Dublin Native Caleb Williams Reflects on Racing Journey Ahead of LIUNA 150

Connecticut’s Lime Rock Park (41NBC/WMGT) Caleb Williams, a native of Dublin, is getting ready for another thrilling NASCAR weekend as the engines crank for the first-ever LiUNA 500, but his journey to get here hasn’t been typical.

Williams, a mechanical engineering graduate of Georgia Southern in 2020, was raised surrounded by the racing scene. An early passion for racing was ignited by dirt tracks in his area and weekends spent with racing friends.

I was always a fan of racing and had a slight interest in it while growing up in Dublin, Williams added. I first started getting my feet wet because of the dirt tracks that were all throughout our neighborhood. likely not going to allow me to pursue a career as a race car driver, so I thought, “Perhaps this is my chance to still work with the cars and influence a team.”

Georgia Southern’s Formula SAE program, a nationwide engineering competition that allowed students to design, build, and race their own vehicles, provided Williams with guidance after graduating from West Laurens High School.

We receive ideas and sponsorships, increase program financing, invest that money, and create the finest design, he said. We always had the opportunity to compete and drive the car on the track at the end of the year.

Williams claimed that he had trouble staying motivated after graduating because to the COVID-19 pandemic until he was interviewed by Niece Motorsports, who immediately hired him. In order to follow his passion, he left graduate school right away and relocated to North Carolina.

According to him, the drivers I’m dealing with currently are unquestionably better than anything I’ve ever encountered. They are the nation’s best at what they do. It just motivates us to perform at our highest level at all times.

As an engineer with Front Row Motorsports, Williams is now instrumental in leading the work on Chandler Smith’s No. 38 truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. Making the move to Smith’s crew was both a professional and emotional choice.

During my third year at Front Row, I got the chance to play alongside Todd Gilliland in the 38 Cup Series, Williams remarked. They informed us about Chandler Smith, who is also from Georgia, when they made the decision to add another Craftsman truck during the winter. This year, I simply wanted to change things up, gain more victories, and win a title.

Williams explained what race weekends usually entail from an engineering perspective, with the LiUNA 500 scheduled to go green on Saturday at 1 p.m.

We’re going to practice. He said, “I usually suggest [setup] adjustments to my crew chief, and any adjustments the driver provides me with feedback, we will all recommend.” The truck will be cleaned and reassembled for a technical assessment on Friday night. We will then qualify on Saturday morning, race on Saturday, and take a flight back shortly after.

Williams, who currently competes at the top level of American racing, hasn’t forgotten his Middle Georgia roots.

Many children can probably identify with me because of where I was at the time. He remarked, “I never could have imagined it turning out the way it has.” But if you persevere and put in a lot of effort, you can succeed. You never know where you’ll end up, even from Dublin.

When Chandler Smith drives the No. 38 truck at Lime Rock Park for the LiUNA 500 on Saturday at 1 p.m., fans can witness Williams and Front Row Motorsports in action.