Noah Gragson has asked to be released from his contract with Legacy Motor Club, the team announced Thursday morning.
Gragson was placed under indefinite suspension by NASCAR on Saturday for violating the member conduct section of the NASCAR Rule Book. The league suspension followed one set forth by Legacy Motor Club earlier that morning for “actions that do not represent the values of our team.”
MORE: Details on Gragson’s suspension | Cup schedule
“I have asked Legacy Motor Club to release me from my contract so that I can take time to work through the NASCAR reinstatement process,” Gragson said in a Thursday statement. “I love racing, and I am looking forward to a second chance to compete for wins at the highest level of NASCAR — and most importantly, make my family, my team and the fans proud of me once again.”
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LegacyMotorclub) August 10, 2023
Mike Rockenfeller, a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is set to replace Gragson in each of the next two NASCAR Cup Series races in the team’s No. 42 Chevrolet. Rockenfeller, who has made two Cup Series starts, competed in this year’s Le Mans festivities as a co-pilot with Jimmie Johnson and Jenson Button in NASCAR’s Garage 56 efforts.
In 21 starts prior to his departure, Gragson ranked 33rd in the series standings in his rookie season. He missed one race (Sonoma) earlier this year because of concussion-like symptoms.