At the Kansas Speedway, Josh Williams finished in a career-best 6th place. In fact, Bubba Wallace was utterly delighted for the ‘underdog’. However, Williams did not have any reason to celebrate a career-best in the NASCAR Xfinity series.
After he crossed the checkered flag, he returned to pit road, climbed out of the car, and simply bowed his head in mourning. The 27-year-old met one man called Tim Hayes a few times. Before long, the two became fast friends, and then Hayes began to work for Williams.
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Hayes helped Williams’ Xfinity crew at times, but Hayes’ focus was working on the cars at Williams’ shop and helping the young drivers who piloted them.
“I don’t think I ever went a day in the shop without laughing my a** off about something (Hayes) had to say,” Williams said. “He was one the funniest dudes I’ve ever been around.”
However, he confessed that he knew Hayes’ deepest secret. He knew that his friend was battling depression and was in a ‘rough place’ when they first met.
Tragedy struck and the NASCAR driver Josh Williams was devastated
Tragically, Hayes passed away at his home, a day before the Kansas Xfinity race. Naturally, Williams was stunned beyond belief and headed into the race with conflicting emotions.
According to him, whenever he performed well on the track, they always met to discuss the race. Needless to say, it only goes to show that, despite the loss, Josh Williams was mentally strong to race. He suppressed all that emotion throughout the entire race and once it was over, he could unleash the floodgates.
Coming to the race itself, Williams and other drivers expertly worked their way past some hairy moments. One of them included fellow driver Anthony Alfredo ending up on his roof after a particularly violent crash.
In the end, Chase Briscoe won over Daniel Hemric, Ryan Sieg, Justin Haley, Austin Hill, and a subdued Williams. Now, Josh Williams will be eager to finish the rest of the season on a high note, in honor of Tim Hayes.
