Blog by Johnson
Earlier this afternoon NASCAR announced the penalty to Noah Gragson for his role in the incident during Saturday's Xfinity Series race. The combination of $35,000 and 30 points is the cost NASCAR deems fit for wrecking 13 cars and making us watch additional pace laps at the 4-mile circuit. At 45mph that's almost 5 and a half minutes per pace lap. Not cool, Noah.
A massive accident during the @NASCAR_Xfinity Series race at @RoadAmerica.
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 2, 2022
Noah Gragson gets into Sage Karam, triggering a huge crash behind him involving Brandon Brown, Myatt Snider and many more. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/e5kTYQ60dh
So the penalty felt a little bit like a slap on the wrist. At least it did up until Noah Gragson (very seriously) started selling his personal belongings to help raise funds. On his Snapchat, Gragson shared photos of a card collection, skateboard decks and a number of trophies he's accumulated. Each photo with a caption to drum up offers for the items.
Not only is it an objectively hilarious way to respond. But we can also be certain that NASCAR hasn't the slightest hint of a sense of humor. So even if you're someone who takes things way too seriously and you're irate with either the atrocity Gragson committed on Saturday or his flippant response to the weak penalty, this is still a win for you. It will undoubtedly land on a desk somewhere at NASCAR HQ and very serious people will make sure this is taken very seriously and they'll find a way to make Noah's life a little more difficult at some point down the road.
In the meantime I hope Noah can find some friendly support in these difficult times. There's a lot of hate being flung his way. I'm sure a lot of competitors who got caught in his wreck are pissed off. Shop guys all across the series who had a little more work to do after the holiday weekend. Fans who had to endure those extra pace laps. NASCAR purists who don't appreciate a good joke. But there's one guy that comes to mind whose weekend was a little brighter thanks to Noah. Whose job was made a tiny bit easier. Who may even get a little bonus and maybe he's in the market for a new skateboard. His name is Jeremy Schellin, marketing director at Sargento Foods.
