NASCAR Driver Josh Williams Turns Suspension into Marketing Bonanza

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• Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams, who was suspended for parking his car on the track in protest during a race, delivered several Papa John’s pizza boxes to the infield media center prior to Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Richmond Raceway.

• Williams' reasoning was, “I think that’s what was in the (NASCAR) hauler” at Atlanta “when they penalized me."

• In the two weeks since NASCAR notified Williams his actions would result in a one-race suspension, he has acquired a new sponsor and created T-shirts and hoodies with the phrases “Park It” and “Can’t Park Here."

After a one race suspension, Josh Williams returned to the track bearing pizza for NASCAR Xfinity Series managing director Wayne Auton, the same food the driver was served while he awaited his meeting with Auton after he parked his race car on the Atlanta track during an event last month.

Williams also delivered several Papa John’s pizza boxes to the infield media center prior to Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Richmond Raceway because “I think that’s what was in the (NASCAR) hauler” at Atlanta “when they penalized me.

Since that day, Williams’ impromptu actions in the March 18 Raptor King of Tough 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway has morphed into marketing and public relations opportunities, something Williams never expected.

In the two weeks since NASCAR notified Williams his actions would result in a one-race suspension, he has acquired a new sponsor and created T-shirts and hoodies with the phrases “Park It” and “Can’t Park Here."

Proceeds from the sale of the clothing items on josh6williams.com will go to the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which builds multi-media studios with radio and television components in children’s hospitals. Williams visits children’s hospitals on a regular basis near his Port Charlotte, Fla., home and when he travels to various cities for NASCAR events. It was a charitable gesture he started in 2015 when a friend had a family member battling Leukemia at a children’s hospital.

Prior to Williams’ return to competition at Richmond, Parking Guidance Systems announced its affiliation with Florida-based DGM Racing. The company specializes in providing tailored, technology-driven guidance solutions for a range of parking needs. PGS employees were watching the Atlanta race when the incident occurred.

“I never would have thought it would have escalated to something at this level,” Williams said. “I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but it’s kind of cool to see the fans and other people, drivers and team owners, kind of get behind it.

I don’t know if they … kind of feel like a lot of people have been wanting to voice their opinion about some of the things going on in NASAR lately, but I guess I was the guy that finally committed to it.”

The incident that resulted in Williams’ “behavioral” penalty started on lap 27 of the 163-lap race when he was involved in a turn one accident with Kyle Weatherman and Jeb Burton.