NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams issued a statement after NASCAR suspended him for a single race after he parked his car at the start/finish line during the Xfinity race on Saturday in Atlanta.
Josh Williams via NASCAR YouTube
After being involved in an early crash during the Raptor King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway that saw Williams collected in a Kyle Weatherman, he and his team attempted to repair the damage to get his car back on the track so he could continue the race.
https://youtu.be/3Ksu-9TFjXI
Unfortunately, cold temperatures in Atlanta resulted in the BearBond tape used to repair damage to the vehicle would not stick and it began flying off his vehicle as he exited his pit stall and later after he re-entered the track.
https://youtu.be/m6tg2MSgTig
Due to the debris coming off his car, NASCAR informed him and his team that he had been disqualified from the race for extending the caution. He would be ordered to park his car in the garage.
Williams, not happy with the decision from NASCAR, chose to park his car on the start/finish line instead. After parking his vehicle, he jumped out of the car and walked across the infield back to his pit box giving fans and NASCAR officials the peace sign and waving at them along the way.
After making it to his pit box, he got into a brief discussion with a NASCAR official with Williams informing the official if they fine him he wouldn’t be able to pay it.
He said, “I don’t care. What’s he going to do? Fine me? Can’t afford to pay it.”
NASCAR didn’t fine Williams, but instead suspended him for a single race.
NASCAR.com reported, “Williams, the driver of the No. 92 Chevrolet Camaro, was found in violation of Sections 4.3.A; 4.4.B & D; 8.7.6: NASCAR Member Code of Conduct and In-race Violations for disobeying a NASCAR request. After being directed to take his car to the garage during last Saturday’s Xfinity race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Williams elected to park his vehicle at the start/finish line, exiting it and walking toward pit road. He will not compete in Saturday’s Pit Boss 250.”
Josh Williams via NASCAR YouTube
Williams issued a statement on Twitter in reaction to the one-race suspension.
It states, “After the release of NASCAR’s statement today about the penalty from Atlanta, I want to take the time to say THANK YOU! I want to thank every one of my sponsors for their continued support: Alloy Employer Services, Call811.com, Coolray Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, Star Brite, Star Tron, Sleep Well Inc., General Formulations, and Peg Leg Porker.”
“Thank you to all the fans for sticking by my side and showing love,” he continued. “I stand behind what I did and I don’t regret any decision I made. I stand behind NASCAR for these decisions and will continue and always continue to support them. I am not going anywhere any time soon! I hope the loyal fans of NASCAR continue to fill in the infields and grandstands.”
Williams concluded, “We will be back stronger than ever and ready to get the 92 DGM Racing team Chevy back up front!”
Josh Williams Twitter
Williams reiterated this statement during an appearance SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. He said, “You know, I don’t take it back. I was upset and I thought that it wasn’t a correct penalty and I felt like we were a victim of other circumstances that we couldn’t control and that NASCAR couldn’t control. And they finally were getting aggravated and I was the guy that kind of — the straw that broke the camel’s back, right?”
“So I mean, I wouldn’t change a thing. I got a lot of passion for the sport. I do this for a living. I work on race cars Monday through Thursday, and I race in NASCAR on Friday and Saturday. I didn’t think it was fair and I did what I did. We’ll move on and try to grow and be better,” he asserted.
Josh Williams via NASCAR YouTube
Williams on to speculate that he does not think NASCAR would have been penalized him the way they did if the wreck had been the first caution.
He explained, “I honestly feel if that had been the first caution of the day and we would have an issue, I don’t think we would have got the same result. And I get it from their perspective. They’ve got to run a race and run a show and we’ve got TV schedules to abide by and things like that. I’m sure from a series standup it was frustrating to watch, from up top. I mean I get it from both sides. I told Wayne, ‘I still love you.’ He said, ‘I still love you too.’ So everything’s good there.”
💭 “I don’t take it back. I was upset and I thought that it wasn’t a correct penalty.”
🗣️ @Josh6williams joined @DGodfatherMoody and reacted to his 1 race suspension for this weekend’s @NASCAR_Xfinity race @COTA. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/L1NFM0D0aQ
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) March 21, 2023
Given the one-race suspension to Williams, DGM Racing announced that Alex Labbé will fill in for Williams.
The team announced on Twitter, “As a result of Saturday’s events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Josh Williams will take a NASCAR mandated one week vacation. Alex Labbé will drive the No. 92 this weekend at COTA.”
DGM Racing Twitter
What do you make of Williams’ response to NASCAR’s one-race suspension?
NEXT: Kyle Larson Gets Honest About Atlanta Race: “It Was Extremely Boring Until The Third Stage”