By: Cathy Brown
Twitter: @TheCathyBrown@PitOutsideBox
Facebook: Pitting Outside the Box
Website: Pitting Outside the Box
ATLANTA – GA. – With the West Coast Swing in the rear view mirror, the three NASCAR Series were back on track on the East Coast at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The first of Saturdays double header started off with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and when the checkered flag flew it was Christian Eckes crossing the stripe first.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series was next up in what would turn out to be a marathon of a race.
The track and its new “superspeedway” configuration didn’t sit well with a lot of the drivers as the race saw a record 11 cautions (same in the NCTS race). Drivers like Justin Allgaier who got caught up in an accident said it plain and simple.
“After the reconfiguration of this place … it’s completely ruined this place. I’m kind of embarrassed for the sport right now.” Said Allgaier in speaking of what Atlanta had done.
The highlight of the race that still has all the fans talking, is when Josh Williams who was caught up in an on track incident and was able to repair his car under the damage vehicle policy had the part of his fender that was repaired with bare bond start to fly apart while back on track.
NASCAR told Williams after they felt he was “extending a caution” told him to park his car, the problem is they weren’t really specific where.
The driver of the No. 92 did what he thought was the best way to display his displeasure and make a statement with NASCAR’s decision and he parked it – parked it right on the start/finish line.
The crowd responded with cheers as Williams turned around and gestured/waved to the starter stand and the fans. When back on pit road, the only comment he was able to make before being whisked away by NASCAR officials was “What’s he gonna do? Fine me? I can’t afford to pay it.” In what appeared someone asking him as to why he did what he just did.
Social Media exploded with fans calling him a “legend” and NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin tweeting that he would pay his fine.
Williams had to report to the NASCAR hauler and sit there until the race was over and then some. When NASCAR finally spoke to him it was hours later, where Williams would say while in the hauler he “watched the race, ate some pizza and even thought about taking a nap.”
He (Williams) did say he will accept whatever punishment NASCAR decides, we’ll find out Tuesday what that punishment is, needless to say Williams gained a new fan base as a result.
The race continued and saw more cautions and when the race was finally over Austin Hill would find himself in Victory Lane again for the third time this season.
Sunday it was the NCS’ turn and would the racing be the same as the days prior?
Lets recap, Joey Logano started on pole and would lead every lap in Stage No. 1.
Stage No. 2 it was Logano again showing domination, however on the last lap of the second segment Logano’s teammate Austin Cindric would steal the stage win with a less than a lap to go pass, giving the No. 2 the stage win.
The final stage saw the most action of the race when a wreck with 71 laps to go involved Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Josh Berry, Chris Buescher, Harrison Burton and William Byron.
Harvick who was leading at the time of the wreck got loose when Ross Chastain came up on his rear bumper spinning the No. 4 right in front of the field.
With 61 laps to go, it was Aric Almirola on point and would continue to lead until his car blew a tire, taking out himself, Kyle Larson, Justin Haley and Daniel Suarez.
This would set the race up for Brad Keselowski, he would lead and swap the lead with Logano in a caution free race to the finish.
Keselowski made his No. 6 King’s Hawaiian Ford Mustang as wide as possible blocking both lanes as Logano hung back just enough to made a late last lap charge to the front.
When the checkered flag flew it was Logano scoring his first win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
It appears the jury is still out on AMS’ new configuration, was it good racing? You decide.
Next weekend NASCAR travels to Texas turning left and right at COTA.
Pitting Outside the Box 