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, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, along with running part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for TRICON Garage. He also competes in various late model events across the United States.

William Sawalich
Born (2006-10-03) October 3, 2006
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Truck no., teamNo. 1 (Tricon Garage)
First race2023 Long John Silver's 200 (Martinsville)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
ARCA Menards Series career
1 race run over 1 year
ARCA no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
First race2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 1
ARCA Menards Series East career
2 races run over 1 year
ARCA East no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
First race2023 Pensacola 200 (Pensacola)
First win2023 Pensacola 200 (Pensacola)
Wins Top tens Poles
1 2 2
ARCA Menards Series West career
1 race run over 1 year
ARCA West no., teamNo. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
First race2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 1
Statistics current as of April 10, 2023.

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-rate 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]

ARCA Menards Series

On December 9, 2022, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Sawalich would join the team in 2023, running 20 races across all three of ARCA's divisions. This would include a full season in the ARCA Menards Series East, along with select races in the main and West Series.[10] William made his debut at Phoenix on March 10, 2023 winning the pole and finishing 13th.

Personal life

William's father, Brandon, is the president of Starkey Hearing Technologies, which sponsors his racing efforts, and his sister, Amelia, is in a relationship with NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Sam Mayer. He is currently an online student at Liberty University Online Academy.

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.)

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 CHA GTW NSH MOH POC RCH IRP MLW KAN BRI TAL HOM PHO -* -* [11]

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 ELK MOH IOW POC MCH IRP GLN ISF MLW DSF KAN BRI SLM TOL -* -* [12]

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
 IOW IRP MLW BRI -* -* [13]

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 SON IRW SHA EVG AAS LVS MAD PHO -* -* [14]

References
  1. 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. 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.
  11. "William Sawalich – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  12. "William Sawalich – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  13. "William Sawalich – 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  14. "William Sawalich – 2023 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
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