Noah Gragson not cleared to race today’s truck race at Pocono Raceway

Gragson was fastest in practice; Sidelined for the race as he wasn’t cleared by doctors

Second in the point standings; Gragson will miss today’s race due stomach illness

The driver wanted to take the green anyway. However, officials have not cleared him to run the event.

Noah Gragson will be sidelined from Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway. The race is scheduled to begin in just a few minutes.

Noah Gragson was fastest in the opening round of NASCAR Truck Series practice. He began to feel ill on Friday but his stuck it out and went to the top of the practice board anyway. He visited the care center for IV fluids on Friday to help him get by.

The #18 truck driver tried to stick it out this morning in qualifying. However, Gragson was absent from NCWTS qualifying as he spent it on the medical cart. His teammate Kyle Busch took the pole.

Following the request of the medical staff and NASCAR, Gragson will now be absent from the Gander Outdoors 150 (1 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM). The driver has not been medically cleared to race after a pre-race visit to the infield care center.

This is not what Gragson wanted as he feels he’s able to race and feels he has a truck that could take the win. Noah Gragson took to twitter to update the fans just a few minutes ahead of today’s race.

Noah Gragson and Matt Crafton at Martinsville Speedway
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 28: Matt Crafton(L), driver of the #88 Ideal Doors/Menards Toyota, congratulates Noah Gragson(R), driver of the #18 Switch Toyota, on winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2017 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)

“Unable to race today in Pocono due to Doctor not clearing me to race. If it were up to me, I’d be in my Safelite Tundra. I tried everything in my power to race. Thanks to everyone who supports me in my career.”

“I feel like I’ve let everyone down. But respect NASCARs decision,” the driver tweeted hours before the start of the race,” Gragson concluded.

It wasn’t the drivers decision to pull himself from the event. That came from NASCAR officials following the trip to the medical center. Gragson wanted to make that clear.

“I want to make clear that it is not my decision for me not racing today. It’s is the doctors decision. I DO NOT QUIT.”

“I normally wouldn’t say this but I felt very confident in my opportunity to go to victory lane today. We were fastest yesterday in both race trim and qualifying trim during practice. Super bummed I cannot compete today. Thanks safelite Toyota Racing, my team and the fans.”

A NASCAR spokesperson confirmed that Gragson will receive a waiver for postseason eligibility. A substitute driver has not yet been announced for the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Toyota.

Meaning, Gragson will still be playoff eligible. He currently sits 2nd on the standings sheet to Johnny Sauter. Gragson has 1 win this season as Sauter has collected for winners stickers.

UPDATE: Erik Jones will fill in as the replacement driver for the ill Noah Gragson. Jones will start at the tail of the field.

More

Related: Pocono TV Schedule

Links

Noah Gragson | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Pocono Raceway | NASCAR

Categories

Tags