William Sawalich
Sawalich at Sonoma Raceway in 2023
Born (2006-10-03) October 3, 2006 (age 17)
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Achievements2023 ARCA Menards Series East Champion
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
2023 All American 400 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
6 races run over 1 year
Truck no., teamNo. 1 (Tricon Garage)
Best finish30th (2023)
First race2023 Long John Silver's 200 (Martinsville)
Last race2023 UNHO 200 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 3 0
ARCA Menards Series career
13 races run over 1 year
ARCA no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Best finish8th (2023)
First race2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race2023 Herr’s Potato Chips 200 (Toledo)
First win2023 Zinsser SmartCoat 200 (Berlin)
Last win2023 Herr’s Potato Chips 200 (Toledo)
Wins Top tens Poles
4 12 6
ARCA Menards Series East career
8 races run over 1 year
ARCA East no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Best finish1st (2023)
First race2023 Pensacola 200 (Pensacola)
Last race2023 Bush’s Beans 200 (Bristol)
First win2023 Pensacola 200 (Pensacola)
Last win2023 Bush’s Beans 200 (Bristol)
Wins Top tens Poles
4 8 5
ARCA Menards Series West career
4 races run over 1 year
ARCA West no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Best finish15th (2023)
First race2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race2023 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix)
First win2023 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 3 2
Statistics current as of December 21, 2023.

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.

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

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]

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.[17] He made his debut at Martinsville Speedway, finishing ninth after running near the top ten for most of the race.[18] 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.[19]

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.[20] 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.[21]

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
Year Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
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
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 NCTC Pts Ref
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 30th 138 [22]
2024 DAY ATL LVS BRI COA MAR TEX KAN DAR NWS CLT GTW NSH POC IRP RCH MLW BRI KAN TAL HOM MAR PHO -* -*

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
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 AMSC Pts Ref
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* 		8th 558 [23]
2024 DAY PHO TAL DOV KAN CLT IOW MOH BLN IRP SLM ELK MCH ISF MLW DSF GLN BRI KAN TOL -* -*

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 AMSEC Pts Ref
2023 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Toyota FIF
1** 		DOV
4 		NSV
2 		FRS
1 		IOW
2* 		IRP
4 		MLW
1* 		BRI
1 		1st 420 [24]
2024 FIF DOV NSV FRS IOW IRP MLW BRI -* -*

ARCA Menards Series West

ARCA Menards Series West results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 AMSWC Pts Ref
2023 Joe Gibbs Racing 18 Toyota PHO
13* 		IRW KCR PIR
4 		SON
5 		IRW SHA EVG AAS LVS MAD PHO
1* 		15th 162 [25]
2024 PHO IRW KER PIR SON IRW SHA TRI MAD AAS KER PHO -* -*

References

  1. ^ a b Sawalich, William. "ABOUT - William Sawalich Racing". William Sawalich Racing. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  2. ^ Sherman, John (September 24, 2020). "William Sawalich - Elko's rising star". SUN Current. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "(RACE RECAP) August 22, 2020". 29 August 2020.
  4. ^ Marquis, Andy (June 20, 2021). "William Sawalich Scores First Career Pro Late Model Victory at Carteret County". Short Track Scene. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "William Sawalich dominates CARS PLM Tour feature of Keen Parts 200 at Tri-County Motor Speedway". CARS Racing Tour. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Chad McCumbee, William Sawalich Win from Pole in Tuff Shed 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway". CARS Racing Tour. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jonathan Shafer scores dominant first victory at Ace Speedway; William Sawalich wins third straight PLM event". CARS Racing Tour. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "Deac McCaskill, William Sawalich victorious in Fluid Logic 225 at Motor Mile Speedway". CARS Racing Tour. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  9. ^ White, Brandon (September 10, 2022). "Garcia Ends Sawalich Streak in Controversial Fashion". Racing America. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Sawalich Becomes Youngest All American 400 Winner in History". Speedway Digest. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  11. ^ Fenwick, Adam (December 9, 2022). "William Sawalich joins Joe Gibbs Racing for 20-race ARCA schedule in 2023 and beyond". ARCA. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  12. ^ Christie, Toby (March 25, 2023). "William Sawalich Leads Wire-to-Wire to Score Win in ARCA East Debut at Five Flags". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  13. ^ Branscum, Benjamine (May 13, 2023). "Luke Fenhaus Steals Music City 200 Victory from William Sawalich in Overtime". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  14. ^ Fenwick, Adam (May 20, 2023). "William Sawalich masters Flat Rock Speedway for second East Series victory of 2023". ARCA. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  15. ^ White, Brandon (June 17, 2023). "The streak ends: William Sawalich snatches victory from Jesse Love at Berlin Raceway". ARCA. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Toyota driver William Sawalich wins 2023 ARCA East championship". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media. September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "William Sawalich competing in 6 races for TRICON Garage in 2023". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. January 19, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  18. ^ Massie, Michael (April 15, 2023). "16-Year-Old William Sawalich Earns Top 10 in Truck Series Debut". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  19. ^ Srigley, Joseph (December 21, 2023). "William Sawalich to Contest Nine-Race Truck Series Campaign in TRICON No. 1". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  20. ^ Tindera, Michela (June 12, 2018). "Runaway Billionaire: Meet The CEO Whose Company Descended Into Fraud, Embezzlement and Betrayal". Forbes. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  21. ^ "KHI Management". KHI Management. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  22. ^ "William Sawalich – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  23. ^ "William Sawalich – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  24. ^ "William Sawalich – 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  25. ^ "William Sawalich – 2023 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2023.

External links

Joe Gibbs Racing
Kevin Harvick Incorporated
Tricon Garage
ARCA Menards Series East Champions
Categories