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