WATCH: Noah Gragson struggles to catch breath after an exhausting Nashville Xfinity race

NASCAR Cup Series Today 301 - Practice
NASCAR Cup Series Today 301 - Practice (Image via Getty)

After the Tennessee Lottery 250 race at Nashville was done and dusted, Noah Gragson was seen struggling to catch his breath. While talking to the pit reporters, the Stewart-Haas Racing driver was seen sitting beside his car, covered in sweat, struggling to speak, while crediting his team for all the support from behind.

Noah Gragson is in his fourth Cup season, with one top-5 finish at the GEICO 500 in Talladega and four top-10s at Daytona, Las Vegas, Dover, and Kansas. He currently stands in 25th place in the driver standings, trailing the leader by 323 points, with an average finish of 19 this season.

Gragson began his Xfinity career with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2018, before moving to JR Motorsports in 2019. During his tenure with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team until 2022, he made a name for himself, which led to his transition into the Cup Series with Legacy Motorsports and now with Stewart-Haas Racing.

Besides racing full-time in the Cup Series, in 2024, Noah Gragson raced part-time in the Xfinity Series as well with Rette Jones Racing, securing a top 10 finish at the BetMGM 300 in Charlotte and a top 5 at the Tennessee Lottery 250 in Nashville.

After the Nashville Xfinity race on Saturday, Noah Gragson was spotted on the pit road, taking a moment to catch his breath after the race. Despite the exhaustion, he managed to express his gratitude to his supporters. Struggling for air, he still made it a point to thank everyone who stood behind him. He said:

"Really proud of this racing team. Great Job! Stewart-Haas, Greghouse, Casey, Mickey, everybody who made this possible- Mark Rette."

Noah Gragson had his best Xfinity season in 2022, winning eight races alongside 13 top-5 finishes and five top-10s. However, at present, the future is uncertain for Gragson as his current team, Stewart-Haas Racing, has announced it will dissolve after this season.

Despite the setback, there are whispers and some behind-the-scenes discussions about possible team associations for Gragson next year as he looks to secure his place in NASCAR's competitive landscape.


Is Noah Gragson ready for a new ride in the Cup Series?

FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass reports that Gragson is a top contender for one of the two slots at Front Row Motorsports starting next season. The team just bought a charter from Stewart-Haas racing team and plans to replace Michael McDowell in the #34 car, while also stepping up its game with Ford to a Tier 1 partnership.

However, in case Front Row doesn't pan out, RFK Racing may be a solid fit for Gragson, if they expand and buy a new charter. Wood Brothers Racing could also be on the cards, as they might not retain Harrison Burton for 2025, leaving their #21 car up for grabs.

Additionally, teams like Richard Childress Racing and 23XI might be in the market for new charters, opening further opportunities for Gragson.

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