NASCAR News: Josh Williams Set for Cup Series Return Alongside A.J. Allmendinger; Fans Go Gaga

Do you recall that fearless driver from Atlanta’s Speedway last year, the one who made waves in the Xfinity Series? Yeah, the chap who defiantly parked his wheels right on the finish line, thumbing his nose at NASCAR’s decision to bench his banged-up car for the rest of the race? Guess what? He’s making a comeback, Cup!

Kaulig Racing announced on January 29th that Josh Williams will be back in the driver’s seat, steering the #16 Alloy Employer Services Camaro ZL1 in a handful of NASCAR Cup Series races this year, starting with the Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Coliseum on February 4th.

Josh Williams is set to take the wheel of the #11 Chevy and switch gears to the #16 in the Cup Series

Back in November 2023, Kaulig Racing revealed that they’d roped in Williams to lead the charge in their prized #11 Chevrolet for the Xfinity Series in 2024, with Alloy Employer Services cheering him on as the main sponsor. The team has now let slip that Josh Williams will also be hitting the track for a few Cup races, starting with a bang at the L.A. Clash. But ever the silver-lining seeker, he turned that spotlight into a golden opportunity to drum up support for the Ryan Seacrest Foundation.

On the contrary, A.J. Allmendinger, last year’s captain of the #16 ship in the Cup Series, is gearing up to join Josh Williams back in the Xfinity Series as his wingman. However, Williams isn’t exactly a greenhorn in the Cup Series, out of his trio of Cup starts in 2022, he managed to clinch a top-25 finish twice, consistently crossing the finish line ahead of where he started and staying on the lead lap in two of those races.

Even though Josh Williams is still the new driver on the block at Kaulig Racing, he’s already making waves, particularly impressing the brass with his knack for quickly getting up to speed, literally, in sim testing. Team president Chris Rice couldn’t hide his excitement, noting:

“Josh has impressed us at Kaulig Racing with how quickly he’s gotten up to speed in sim testing, so we knew we needed to work together to get him in the No. 16 Cup car in Los Angeles. Alloy Employer Services’ enthusiasm to get involved with our Cup and Xfinity programs has made it easy to give this the green light, and we’re hopeful that there will be a handful of Cup starts with Josh, Alloy Employer Services, and Kaulig Racing this season.”

Josh Williams himself is over the moon about another shot in the Cup Series, especially under the Kaulig Racing banner. He said, “Getting another opportunity in the Cup Series is humbling, especially with a team like Kaulig Racing. I’ve been spending time in the sim with Team Chevy, and that’s been a huge help in getting comfortable and acclimated to the L.A. Coliseum. Short-track racing is my background, and it doesn’t get much shorter than at The Clash. I’m ready for the challenge.”

Watch This Story: Ryan Blaney Really Excited to Work With Kevin Harvick’s Former Spotter After Spire Acquired Josh Williams

Kaulig Racing’s Cup triumphs have both come courtesy of the #16 car, with A.J. Allmendinger at the helm. While Allmendinger is set to return to the Xfinity Series full-time in 2024, he’ll still grace the Cup series in select races. Not to mention, it seems NASCAR and William’s fans are buzzing with excitement to see him back in the Cup spotlight.

Fans are over the moon about the Xfinity driver’s comeback to the Cup Series

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The moment Kaulig Racing dropped the news, supporters swarmed their social media, showering the post with ecstatic comments. Phrases like “We live in a society where Josh Williams is in a cup car. What a time to be alive,” and “JOSH WILLIAMS IN A CUP CAR? HELL YA.” were all over the place.

One fan couldn’t hide their joy, exclaiming, “Made my day,” while others chimed in with enthusiastic cheers like, “Hell yeah brother good luck this weekend 😃😁.” Another thrilled fan gushed, “This is fantastic news! Thank you to all who made this happen! 🫶.” Meanwhile, one fan declared, “This is the best thing I’ve seen today!!!”

Poking fun at Williams’ memorable move last year, a fan quipped, “Feeling cute… might park it on the start/finish line 😂” while another confidently predicted, “He will park it…in the victory lane 😎.”

Read More: Ryan Blaney “Really Excited” to Work With Kevin Harvick’s Former Spotter After Spire Acquired Josh Williams

And there was a fan who simply couldn’t contain excitement, as he said, “It’s been a minute since Josh last ran a cup car, can’t wait to see him in action this weekend!!!”