Noah

Lore & Background

Born in Miami, Florida, and raised in Boca Raton, Centineo is of Italian and Pennsylvania Dutch (German) descent. He has an older sister. He attended BAK Middle School of the Arts and then Boca Raton Community High School for ninth and tenth grade, where he played soccer. In 2012, he moved to Los Angeles and attended Agoura High School.

In 2008, he starred as the lead in the family film The Gold Retrievers. He had small roles in the Disney Channel sitcoms Austin & Ally, Shake It Up, and Jessie. He co-starred as Jaden Stark in the Disney Channel Original Movie How to Build a Better Boy (2014). In the same year, he was cast as Ben Eastman in the Disney Channel comedy pilot Growing Up and Down, which was not picked up to series.

In 2015, Centineo was cast in the main role of Jesus Adams Foster in ABC Family/Freeform's drama series The Fosters where the character was previously portrayed by Jake T. Austin in seasons 1–2. He made his first appearance in season three's episode 'Lucky,' which aired on August 17, 2015. In 2017, he was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Star: Male for his performance. In 2017, Centineo starred as Hawk Carter in go90's teen drama-thriller series Tagged which ended in 2018.

He portrayed surfer/artist Johnny Sanders Jr. in the coming-of-age romantic comedy SPF-18. Also that year he appeared as Camila Cabello's love interest in the music video for her single 'Señorita.' Centineo starred as Peter Kavinsky in the Netflix teen comedy original movie To All the Boys film series adapted from Jenny Han's romance novel, beginning with To All the Boys I've Loved Before. He received positive reviews and became a teen idol.

He also starred as Jamey in Sierra Burgess Is a Loser and Lance Black in Swiped. In 2019, he played the lead role of Brooks Rattigan in another Netflix romantic comedy film, The Perfect Date, which was released in April. He also had a supporting part in the reboot of Charlie's Angels, which was released in November 2019. In 2020, he returned as Peter Kavinsky in the sequels To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and To All the Boys: Always and Forever.

He was set to play He-Man in Masters of the Universe (2026), a film based on the franchise of the same name to be released by Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures, but in April 2021 he dropped out of the film.

Reader's Guide

Centineo's career began with small television roles on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, including Austin & Ally (2011–2012). His breakout came with the role of Jesus Adams Foster on The Fosters (2015–2018), for which he was nominated for a Teen Choice Award in 2017. He achieved wider recognition starring as Peter Kavinsky in the To All the Boys Netflix film series (2018–2021), alongside roles in Sierra Burgess Is a Loser (2018) and The Perfect Date (2019). He later played Atom Smasher in Black Adam (2022) and starred in and executive produced the Netflix series The Recruit (2022–2025). Upcoming projects include Warfare (A24, 2024), a Street Fighter reboot as Ken Masters (2025), a young John Rambo prequel (2025), and a live-action Gundam film opposite Sydney Sweeney (2025). He was previously attached to Masters of the Universe but dropped out in April 2021.

Racing Origins and Early Breakthroughs

Noah Quinn Gragson's journey into professional motorsports began at a young age, starting with Bandoleros racing at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring when he was just thirteen. He quickly progressed to late models and found early success in the INEX Legends car series, securing the 2014 Young Lion Road Course championship. His transition to stock cars marked a significant milestone in his career during the 2015 season with Jefferson Pitts Racing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

Driving the No. 7 Ford backed by AlertID sponsorship, Gragson demonstrated immediate promise, finishing third in his debut at Kern County Raceway Park. He secured his first victory at Tucson Speedway after a fierce battle with teammate Gracin Raz and later claimed his first pole position at Meridian Speedway, leading a dominant 176 laps to win. Despite facing strong competition from Chris Eggleston, Gragson finished second in the final points standings.

His impressive rookie campaign, highlighted by two wins and eleven top-ten finishes, earned him the prestigious Rookie of the Year award, solidifying his status as a rising talent in regional racing circuits.

Dominance in the Truck Series

Gragson's ascent to national prominence accelerated during his tenure in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports. After being hired for the 2017 season, he quickly proved his mettle by capturing his first career Truck series victory at Martinsville Speedway. In a dramatic finish to the Texas Roadhouse 200, Gragson overtook Matt Crafton on the outside with only ten laps remaining to secure the win. His consistency throughout the year helped him finish tenth in the points standings.

The following season proved even more successful; after a heartbreaking crash at Dover while battling Johnny Sauter for the lead, Gragson bounced back spectacularly at Kansas Speedway. He dominated the 37 Kind Days 250, leading 128 of the 167 laps to claim his second career victory. Although he missed the Pocono race due to illness, requiring a playoff waiver to remain eligible for the championship, Gragson finished the season strong with a third-place run at Homestead.

This performance culminated in him finishing as the runner-up in the overall points standings, establishing himself as a formidable competitor in the Truck Series.

Xfinity Series Development and Challenges

Transitioning to the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Gragson joined Joe Gibbs Racing for a partial schedule in 2018 before committing to a full-time drive with JR Motorsports starting in 2019. Initially slated for the No. 1 Chevrolet, he was reassigned to the No. 9 car alongside teammate Michael Annett. His rookie season was marked by consistent improvement, highlighted by a third-place finish at Las Vegas and a career-best second place at Michigan. He successfully qualified for the playoffs based on seven top-five finishes during the regular season, though his campaign faced setbacks including a DNF at Texas Motor Speedway caused by contact with Harrison Burton.

The 2020 season saw Gragson secure primary sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops and Black Rifle Coffee Company, leading to a victory in the season-opening NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona. However, this period also included intense on-track rivalries; notably, he was involved in a post-race altercation with Burton after pushing him into the wall during the Alsco 300, an incident that drew scrutiny but resulted in no official reprimands from NASCAR officials.

Return to Roots and Cup Series Aspirations

As his career evolved, Gragson maintained connections to his developmental roots while aiming higher. In 2024, he announced a return to the ARCA Menards Series West with Rette Jones Racing, fielding the No. 30 car for a race at Watkins Glen International. This move coincided with part-time duties in their new Xfinity Series entry, demonstrating his versatility across different racing tiers. His primary focus, however, remains on the pinnacle of stock car racing: the NASCAR Cup Series.

Competing full-time for Front Row Motorsports, Gragson pilots the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. This opportunity represents the culmination of years of grinding through regional series, ARCA, and lower national divisions. His path from a thirteen-year-old Bandoleros racer to a full-time Cup competitor underscores his dedication and adaptability in an increasingly competitive sport. By balancing part-time returns to series where he once excelled with his current top-tier obligations, Gragson continues to refine his skills while chasing victories at the highest level of American motorsports.