Josh Williams won’t be competing in the COTA race on Saturday after disputing a decision made by NASCAR officials.
The NASCAR Xfinity race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday resulted in Josh Williams’ car being parked at the start-finish line. Williams was penalized on Tuesday by receiving a one-race suspension.
Williams acknowledged his fault but insisted that he doesn’t regret the actions that got him suspended. This means he won’t be present for this Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
“I stand behind what I did and don’t regret any action I made,” Williams tweeted before adding: “I stand behind NASCAR for these decisions and will continue and always continue to support them.”
Williams was angry after NASCAR race control ordered him to park his car after he had brought out a caution due to debris that had come off it. Williams’ mechanics had been attempting to keep the car in running condition after it had been in a crash earlier in the race.
Williams protested to his crew over his radio before getting out of the car. He claimed that parking your car after a crash of any kind was supposedly under NASCAR rules. Williams continued, “This is some bull you know what… I’ve never heard of this in my life.”
The 29-year old parked his car at the start/finish line of the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway as he found it incomprehensible that NASCAR had ordered him to retire from the race. Williams got out of his car while the race was under caution and waved to the spectators. He was asked to meet with officials in the NASCAR hauler right away.
Williams was given a one-race ban by NASCAR due to repeated regulations infractions, according to the sport’s announcement.
“A Member’s actions can reflect upon the sport as a whole and on other NASCAR Members,” NASCAR cited one of the rules.
“Ideally, NASCAR Members are role models for the many fans who follow this sport, regardless of the type of license a Member may hold, or the specific Series in which a Member may participate.”
“Therefore, NASCAR views a Member’s conduct, both on and off the racetrack, which might constitute a behavioral Rules violation under this Rule Book, with great importance.”
Williams thanked his supporters, including fans and sponsors, in a statement posted on his Twitter account on Tuesday.
Williams also shared a picture of “park it” T-shirts that are on sale, with the money from sales going to hospitals that Williams supports. Since 2015, Williams has been performing his Josh Williams Hospital Tour with more than 140 pediatric and other hospitals visits.
