NASCAR racing can be pretty cruel to the drivers. While there are a number of ways in which things can go south for the driver, to be caught up in a wreck and take an early elimination is certainly a low point. Unfortunately, this was the case for Josh Williams, who returned to the Cup Series with Kaulig Racing.

Driving the No. 16 Kaulig car at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the 30-year-old driver was just getting started to feel his car during the first lap of the race. However, Todd Gilliand triggered a massive car lockdown that took out 16 cars on the field, and out of those 16, Williams’ #16 came off the worst. While it was a Cup race, Williams sarcastically aimed a dig at the drivers who caused a big upset on his return.

Josh Williams gutted after an early exit at Atlanta

Going into the second race day of Cup racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway, there were concerns about wrecks and the style of racing. But none could have predicted the horror of a start that the race witnessed. A 16-car lockdown in just the second lap of the race felt like the drivers picked up right back from where they left things at the Daytona 500.

While many teams and drivers inflicted heavy damage, Williams was probably the most unlucky, as the race marked his Cup comeback from 2022. Speaking to Frontstretch after the bizarre accident, Josh Williams said, “I thought I left the ARCA Series a long time ago, but apparently not. This is supposed to be Cup racing, but it’s just insane.

“I had five guys pass me while we were still wrecking. Lap 1: It’s unfortunate; I don’t know. I got some back luck, got to get rid of it. You just wait till somebody runs into you. I mean, it sucks, but there’s race next weekend. So maybe we’ll have better luck there.”

The 30-year-old also provided an update about his next potential Cup Series race with Kaulig Racing. He added, “I’m not sure, I got a couple of schedules throughout the year. Hopefully, it’s not on a track like this. Hopefully, it’s somewhere where talent means something.”

Not the start of the season Williams was hoping for

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The former B. J. McLeod Motorsports driver was certainly not joking about being jinxed at the start of the 2024 season. Signed by Kaulig Racing for a full-time Xfinity schedule, he found himself pickled in a wreck early at Daytona International Speedway. Thus resulting in an early elimination from the race and a 34th spot in his first outing with Kaulig.

Fast forward to this weekend, Williams looked to make amends and start off fresh at Atlanta, a venue that eventually brought the driver into the spotlight because of his parking shenanigans last season. But this time, it wasn’t a wreck, but a loose tire that derailed his hopes of a strong finish.

Massive Lap 2 Wreck Fest Headlines Cup Series’ Atlanta Quest as FRM Star Jeopardizes Entire NASCAR Grid

The only positive for Williams is that there are plenty of races for him to prove his mettle as a race car driver in the Xfinity Series. It will also be interesting to see when he returns to Cup racing, as his first attempt at the Cup in two tears was in tatters.