NASCAR driver Noah Gragson is on a roll headed into the Xfinity Series playoffs, winning his third consecutive race Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. And he celebrated with his own flair just like any NASCAR fan would expect him to.
Gragson has now swept the month of September so far in the second-tier NASCAR series after also winning at Darlington Raceway and Kansas Speedway.
And after his checkered flag at Bristol, he went big with his celebration, continuing his many victorious traditions like shotgunning beer and climbing up the catchfence with his team (and briefly getting a tad sick). But because he won at the Tennessee short track nicknamed “The Last Great Colosseum,” there was a huge gladiator sword involved too.
Here’s a look at Gragson’s celebratory moments.
Gragson takes the checkered flag at Bristol
On older tires, Gragson held off Brandon Jones in a 20-lap final run. Here’s a look at the last lap:
RETWEET to congratulate @NoahGragson for winning at Bristol! #NASCAR
He outlasts Brandon Jones down the stretch to capture another Xfinity Series victory. pic.twitter.com/PY6rjnZhh4
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 17, 2022
Afterward, Gragson reportedly got sick...
This is surely one of his less enjoyable winning traditions, but after winning, Gragson has a tendency to vomit on himself. He’s explained this unfortunate response previously, noting that he thinks it’s because he often holds his breath for the final laps.
“I held my breath for the last two laps, I think. Lap or two,” Gragson explained in July after getting sick following his Pocono Raceway win. “Just holding your breath. It’s like if you run a mile, and you’re running at 100 percent and your heart rate’s through the roof and you’re breathing in all the smoke.”
Well, Friday at Bristol, Gragson won, and, at some point between the end of the race and him climbing out of the car, he got sick again according to multiple reporters, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the broadcast.
Nobody celebrates like Noah Gragson. 🍻🏁 https://t.co/TC1NgwzdJo pic.twitter.com/et5V78kpRE
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) September 17, 2022
“Oh, he did throw up! He did throw up!” Earnhardt said on the broadcast as Gragson climbed out of his car, not through the window but up through the roof.
In Gragson’s post-race press conference, he explained his throwing up is concerning for him and his mom. So he’s considering consulting doctors after the season ends in November.
Noah Gragson said it is concerning that he is throwing up so often after races and likely will consult doctors after the season. pic.twitter.com/QU2Hy3QWXQ
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 17, 2022
“I don’t really know what’s going on,” he said.
Here’s a little additional context from Gragson about this unfortunate phenomenon:
Noah Gragson was asked about his puking during his 'Door Bumper Clear' appearance earlier this week. Gragson talked about holding his breath and this 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/cfxB9MeKbj
— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) September 17, 2022
He climbed the fence with his team
Another Gragson tradition that’s also occasionally seen from others in motor sports, as well.
This time, @NoahGragson gets to climb the fence with fans at @BMSupdates! pic.twitter.com/I1Hx3WmmcP
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) September 17, 2022
Gragson continued his celebratory traditions by shotgunning a beer
He finished his post-race on-track interview with NBC Sports, raised his beer to the fans in the grandstands and proceeded to demolish one of his beverages:
Winning races. Shotgunning beers.
That's @NoahGragson, baby. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6MuiGLrEjO
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 17, 2022
When Gragson finally made it to Victory Lane, he got his gladiator sword
As we’ve previously written, Bristol’s gladiator sword is one of the best NASCAR trophies ever, along with Martinsville Speedway’s grandfather clock and New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s giant lobster. But the sword is perfect for Bristol, and it looked like Gragson was enjoying it.
H̶o̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶D̶r̶a̶g̶o̶n̶
House of the Gragson pic.twitter.com/1VoV0Wva8w— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) September 17, 2022
Gragson — who has 11 career Xfinity wins and six this season — also won at Bristol in 2020, so this is his second gladiator sword.
And then he put that sword to good use...
A sword in one hand and a White Claw in the other, Gragson used his weapon/trophy to crack the can open and shotgunned this drink too.
VERY confident this is the first White Claw to be pierced by the @BMSupdates 🗡 and then shotgunned in #XfinitySeries Victory Lane.
Only, @NoahGragson. pic.twitter.com/K08YmTY82A
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) September 17, 2022
Noah Gragson is a NASCAR legend already.
