William Sawalich

Last updated
William Sawalich
William Sawalich (53642664482) (cropped).jpg
Sawalich at Martinsville Speedway in 2024
Born (2006-10-03) October 3, 2006 (age 17)
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Achievements 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Champion
2023 All American 400 Winner
2022 SCCA Trans-Am TA2 ProAm Series Champion
2022 Rumble by the River 125 Winner
2022 Throwback 276 Winner (LMSC)
2023 Orange Blossom 100 Winner
Awards2022 SCCA Trans-Am TA2 ProAM Series Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
Car no., teamNo. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
8 races run over 2 years
Truck no., teamNo. 1 (Tricon Garage)
Best finish30th (2023)
First race 2023 Long John Silver's 200 (Martinsville)
Last race 2024 Weather Guard Truck Race (Bristol)
WinsTop tens Poles
030
ARCA Menards Series career
14 races run over 2 years
ARCA no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Best finish8th (2023)
First race 2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
First win 2023 Zinsser SmartCoat 200 (Berlin)
Last win 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
WinsTop tens Poles
5138
ARCA Menards Series East career
9 races run over 2 years
ARCA East no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Best finish1st (2023)
First race 2023 Pensacola 200 (Pensacola)
Last race 2024 Pensacola 150 (Pensacola)
First win 2023 Pensacola 200 (Pensacola)
Last win 2023 Bush’s Beans 200 (Bristol)
WinsTop tens Poles
497
ARCA Menards Series West career
5 races run over 1 year
ARCA West no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Best finish15th (2023)
First race 2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
First win 2023 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix)
Last win 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
WinsTop tens Poles
243
Statistics current as of March 30, 2024.

William Sawalich (born October 3, 2006) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for JGR. He is the 2023 ARCA Menards Series East champion.

Contents

Racing career

Early career

Sawalich began racing at the age of nine, running various midget races, including Sr. Animal's and World Formula. From 2017 to 2019, he won several track championships at Little Elko Speedway. [1]

He moved into legends cars in 2020, winning the INEX Young Lions State Championship in Minnesota. He scored multiple top fives and podiums during his legends car efforts. [1] [2] He won an INEX sanctioned Legends division feature race at Elko Speedway (MN) on August 22, 2020. [3]

Late models

Sawalich made the transition to late models in 2021, running nearly a full season in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series. Despite missing two races, he finished fourth in the standings, with one win at Carteret County Speedway, [4] and seven top fives. Along with that, he continued to run in select legend car races. He made his CARS Tour debut at Tri-County Motor Speedway in September, in which he started on the pole. He finished 17th after being involved in a late-race accident.

In 2022, Sawalich increased his late model schedule, running in the CARS Tour, the Champion Racing Association, the ARCA Midwest Tour, the Southern Super Series, and the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. In the CARS Tour, Sawalich ran nine races, earning six wins, four of them in row. [5] [6] [7] [8] His streak came to an end at Tri-County in September, after he got spun on the last lap by Jake Garcia. [9]

In 2023, Sawalich won the All American 400 in a controversial ending, after the top eight drivers were eliminated due to fluid on the racetrack, causing them to slip up and hit the wall. He also became the youngest driver to win the All American 400. [10]

ARCA

Sawalich's No. 18 ARCA car at Sonoma in 2023 William Sawalich ARCA Sonoma 2023.jpg
Sawalich's No. 18 ARCA car at Sonoma in 2023

On December 9, 2022, it was announced that Sawalich will join Joe Gibbs Racing to run 20 races in the ARCA Menards Series. This included a full season in the ARCA Menards Series East, along with select races in the main and West Series. [11] Swawlich would make his debut at Phoenix on March 10, 2023, winning the pole and finishing 13th. In his first East Series start at Five Flags Speedway, Sawalich won the pole, and led every lap to earn his first career ARCA win. [12] At Nashville, Sawalich was in contention to win his second race, until the caution came out on the final lap. He would spin his tires on the final restart, ultimately giving the win to Luke Fenhaus. [13] He earned his second win of the season at ARCA's return to Flat Rock Speedway, leading the final 50 laps of the race. [14] He scored his third win of the season at Berlin Raceway, after passing Jesse Love for the lead with two laps to go. [15] Following the Bristol race, Sawalich clinched the ARCA Menards Series East championship. [16]

On December 13, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would run a more expanded ARCA Menards Series and West Series schedule, along with a full-time East Series schedule. He will run the No. 18 for the 14 races in the ARCA Menards Series, and the No. 18 as well in the East and the West Series. Tanner Gray will be the driver of the No. 18 for the six tracks in the ARCA Menards Series that Sawalich is too young to race at. [17] He would start his season in the ARCA Menards Series along with the ARCA Menards Series West with a victory at Phoenix after leading 66 laps in a weather shortened race. [18] In the East Series first race of the season, Sawalich would lead the most laps at Five Flags, but he would end up finishing second to Gio Ruggiero. [19]

NASCAR Truck Series

On January 19, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich will join Tricon Garage for six races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, making his debut in the series. [20] He made his debut at Martinsville Speedway, finishing ninth after running near the top ten for most of the race. [21]

After earning three top tens in 2023, Tricon announced that Sawalich would returning to the No. 1 team in 2024, this time with an expanded nine race schedule. [22] Sawalich would start his season with a 21st place finish at Bristol.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

On December 13, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would run the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series part-time in 2024, starting in the fall. He will be sharing the ride with Ryan Truex, Joe Graf Jr., Taylor Gray, Aric Almirola, and Ty Gibbs. [23]

Personal life

William's father, Brandon Sawalich, is the president of Starkey Hearing Technologies, the largest hearing aid manufacturer in the United States. Starkey sponsors his racing efforts. Brandon Sawalich is the stepson of businessman William F. Austin. [24] He has a sister, Amelia, who is in a relationship with fellow NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Sam Mayer.

He is currently an online student at Liberty University Online Academy, and is currently a client of KHI Management. [25]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

NASCAR Xfinity Series results
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233NXSCPtsRef
2024 Joe Gibbs Racing 19 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO COA RCH MAR TEX TAL DOV DAR CLT PIR SON IOW NHA NSH CSC POC IND MCH DAY DAR ATL GLN BRI KAN TAL ROV LVS HOM MAR PHO -*-*

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223NCTCPtsRef
2023 Tricon Garage 1 Toyota DAY LVS ATL COA TEX BRI MAR
9
KAN DAR NWS CLT GTW NSH MOH
27
POC RCH
10
IRP
6
MLW
26
KAN BRI
30
TAL HOM PHO 30th138 [26]
2024 DAY ATL LVS BRI
21
COA MAR
26
TEX KAN DAR NWS CLT GTW NSH POC IRP RCH MLW BRI KAN TAL HOM MAR PHO -*-* [27]

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)

ARCA Menards Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920AMSCPtsRef
2023 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Toyota DAY PHO
13*
TAL KAN CLT BLN
1
ELK
2
MOH
2
IOW
2*
POC MCH IRP
4
GLN
4
ISF
5
MLW
1*
DSF
5
KAN BRI
1
SLM
6
TOL
1*
8th558 [28]
2024 DAY PHO
1*
TAL DOV
17*
KAN CLT IOW MOH BLN IRP SLM ELK MCH ISF MLW DSF GLN BRI KAN TOL -*-* [29]

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678AMSECPtsRef
2023 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Toyota FIF
1**
DOV
4
NSV
2
FRS
1
IOW
2*
IRP
4
MLW
1*
BRI
1
1st420 [30]
2024 FIF
2*
DOV
17*
NSV FRS IOW IRP MLW BRI -*-* [31]

ARCA Menards Series West

ARCA Menards Series West results
YearTeamNo.Make123456789101112AMSWCPtsRef
2023 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Toyota PHO
13*
IRW KCR PIR
4
SON
5
IRW SHA EVG AAS LVS MAD PHO
1*
15th162 [32]
2024 PHO
1*
KER PIR SON IRW IRW SHA TRI MAD AAS KER PHO -*-* [33]

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References

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