NASCAR suspends driver Josh Williams for parking automobile at start-finish line in defiance of order

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams was suspended for one race for disobeying a request from officers throughout final Saturday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Williams was ordered to park his automobile within the storage after particles got here off it throughout a race, inflicting the warning flag to come back out. Instead, Williams parked on the checkered start-finish line, climbed out of his car and walked towards his pit crew whereas waving to the followers within the grandstand.

Josh Williams makes a pit cease in the course of the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Hampton, Georgia. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)

The driver complained to his crew on the radio earlier than he exited his automobile. He mentioned it was “apparently” NASCAR rules to park your car following a wreck “of any type.” He added that it was “some bull you understand what” and that he “by no means heard of this in my life.”

Williams launched an announcement after the punishment was doled out and expressed no regrets.

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Josh Williams waves to the gang after leaving his automobile in the course of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Raptor King of Tough 250 on March 18, 2023, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)

“Thank you to all the followers for sticking by my facet and displaying love,” the assertion learn. “I stand behind what I did and I don’t remorse any determination I made. I stand behind NASCAR for these selections and can proceed and all the time proceed to help them. I’m not going anyplace any time quickly! I hope the loyal followers of NASCAR proceed to fill the infields and grandstands.”

Williams will miss the NASCAR Xfinity Series 250 on the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.

Josh Williams leaves his automobile after NASCAR ordered him to park it on March 18, 2023, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)

He has completed within the prime 10 of Xfinity Series races 10 occasions in his profession. He made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2022 on the Food City Dirt Race in Bristol, Tennessee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.