\u2064 liking this meme about George Floyd. \u200b <\/p>\n<p>Do you think\u2063 it&#8217;s\u200b justified? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/LV0dt0pR2p\">pic.twitter.com\/LV0dt0pR2p<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/goddeketal\/status\/1687960657365229573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August\u2063 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Both NASCAR and Legacy\u2063 Motor Club \u200creleased\u200c statements \u2062confirming the suspension.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;NASCAR fully supports Legacy Motor Club&#8217;s decision to\u2062 suspend Noah Gragson,&#8221;\u200b NASCAR \u2064stated. &#8220;Following his actions on social media, NASCAR has determined that Gragson has violated\u200d the Member Conduct \u200csection of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book \u2064and has placed him under indefinite \u2064suspension.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Legacy Motor Club also expressed\u2063 their \u2062stance, stating, &#8220;We have made the\u2063 decision to suspend\u200d Noah Gragson effective immediately \u2062due to his actions that do not align \u2063with the values of our team.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Josh Berry will drive the \u2063No. 42 entry for this weekend&#8217;s NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan,&#8221; the team added.<\/p>\n<p>Gragson,\u2064 realizing his mistake, issued an apology for \u200cliking the\u200c meme, saying, &#8220;I \u200cam \u2064disappointed in myself for \u2063my lack of\u2062 attention \u2064and actions\u2063 on social \u200cmedia.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He continued, &#8220;I understand the\u2062 severity of this situation. I love and \u200dappreciate everyone. I try\u2064 to\u200b treat\u200c everyone equally\u2062 no matter who they are.\u2064 I messed up, plain and simple.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The backlash against\u200b NASCAR included:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Suspending people for liking memes? NASCAR is officially WOKE<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hodgetwins\/status\/1687950285535072258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NASCAR\u2064 is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nascar-suspends-driver-for-liking-george-floyd-meme-nascar-is-officially-woke\/\" title=\"NASCAR suspends driver over George Floyd meme 'like': NASCAR embraces social awareness.\">officially dead give<\/a> them the bud lite treatment<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Leonard \u2062Soares (@leonard_per)\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/leonard_per\/status\/1687953734008193024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NASCAR \u200clooking pretty \u2064ridiculous. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fckUn2mgX4\">pic.twitter.com\/fckUn2mgX4<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \ud835\udd3b\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd54\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd60\ud835\udd63\u200c \ud835\udd3d\ud835\udd52\ud835\udd65\ud835\udd56 (@georg3) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/georg3\/status\/1687981863024099328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 6, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>NASCAR has faced\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/woke-nascar-blasted-over-pride-month-tweet-they-spit-in-your-face-constantly\">increasing backlash<\/a> in recent years for its growing &#8220;woke&#8221; image, despite its\u200b fanbase being \u200cpredominantly conservative.<\/p>\n<p>During Pride Month last year, NASCAR received mockery and criticism\u2062 after appearing to\u2062 apologize for allowing Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott to wave \u200bthe green flag\u200d at the May 22, \u20622022, All-Star Race held at Texas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n<p><b data-stringify-type=\"bold\"><\/b><\/p>\n<p>In February, Abbott had stated\u2064 that controversial &#8220;sex change&#8221; operations for\u200c transgender children \u2062&#8221;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/performing-trans-surgeries-on-kids-constitutes-sex-abuse-texas-department-of-family-and-protective-services-confirms\/\" title=\"Performing Trans Surgeries On Kids Constitutes Sex Abuse, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Confirms\">constitute child abuse<\/a>\u200c under existing Texas law.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>NASCAR responded by saying, &#8220;As we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, we acknowledge that recent actions\u200d have not aligned with NASCAR&#8217;s mission to be a welcoming sport for all. We remain\u2063 steadfast in\u200d our commitment to\u200b create a \u200dmore inclusive environment \u2014 in\u2064 our workplaces, at\u2064 the race track &#038; in the\u200c stands.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NASCAR \u2063appears to acknowledge that having \u2063Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as\u200d the honorary\u2064 starter at its all-star race last\u200b month\u2062 had pretty bad optics. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/QWPKfrY1lA\">https:\/\/t.co\/QWPKfrY1lA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dt95I58byC\">pic.twitter.com\/dt95I58byC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 A.J. Perez\u200d (@byajperez) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/byajperez\/status\/1532028552685752320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 1, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>NASCAR faced a range of negative responses to the tweet, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dave Rubin<\/strong>, podcast host: &#8220;What\u200d freakin&#8217; flag is\u2063 that? You virtue signaling weirdos\u2026.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dana Loesch<\/strong>, radio \u2063host: &#8220;Are people shooing gays away from the track or something?&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jesse Kelly<\/strong>, radio host: &#8220;NASCAR feels comfortable doing \u2063this because you&#8217;ll \u2063still sit down with your family and watch the races. They spit in \u200cyour face\u200d constantly because you&#8217;re too\u200b weak to do anything \u2063about\u200c it. 90%+ of NASCAR fans hate this. But \u200bthey all\u2064 watch and cheer anyway.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caleb Hull<\/strong>, digital strategist: &#8220;Perfect example of wokeness invading a business to the point where they \u2064have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newt-gingrich-pelosis-stalinist-show-trial\/\" title=\"Newt Gingrich: Pelosi\u2019s Stalinist Show Trial\">completely lost touch<\/a>\u200c with their \u200dcustomer base.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Curtis Houck<\/strong>, NewsBusters: &#8220;Apparently \u2064#NASCAR is super sorry \u200bto the \u200dLGBTQ woke mob that Greg Abbott\u2064 was allowed to be at the All-Star Race and wave the \u200dgreen flag.\u200c \u2026 \u2062People on here triggered \u2064that a politician \u2063was allowed to be at a race in a red state and wave the green flag need to grow \u2062up.\u2064 People who don&#8217;t vote as you do shouldn&#8217;t be forced into either\u200c caving or be \u2063silenced.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Collin Pruett<\/strong>, former DHS official: &#8220;America needs a new racing circuit so badly. Identical cars, \u200dBubba Wallace debacle, rebel flag bans\u2026 now this. \u200dBring back moonshine\u200b and dirt tracks!&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Harmeet K. Dhillon<\/strong>, attorney: \u200d&#8221;Woke NASCAR? WTH?!\u2064 What next, \u200cwoke\u2063 MMA?&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASCAR faced online backlash for suspending driver Noah Gragson due to his social media actions. Gragson liked a meme on Instagram mocking George Floyd&#8217;s death, resulting in his indefinite suspension by NASCAR and Legacy Motor Club.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":102,"featured_media":1992385,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1992384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1992384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/102"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1992384"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1992384\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1992385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1992384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1992384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1992384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}