DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Noah Gragson was caught red-handed by NASCAR.
Gragson was the first driver caught during Daytona 500 qualifying for violating a new rule that prohibits drivers from sticking their hands out of their car windows during qualifying.
advertise
Gragson’s race in the No. 4 Ford for Front Row Motorsports was canceled Wednesday after he used his left hand to try to deflect air and gain an advantage on the track.
“I completely forgot about that rule, so it’s on me,” Gragson said. “Yeah, I feel like an idiot.”
The 27-year-old Gragson did not advance to the second round of qualifying and lost his chance to compete for pole position. The starting order for Sunday’s Daytona 500 will be determined by two qualifying races on Thursday night.
“I feel like the Daytona 500 is a long race and you can start anywhere,” Gragson said. “That’s what it is. I feel like an idiot. I’m stupid.”
advertise
On the other hand, most people in NASCAR find it hilarious.
“This is the most Noah thing ever,” NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrote on social media. “Don’t touch that stove, it’s hot. Touch the stove. You’ll get burned. Say yes, it’s hot.”
Kyle Busch wins the Daytona 500 pole position. Last year’s polesitter, Chase Briscoe, qualified second and Gragson was eliminated, making everyone laugh.
“He’s a friend of mine, but I’m not surprised that that’s the guy that had this happen to him,” Briscoe said. “I told my guys right after it happened and, of all people, I bet he didn’t even remember it was a rule.”
Well played.
advertise
Before NASCAR called for a ban on the gesture during the offseason, teams believed drivers could gain an aerodynamic advantage at superspeedways through the gesture.
“Sometimes you have a car that’s really easy to drive and you can do it easily, and sometimes you have your hands full and you can’t do that,” Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman said. “There are always engineers telling you what you need to do, exactly where to put your hands and so on. But I’m glad I can have two hands on the steering wheel in this car.”
NASCAR suspended Gragson in 2023, and he also parted ways with the Legacy Motor Club for liking a chilling meme featuring a photo of George Floyd’s face.
Gragson, winless in 111 career Cup starts, will be competing in his fifth Daytona 500.
advertise
“I don’t care if I start last in this race,” Gragson said. “I know this may not be what people want to hear, but my best finish in the Cup Series was third at Talladega and we were second to last in qualifying. It’s a little crazy, but that’s what it is here.”
___
AP Racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
