PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Josh Williams has announced that he will return to the driver’s seat for DGM Racing this year, competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the fourth consecutive season.
Williams will move over to the team’s No. 36 Chevrolet Camaro starting at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 16, after piloting the No. 90 entry for the team in 20 Xfinity Series races last year.
The 25-year-old from Port Charlotte, Fla., is excited to continue his association with team owner Mario Gosselin and hopes to continue the organization’s positive momentum from the end of the 2018 season.
“I think this year is going to be good. I’ve got a good relationship with the team and we’ve got good chemistry as a group, so that’s always a big step in the right direction,” said Williams. “It’s been a lot of fun working with these guys and we always try to enjoy it every time we get to go to the race track together. We’re going to put a really strong effort in every time we get onto the race track and we’re looking to improve our results from last year dramatically. I can’t wait to get to Daytona and get going.”
“I’m really looking forward to working with Josh in 2019; he is a lot of fun to work with,” added Gosselin, who will serve as Williams’ crew chief in several events this year. “We had some successes last year that we are looking to build on, and he is a great asset to the DGM Racing team.”
Before he made his move to the national stage on a more-regular basis in 2017, Williams made his name in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, earning two victories and 50 top-10 finishes in 102 starts, as well as three top-five finishes in the season point standings.
Now, Williams is a veteran of 29 career Xfinity Series starts, with his best finish of 21st coming twice last year at both Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway in March and at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in June.
Williams is hopeful that the team’s successes last year are a positive omen going into the new season.
“It’s going to be good all the way around … and I’m excited to have the opportunity to drive the No. 36 this season,” he said. “People remember the number and car that ran the whole season last year and I feel like that this gives both myself and my fanbase some positivity to start the season with.”
After coming close to the top 20 on several occasions in 2018, Williams has high hopes for DGM Racing this year, noting that his goal is to crack the top 15 in the Xfinity Series consistently as the season progresses.
“We’re looking to creep up inside that front 15 this year; that’s something that we’ve got our eyes set on,” Williams said. “I feel like we’ve already improved a lot, both on the race track and as a group off of it, but we always want to try and run better. We want to be more consistent and want to be among the frontrunners a lot more than we have been recently. The focus is getting better each week, though, and keeping momentum from week to week. If we can do that, I feel like we’ll be in good shape.”
Williams will also continue the popular Josh Williams Hospital Tour program this season as well.
Going into its fifth year, the Josh Williams Hospital Tour visits children’s hospitals throughout the country, with Williams interacting with kids, signing autographs and even providing access to his race car at select locations during the tour.
A kids hand print activity is also featured at each hospital visit as well, with all the hand prints collected on paper plates and then used as part of a special commemorative paint scheme later on in the season.
“I’m super excited to keep the Josh Williams Hospital Tour going for another year and bring it back, specifically because of the joy it brings to all the kids we get to visit throughout the season,” noted Williams. “It’s a special part of what we do and I appreciate Mario and DGM Racing for allowing us to keep that endeavor going strong.
“Across the board, there’s a lot to be excited about this year and I can’t wait to get started.”
