Josh Williams Nascar, whose full name is Joshua Lee Williams, born on August 3, 1993, has built an impressive career as an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. Currently competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Williams pilots the No. 11 Chevrolet SS for Kaulig Racing. His passion for racing extends beyond competing, as he also operates Josh Williams Motorsports, which fields cars for promising development drivers across multiple racing divisions.
Williams’ racing organization has established a solid foundation in cultivating talent through various racing categories including the ARCA Menards Series, Late Model Stock Cars, Legend Cars, and Bandoloero’s. Having personally worked my way through similar racing divisions, I’ve witnessed how this ladder system creates well-rounded drivers capable of handling diverse track conditions. Williams exemplifies this comprehensive racing background, applying his extensive experience both behind the wheel and in team management.
Early Racing Roots
Williams began his racing career at a remarkably young age, first climbing behind the wheel of go-kart racing machines before quickly progressing to more powerful vehicles. His natural talent allowed him to seamlessly advance through Fastrucks and Legends cars during his early career, displaying remarkable control and tactical awareness beyond his years. Having watched many young drivers develop, I’ve rarely seen someone adapt so quickly to different racing platforms while maintaining such consistent results.
His dedication and skill began earning recognition, ultimately securing a berth in the prestigious Humpy’s Heroes summer driver development program in 2009. This specialized training initiative, created by legendary promoter Humpy Wheeler, was specifically designed to identify and nurture young drivers with exceptional potential.
ARCA Racing Evolution
Early Days and Family Support
Williams first drove five races in the ARCA Racing Series during 2010, competing in his family car numbered 02. His best finish that season was 15th at Iowa Speedway, which caught attention in the racing community for his promising performances. The following season, he ran three races with Andy Belmont and another three with his family team. Having witnessed many young drivers struggle with this transition, I was impressed by Williams’ ability to adapt quickly while maintaining mechanical understanding of his vehicles.
Building Partnerships
In 2011, Williams developed an alliance with Lira Motorsports and recorded two top-tens in Belmont’s car and one more in his own car. By 2012, Josh Williams Motorsports went full-time, running all but one race despite facing limited funding. Though he failed to finish three races, he achieved four top tens with a best finish of seventh.
Navigating Challenges
The 2013 season saw struggle begin as Williams raced sponsorless for the first five races, yet still managed two top-ten finishes. He later signed a four-race deal with Roulo Brothers Racing, making sporadic appearances in their Ford racecars. Running between races for both Roulo and his family team, Williams also signed with Frank Kimmel to drive his cars at Road America, often starting and parking to conserve resources.
Breakthrough Moments
Williams drove the next race for GMS Racing, despite start and parking at Michigan International Speedway. He later carried sponsorship from Allegiant Air for the rest of the year, grabbing his first top-five finish with a second place at Chicagoland Speedway. Despite operating on limited funding, he finished fifth in points while utilizing four teams.
Continued Progress
After scaled back participation to just over half the schedule in 2014, running near the top ten consistently, Williams scored another runner-up finish in the season’s penultimate race. He raced the full season in number six throughout 2015, except one race with Cunningham Motorsports, and finished outside the top ten in just five races. He finished third in the driver’s standings behind Grant Enfinger and Austin Wayne Self, who passed Williams for second during the final race.
Victory and Vindication
2016 brought new success as Williams won his first two races at Madison International Speedway and Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The Madison win was particularly remarkable as he blew an engine in previous contests and considered withdrawing from Madison, but his crew pulled all-nighter during the week to get engine prepared. He finished fifth in points during an inconsistent season with 11 top tens.
Recent ARCA Involvement
Though Williams would have liked to run more ARCA Racing Series races in 2017, his team ran just two races at the beginning of the season in partnership with Lira Motorsports. Williams himself went behind the wheel for the annual Salem Speedway throwback weekend, running fourth. He returned for the 2018 season behind the wheel of the No. 6 Chevrolet at Talladega in partnership with his own team and Our Motorsports, where he finished 5th.
National Series Journey
Breaking into the Big Leagues
Williams and his family first made one Camping World Truck Series start in partnership with T3R2 Racing, unfortunately falling out at Martinsville Speedway in 2014. He then made two Xfinity Series starts as a start and park driver in 2016 with Jimmy Means Racing and King Autosport. Having followed his career path closely, I’ve witnessed how these initial entries, though modest, provided crucial experience in national competition that would serve him well later.
Expanding Opportunities
Williams was announced as the driver of King’s No. 90 entry for the spring Bristol Motor Speedway Xfinity race on April 21, 2017. His longtime friend Mario Gosselin helped him get the ride. After the Bristol race, Williams wanted to run about six Truck races with his family team in 2017, but these Truck races never came to fruition.
Building Consistency
Despite the setback, Williams garnered six other starts split between King’s 90 and 92 cars, mostly starting and parking in the 92 while running full races in the 90. At Daytona in summer, he was running just outside the top ten when clipped by Daniel Suárez, finishing last. He broke into the top thirty in all of his full races.
Leadership Development
In 2018, Williams took over the majority of the races in the No. 90 and even served as crew chief for other drivers in the 90 including Donald Theetge and Andy Lally on most weekends he was not in the seat. This dual role gave him unique insights into both sides of the racing equation.
Career Advancement
On January 29, 2019, Williams announced his move over to DGM’s No. 36 car for the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Gambling on pit strategy, he finished a then-career-best sixteenth at the Boyd Gaming 300 in early March. He later improved his career-best with his first career top-ten, finishing eighth at Talladega Superspeedway in spring. This finish helped DGM bounce back after a sponsor failed to pay the team during the beginning portions of the year.
Performance Peaks
Williams returned to DGM for 2020, piloting the team’s No. 92 entry and reeled off two top-ten finishes in the month of October, including a career-best sixth-place finish at Kansas Speedway that came only a day after the death of one of Williams’ employees. On October 31, the team confirmed another full-season effort for 2021.
New Horizons
Following the 2021 season, Williams parted with DGM, taking an opportunity to help him reach his dream of racing on Sundays. He moved to the No. 78 for 2022, driving for B. J. McLeod Motorsports made his first career NASCAR Cup Series start at the 2022 Food City Dirt Race. It was announced he will drive the No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports.
Recent Developments
On August 22, 2022, Williams announced he was returning to his old No. 92 at DGM and would drive that car and the team’s No. 36 car for the rest of 2022. For 2023, he returned to the No. 92 car full-time. At Atlanta, Williams sustained heavy damage on lap 27 from debris and after his team repaired car, he caused another caution.
NASCAR parked him under a provision of the Damaged Vehicle Policy. In response, Williams stopped his car at the start/finish line and walked back to pit road. On March 21, he was suspended for the COTA race for his actions. Looking ahead, Williams will drive the No. 11 car for Kaulig Racing in the 2024 season, representing a significant step up in equipment.
Beyond the Racetrack
Williams was born in the sunshine state of Florida but relocated to the Charlotte area when he was just age 15, juggling his studies through taking online classes to successfully get through high school while chasing his racing dreams. During his teen years, he survived a life-threatening head-on four-wheeler collision that left him hospitalized in the ICU for five days—a harrowing ordeal that inspired his ongoing dedication to visits children’s hospitals as a way to give back to the community whenever he finds free time in his busy schedule.
Off the track, Williams shares his life with his wife, Trazia Rae, who works as a social media influencer. The couple has one daughter together, cementing their family life in racing country. When not behind the wheel, Williams owns a company that prepares foreclosed homes for auction, and actively works there during the week when not racing. Having met Williams at charity events, I’ve seen firsthand how he balances his professional responsibilities with genuine community involvement—a rare quality in today’s high-pressure motorsports environment.
FAQS:
What is Josh Williams doing now?
Josh Williams, now clean and sober for 6 years and counting, has successfully turned personal struggles and professional heartbreak into racing victories along the way, often crediting the best music in his life—a masterful mix of bluegrass and classic country—for keeping him grounded as a true Modern Day Man in NASCAR.
What team does Josh Williams drive for?
Mario Gosselin, who has been a close friend for many years and has extensive NASCAR experience, originally brought Williams on board to compete on a limited schedule with DGM Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series before promoting him to a complete season schedule in 2019. Williams made a team change for the 2024 season, signing with Kaulig Racing to pilot the Number 11 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and has also competed twice in NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series, driving the Number 16 Camaro.
Who is Josh Williams’ wife?
Josh Williams balances his racing career with a rich personal life. He is married to Trazia Rae, a social media influencer who shares his entrepreneurial spirit. Together, the couple owns a company that prepares foreclosed homes for auction, which Williams actively works on during the week when he’s not on the track. The couple has one daughter together, completing their family unit. Beyond his professional obligations, Williams regularly visits children’s hospitals in his free time to give back to the community, showing his commitment to making a difference off the track as well.
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