[media-credit name=”Knights Motorsports Management” align=”alignright” width=”300″]
[/media-credit]While a win is the main thing that a racecar would like to have, they’re also looking for something else – respect. Last year, Josh Williams began in his trek in the ARCA Racing Series and the finding respect, it wasn’t as easy as the finishes weren’t there. However, with his second straight top 10, competitors are beginning to take a look at Williams and recognize his talent.
Now heading into the running of the RainEater Wiper Blades 200 at Michigan, Williams is hopeful that will continue as with it being a wide track, there’s lots of room to race hard and get another solid finish. After all, the last race track the ARCA cars raced at – Pocono Raceway – was wide and fast, too.
“The Pocono finish did a lot for us,” William says. “We literally were able to take a new car, thrash it together, take it to Pocono, make some aggressive changes throughout the weekend and bring the team home a run. It was an awesome feeling, because we’re just a small group – trying to make big dreams come true.”
The race at Pocono marked Williams’ first ever race on a Superspeedway and he did well, finishing 10th. He’ll be tested again this week as this marks his first ever start at Michigan.
“Michigan’s a bigger story this weekend,” the 18-year-old continues. “It’s a huge place, smaller than Pocono, but I think horsepower is going to be key. We’re going to give it our all and we’re bringing the same car that we used at Pocono, because we feel that with the rules change this car will once again help us.”
With it being his first trip to Michigan, he isn’t quite sure what to expect as some have said it’ll be a calm race, well others have said it could be a crazy race.
“At Pocono, there were times you saw guys out there by themselves and others just racing the heck out of one another,” Williams adds. “I think you will see the same on Friday afternoon. That in truth will make it a great spectacle for the fans. Hopefully it will be as fun behind the wheel as I’m expecting it to be.”
If Williams wants to continue on and keep gaining that wanted respect, he will need some sponsorship as he has yet to lock down that key piece yet. With being a family-backed team, they are currently on a limited budget.
“We have some stuff here and there, but nothing permanent,” Williams explains. “Everyone’s trying, it’s hard out there – but we’re a family first and foremost – so we’ll just keep digging and hashing things together like we did at Pocono last week and if we don’t – we’ll have a good run that will give us some spark to go out there and let someone know that we have a great home for them. I know I wouldn’t be sitting where I am right now if it wasn’t for my parents.”
Williams hopes that sponsorship comes as he’s sitting pretty good in the points as he is currently 10th.
“I think it’s pretty big, even after missing a race that we’re sitting inside the top-10 again,” Williams explains. “My parents are the ones that deserve a lot of the credit and the huge dedication and countless hours by the crew too. We unite as one – one big family and that’s how we plan to stay through the thick and thin the rest of the year.”
