Kaulig Racing has made a significant change to its driver lineup. The team has released Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams after 21 starts this season.
"Kaulig Racing announced that it has parted ways with NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, Josh Williams, effective today," the team said in a statement to media members on Wednesday.
"Kaulig Racing will field the No. 11 Chevrolet with multiple drivers over the remaining 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series races. More announcements regarding the driver lineup will be forthcoming."
The team did not provide any details about the drivers who will make starts in the No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro to close out the season. Its Cup drivers could be an option during the regular season, but NASCAR rules do not allow them to compete in the Xfinity regular-season finale and the playoff races.
The timing of the split came as a surprise, but Kaulig Racing parting ways with Williams did not. Multiple sources in the NASCAR garage told AltDriver weeks prior to this split that Williams would not return to Kaulig Racing after the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. The veteran driver knew this outcome earlier in the season, which potentially provided time to find a new opportunity for 2026.
"As most of you have seen, Kaulig Racing has made the decision to release me for the remainder of the season," Williams said in a statement. "This has been a difficult day for my family, friends, long-time partners, and fans, whom I can't thank enough for standing by my side through all of this.
"We will be back soon and looking forward to a brighter chapter in my racing career. I wish nothing but the best for my guys on the 11 team."
Williams, a Florida native, has made the majority of his 240 Xfinity Series starts with DGM Racing while posting 11 top-10 finishes. However, he landed an opportunity at Kaulig Racing in 2024. He took over the No. 11 as Daniel Hemric moved up to the Cup Series and he became teammates with AJ Allmendinger and Shane van Gisbergen.
Williams's first season with Kaulig featured some struggles. He failed to finish seven of the 33 races, but he also posted four top-10 finishes. This season, Williams has posted an average finish of 20.0 through 21 races, which includes two top-10 finishes and four DNFs. He also dealt with a lingering illness that took him out of the No. 11 midway through a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
His final start in the No. 11 was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he finished 22nd overall. Williams left the historic track sitting 19th in the Xfinity Series standings.