NASCAR driver Josh Williams suspended one race for parking his car at the finish line

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams has been suspended for one race for parking his car at the start and finish line during Saturday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

The “bear bond” adhesive used by Williams’ crew to patch up his vehicle failed, and when parts fell off of his car Williams was ordered by race officials to go park in the garage.

Incensed by the ruling, Williams instead parked his #92 racecar on the finish line, and waved to fans in the grandstand as he walked toward the pit road.

Talking to his crew over the headset as he walked off, Williams explained that “Apparently if you get in a wreck of any kind and a piece of bear bond falls off, you are out of the race. This is some bull-you-know-what.”

Josh Williams parked it … literally … on the start-finish line. pic.twitter.com/e42EV2u21g

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 18, 2023

“Williams, the driver of the No. 92 Chevrolet Camaro, was found in violation … for disobeying a NASCAR request,” NASCAR announced Tuesday.

An undeterred Williams maintains that he was in the right.

After thanking his sponsors and fans, Williams said in a statement that “I stand behind what I did and I don’t regret any decision I made.”

The fans and fellow drivers were also supportive of Williams in turn.

“Fans — I mean, they were just through the roof about it. Even a lot of people that were in the garage, I think they were supportive of my situation and they didn’t think it was right or fair either,” Williams said on the NASCAR Race Hub show, which airs on cable channel FS1.

Now, Williams is using the incident to raise money for charities. Williams is selling a “Park It” shirt depicting the incident for $29.99 on his website, with proceeds going to the supporting organizations of his Josh Williams Hospital Tour.

Williams has visited sick children in hospitals since 2015, and has made over 100 visits to patients.

The “Park It” shirts have the words in question, Williams’ hands forming a heart, and an illustration of Williams walking away from his parked vehicle, waving a peace sign to the crowd.

As a result of his suspension, Williams will miss the race this upcoming Saturday at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. Williams will be replaced in the race by DGM Racing teammate Alex Labbé.