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RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – AUGUST 16: Noah Gragson, driver of the #4 ArmorGuard Ford, greets fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 16, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Drivers in each NASCAR series have their own unique driving style. They also have vastly different personalities which some show at and away from the track, or not at all.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Noah Gragson says it’s time they start to show who they are more often.
Time to Let it Shine
Gragson, driver of the No. 4 Ford for Front Row Motorsports is known for his fun-loving personality and personal interaction with fans. He spent some time with the media at his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday. During the Q&A session, he flat out said what he wishes other drivers should do more.
“I think there’s a lot of good personalities that not a lot of people get to see because in the sense that drivers are handcuffed a little bit maybe with partners or with the sport,” Gragson said. “Ricky (Stenhouse) got fined $75,000 grand for probably one of the biggest highlights last year with Kyle Busch.
“I’m not saying we need to go fight and stuff, but I think everybody is just kind of scared that they just don’t want to say anything or do anything at all just so they don’t get in trouble. There’s obviously a limit to everything, but you get these guys away from the racetrack and they’re pretty funny guys. You would never think that.
“I’ve shared a lot of laughs with a lot of guys that I probably thought, ‘Hey, man. There’s no way this guy could be that fun to be around.’ There are some guys that are really, really fun.
“Everyone is kind of in their own unique boat on how much they want to show the general public and what-not. But if it were up to me, everybody would just be outgoing and show them their true colors.”
Growing His Personal Social Media Team
Most NCS teams have their own in-house Social Media Department to offer insight into the day-to-day operations. In turn, they also share what their drivers are doing, but most posts on Facebook, Instagram and X are team related.
For Gragson, he knows the personal connection to his fans is paramount for him and his team, but also has to be done right.
“It’s more personal between myself and the fans and trying to keep the Instagram and the Twitter posts more raw, not so staged or choreographed.” he said. “I feel like everybody just wants raw on Instagram.
“We’ve hired a full-time guy to do some You Tube videos. The fans have been excited over it, but definitely each platform is kind of its unique vibe in a sense. We’ve been spending a little bit of time just thinking of different strategies to keep growing.
“If I had advice to anybody doing it, you’ve got to stay true to yourself and just be yourself.”
Eyes Wide Open Early On
Gragson won the Most Popular Driver Award vote in both the NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series during his career. While he has won 13 NXS and two NCTS races, he’s still winless in 107 NCS starts.
During his early years, he had a front row seat to watch the most polarizing driver in his prime, who was also as his team owner.
“I don’t want this to get taken out of context, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a really, really, really good race car driver, but might not have the resume of Jimmie Johnson or Jeff Gordon,” said Gragson, who drove for JR Motorsports four seasons. “He still won a lot of races in the Cup Series, which I’m nowhere near, but I told myself when I was younger when I came out to my first race out here and thought, ‘Man, how can I stay in this sport one day if I ever get to that level?’
“I want to be the guy who sells the most t-shirts. That’s what Dale Jr. did.
“That’s why I really put out a strong effort and a lot of energy into the fans. Just because I am a fan and I’ve always told myself that if I want to make it in this sport, I may not be the best driver, but hopefully I could be a fan favorite, too.”
Tim Packman Tim Packman is a journalist for Heavy.com covering NASCAR. He grew up around the short tracks of Western New York watching his dad, stepdad and step brother race. His uncle was the head starter at many area tracks and member of the FOAR Score Hall of Fame.
Tim’s passion for racing took him to the announcer’s tower and writing program stories for multiple tracks in the area, namely Lancaster National Speedway. In 2000, he moved to Mooresville, NC to become an award-winning journalist for NASCAR.com. He took a job with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as the team’s Communications Director and was part of two Daytona 500 wins and two NASCAR Championships.
The announcing experience led to becoming a Pit Reporter and News Director for MRN Radio. A return to the team side at Richard Childress Racing as the Director of Corporate Communications took place, which also included another Championship.
From 2015 to 2018, Tim returned to where his career began in 1994 – Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway – as the Track President. He earned Short Track Promoter of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.
Upon returning to NC, he joined The Garage Shop as Communications Director and host of it’s Podcast and MAV-TV docuseries “Legacy of Speed” talking about Land Speed Racing at Bonneville, and other places.
Tim has hosted two other Podcasts, namely “Pub Table Racers,” and wrote three books. One was with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison titled, “Bobby Allison, a Racer’s Racer” and two Children’s books, “Funny Dan the Race Car Man” and “Petey the Pace Car.”
He also served in the US Navy. More about Tim Packman
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