William Sawalich (born October 3, 2006) is an American professionalstock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in theNASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 18Toyota GR Supra forJoe Gibbs Racing, part-time in theNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 1Toyota Tundra TRD Pro forTricon Garage, and part-time in theARCA Menards Series,ARCA Menards Series East andARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 18Toyota Camry for JGR. He is the2023 and2024ARCA Menards Series East champion.
Sawalich began racing at the age of nine, running various midget races, includingSr. Animal's andWorld Formula. From 2017 to 2019, he won several track championships atLittle Elko Speedway.[1]
Sawalich moved intolegends 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]
Sawalich made the transition to late models in 2021, running nearly a full season in theCarolina 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 hisCARS Tour debut at Tri-County Motor Speedway in September, in which he started on the pole. He finished seventeenth after being involved in a late-race accident.
In 2022, Sawalich increased his late model schedule, running in theCARS Tour, theChampion Racing Association, theARCA Midwest Tour, theSouthern Super Series, and theWorld Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. In theCARS 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 byJake Garcia.[9]
In 2023, Sawalich won theAll 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 theAll American 400.[10]
On December 9, 2022, it was announced that Sawalich would joinJoe Gibbs Racing to run twenty races in theARCA Menards Series.[11] Sawalich would make his debut at Phoenix, winning the pole and finishing thirteenth. He earned his first ARCA main win atBerlin Raceway, after passingJesse Love for the lead with two laps to go.[12]
On December 13, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would run a more expandedARCA Menards Series schedule. He would run the No. 18 for the fourteen races in the series.Tanner Gray would drive the No. 18 for the six tracks in theARCA Menards Series that Sawalich was too young to race at.[13] He would start his season in theARCA Menards Series with a victory atPhoenix after leading 66 laps in a weather-shortened race.[14] AtDover, Sawalich won the pole and once again led the most laps,[15] before being involved in a late race incident, unable to complete the race and finished seventeenth, the first DNF in his career.[16] In fourteen races in the main ARCA series, Sawalich won nine races to go with thirteen top-fives and finished tenth in the points standings. Sawalich's performance during the season contributed to the No. 18 winning the owner's championship in the main ARCA Series.
On December 9, 2022, it was announced that Sawalich would joinJoe Gibbs Racing. This included a full season in theARCA Menards Series East.[11] In his first start atFive Flags Speedway, Sawalich won the pole and led every lap to earn his first career ARCA win.[17] AtNashville, 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 toLuke Fenhaus.[18] He earned his second win of the season at ARCA's return toFlat Rock Speedway, leading the final fifty laps of the race.[19] Following theBristol race, Sawalich clinched the ARCA Menards Series East championship.[20]
On December 13, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would return full-time in theARCA Menards Series East.[13] In the first race of the season, Sawalich would lead the most laps atFive Flags, but he would end up finishing second toGio Ruggiero.[21] AtDover, Sawalich won the pole and once again led the most laps,[15] before being involved in a late race incident, unable to complete the race and finished seventeenth, the first DNF in his career.[16] In the followingrace at Nashville, Sawalich rebounded and led 145 of the 150 lap race to score the dominating win.[22] Overall, Sawalich scored three wins and seven top-three finishes to clinch his second consecutive ARCA East championship.[23]
On December 9, 2022, it was announced that Sawalich would joinJoe Gibbs Racing to run select races in theARCA Menards Series West.[11] Sawalich would make his debut at Phoenix, winning the pole and finishing thirteenth.
On December 13, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would run a partialARCA Menards Series West schedule.[13] He would start his season with a victory atPhoenix after leading 66 laps in a weather-shortened race.[14] AtPortland for theWest Series race, Sawalich took the lead fromBrandon Jones in the middle stages of the race, and led the final 31 laps to earn his first road course win in ARCA.[24]
Sawalich returned in 2025, where he would earn wins atSonoma by leading all 65 laps and winning by a measly 0.066 seconds overChristian Eckes and atPortland for thesecond straight year.[25]
On January 19, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would joinTricon Garage for six races in theNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, making his debut in the series.[26] He made his debut atMartinsville Speedway, finishing ninth after running near the top ten for most of the race.[27]
After earning three top tens in 2023, Tricon announced that Sawalich would return to the No. 1 team in 2024, this time with an expanded ten-race schedule.[28] Sawalich would start his season with a 21st place finish atBristol, along with a 26th place finish atMartinsville. During the season, he scored his first career pole atTalladega, one day after his eighteenth birthday.[29]
On December 13, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would run the No. 19 forJoe Gibbs Racing in theNASCAR Xfinity Series part-time in 2024, starting in the fall. Sawalich ran the final three races of the season atHomestead,Martinsville, andPhoenix.[30] At Phoenix, he scored his first career pole in his third career start.[31]
On October 21, 2024, it was announced that Sawalich would run full-time in the Xfinity Series in2025, driving the No. 18 Toyota for JGR.[32] Sawalich started the season with a 28th-place DNF atDaytona. Throughout the year, he earned top-ten finishes atAtlanta,COTA,Mexico City,Sonoma,Dover,Indianapolis, andCharlotte Roval. Sawalich would earn his second career pole atNashville. His best finish of the season came atPortland andSt. Louis, finishing second. During theTalladega fall race, Sawalich was involved in a multi-car wreck during the second stage withConnor Mosack andDean Thompson, causing him to stay in a nearby hospital overnight.[33] He would later miss the following race atMartinsville Speedway due to concussion-like symptoms, and will be replaced byJustin Bonsignore.[34] It has also been announced that Sawalich will also miss the final race in theNASCAR Xfinity Series season atPhoenix Raceway. He will be replaced byJustin Bonsignore.
William's father, Brandon Sawalich, is the president ofStarkey Hearing Technologies, the largest hearing aid manufacturer in the United States. Starkey sponsors his racing efforts. Brandon is the stepson of businessmanWilliam F. Austin.[35]
Sawalich is currently an online student atLiberty University Online Academy, and is a client ofKHI Management.[36]
| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Top 5 | Top 10 | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Carolina Pro Late Model Series | 10 | 1 | ? | ? | 1077 | 4th | |
| Cars Super Late Model Tour | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† | ||
| 2022 | Cars Pro Late Model Tour | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 298 | 4th | |
| Cars Late Model Stock Tour | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 116 | 21st | ||
| 2023 | ARCA Menards Series | Joe Gibbs Racing | 13 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 558 | 8th |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 8 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 420 | 1st | ||
| ARCA Menards Series West | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 162 | 15th | ||
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Tricon Garage | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 138 | 30th | |
| Cars Pro Late Model Tour | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 28th | ||
| Cars Late Model Stock Tour | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 51st | ||
| 2024 | ARCA Menards Series | Joe Gibbs Racing | 14 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 689 | 10th |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 8 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 402 | 1st | ||
| ARCA Menards Series West | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 181 | 16th | ||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† | ||
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Tricon Garage | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 197 | 30th | |
| Cars Pro Late Model Tour | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ? | ? | ||
| 2025 | NASCAR Xfinity Series | Joe Gibbs Racing | ||||||
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | Tricon Garage | |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series | Joe Gibbs Racing | |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series East | ||||||||
| ARCA Menards Series West |
† As Sawalich was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| NASCAR Xfinity 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 | 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 24 | MAR 33 | PHO 13 | 94th | 01 | [37] | ||
| 2025 | 18 | DAY 28 | ATL 9 | COA 9 | PHO 13 | LVS 38 | HOM 24 | MAR 27 | DAR 35 | BRI 34 | CAR 25 | TAL 37 | TEX 13 | CLT 15 | NSH 34 | MXC 6 | POC 21 | ATL 36 | CSC 37 | SON 3 | DOV 9 | IND 6 | IOW 11 | GLN 26 | DAY 12 | PIR 2 | GTW 2 | BRI 15 | KAN 11 | ROV 7 | LVS 12 | TAL 30 | MAR | PHO | 18th | 636 | [38] | ||||
| 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 | 24 | 25 | NCTC | Pts | Ref |
| 2023 | Tricon Garage | 1 | Toyota | DAY | LVS | ATL | COA | TEX | BRD | 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 | [39] | ||
| 2024 | DAY | ATL | LVS | BRI 21 | COA | MAR 26 | TEX | KAN | DAR | NWS | CLT | GTW | NSH | POC | IRP 12 | RCH 22 | MLW 14 | BRI 11 | KAN | TAL 27 | HOM 17 | MAR 14 | PHO 32 | 30th | 197 | [40] | |||||
| 2025 | DAY 9 | ATL 30 | LVS 22 | HOM | MAR | BRI | CAR | TEX | KAN | NWS | CLT | NSH 24 | MCH | POC | LRP | IRP | GLN 11 | RCH | DAR | BRI | NHA | ROV | TAL | MAR | PHO | 88th | 01 | [41] | |||
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
(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 | [42] |
| 2024 | DAY | PHO 1* | TAL | DOV 17* | KAN | CLT | IOW 2 | MOH 1 | BLN 1* | IRP 3 | SLM 1** | ELK 1* | MCH | ISF 1* | MLW 1* | DSF 2 | GLN 2 | BRI 1* | KAN | TOL 1* | 10th | 640 | [43] | |||
| 2025 | DAY 2* | PHO | TAL 9 | KAN 2 | CLT 4 | MCH | BLN | ELK | LRP | DOV | IRP | IOW | GLN | ISF | MAD | DSF | BRI | SLM | KAN | TOL | 24th | 164 | [44] | |||
| 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 | 465 | [45] |
| 2024 | FIF 2* | DOV 17* | NSV 1* | FRS 2 | IOW 2 | IRP 3 | MLW 1* | BRI 1* | 1st | 448 | [46] | |||
| 2025 | FIF | CAR 2 | NSV | FRS | DOV | IRP | IOW | BRI | 46th | 43 | [47] | |||
| 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* | 16th | 162 | [48] |
| 2024 | PHO 1* | KER | PIR 1* | SON 4 | IRW | IRW | SHA | TRI | MAD | AAS | KER | PHO 2 | 17th | 181 | [49] | |||
| 2025 | KER | PHO | TUC | CNS | KER | SON 1** | TRI | PIR 1* | AAS | MAD | LVS | PHO | 23rd | 98 | [50] | |||
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
| CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour results | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | CLMSCTC | Pts | Ref | |
| 2022 | Brandon Setzer | 43 | Ford | CRW | HCY 4 | GRE | AAS | FCS | LGY | DOM | HCY 2 | ACE 21 | MMS | NWS 8 | TCM 17 | ACE | SBO | CRW | 21st | 116 | [51] | ||
| 2023 | Toyota | SNM | FLC | HCY 9 | ACE 6 | NWS 31 | LGY | DOM | CRW 18 | HCY | ACE | TCM | WKS | AAS | SBO | TCM 17 | CRW | 28th | 84 | [52] | |||
(key)
| CARS Super Late Model Tour results | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | CSLMTC | Pts | Ref | |||||
| 2021 | Brandon Setzer | 6 | Ford | HCY | GPS | NSH | JEN | HCY | MMS | TCM 17 | SBO | N/A | 0 | [53] | |||||
(key)
| CARS Pro Late Model Tour results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | CPLMTC | Pts | Ref | |||
| 2022 | Brandon Setzer | 6 | Ford | CRW 4 | HCY 1** | GPS | FCS 5 | TCM 1** | ACE 1** | MMS 1** | TCM 12* | ACE | SBO 1 | CRW | 4th | 298 | [54] | |||||
| 4 | HCY 1** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | N/A | 28 | Toyota | SNM | HCY | ACE | NWS | TCM 11 | DIL | CRW | WKS | HCY | TCM | SBO | TCM | CRW | 52nd | 22 | [55] | |||
| 2024 | Rackley W.A.R. | 26 | Toyota | SNM | HCY | OCS | ACE 4 | TCM | CRW | HCY | NWS | ACE | FLC | SBO | TCM | NWS | N/A | 0 | [56] | |||
Headquarters:Huntersville,North Carolina | |||||||
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