HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (October 29, 2025) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that William Sawalich will miss Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway after experiencing concussion-like symptoms following his accident at Talladega Superspeedway. In his absence, Justin Bonsignore will drive the No. 18 SoundGear Toyota GR Supra this weekend.
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Eckes, Sawalich, and Bryson Lead Stacked Sonoma ARCA Menards Series West Entry List
TEMPERANCE, Mich. (July 7, 2025) – Former ARCA Menards Series champion Christian Eckes and two-time ARCA Menards Series East titlist William Sawalich lead the entry list for Friday’s ARCA Menards Series West General Tire 200 at Sonoma Raceway. The ARCA Menards Series platform former champions will be joined by a stacked list of drivers that includes road racing ringers from around the world in addition to the drivers competing for the 2025 series championship.
William Sawalich Joins Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series Lineup in 2025
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (October 21, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that William Sawalich will drive the team’s No. 18 Starkey / SoundGear Toyota GR Supra fulltime in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025. Sawalich, who won the 2023 and 2024 ARCA Menards Series East championships driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, will make his Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The 18-year-old Minnesota native has achieved remarkable success over the past two seasons in the ARCA Menards Series. Over the past two seasons, Sawalich has racked up 18 victories in 39 starts across ARCA’s three platforms – national, east, and west. He recently claimed his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series pole award at Talladega Superspeedway, one day after his 18th birthday.
William Sawalich Repeats at Bristol to Capture His Second ARCA Menards Series East Championship
Photo: Isaiah Vazquez/ARCA Racing
BRISTOL, Tenn. – In racing, luck is often just as important as skill. That was the case for William Sawalich on Thursday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Not only did Sawalich win the Bush’s Beans 200 for the second straight season at Bristol, but he also won his second ARCA Menards Series East championship thanks to a stroke of bad luck for title rival Connor Zilisch, who entered the East Series season finale with a 16-point lead.
“We had a really fast Starkey-Soundgear Toyota Camry today,” Sawalich said. “I had Tony Hirschman in my ear just to kind of calm me down and make me be cautious around those lap cars. That was definitely the whole race right there.”
William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway
- SAWALICH AT BRISTOL: William Sawalich is the defending winner of the ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Last year, Sawalich made a late-race pass for the lead to claim the race win after clinching the AMSE championship earlier in the night. Thursday night’s race is the AMSE season finale. Sawalich currently sits second in the championship points standings, 16 points behind leader Connor Zilisch. Sawalich will run double-duty on Thursday as the climbs behind the wheel of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for TRICON Garage after the AMSE race.
- 2023 ARCA EAST CHAMPION: Sawalich claimed the 2023 AMSE championship at Bristol Motor Speedway. He ended the AMSE season with four wins and finished in the top-five in all eight races on the AMSE schedule. He became the second AMSE champion for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and the first Minnesotan to win the series championship.
William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – General Tire 100 at Watkins Glen International
- SAWALICH ON ROAD COURSES: Last year at Watkins Glen International, Sawalich finished the race in fifth. Since working on his road course program over the off-season and throughout the first half of 2024, Sawalich has earned two road course wins this year – his first career road course win coming at Portland and his second at Mid-Ohio.
- LAST TIME OUT: Sawalich most recently ran his No. 18 Toyota Camry on dirt at DuQuoin. Sawalich earned the pole for the race and finished second.
- 2023 ARCA EAST CHAMPION: Sawalich claimed the 2023 ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) championship at Bristol Motor Speedway. He ended the AMSE season with four wins and finished in the top-five in all eight races on the AMSE schedule. He became the second AMSE champion for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and the first Minnesotan to win the series championship.
William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – Southern Illinois 100 at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds
SAWALICH ON DIRT: William Sawalich claimed his first victory on dirt two weeks ago at Springfield. Last year, the 17-year-old earned the pole for the race at DuQuoin and finished fifth after suffering damage during the race.
LAST TIME OUT: Sawalich claimed his second-consecutive victory at the Milwaukee Mile last weekend. Sawalich won the pole and led all but two laps on his way to the win. The 17-year-old has won his last four starts across ARCA Menards Series (AMS) – Salem Speedway, Elko Speedway, Springfield Mile, and the Milwaukee Mile. His strong day at Milwaukee helped him gain six points in the ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) driver standings. He now sits 16 points behind the leader headed into the AMSE season finale at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. (more…)
William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry – Preview Sprecher 150 at The Milwaukee Mile
SAWALICH AT MILWAUKEE: William Sawalich has two starts at The Milwaukee Mile in two different series. In last year’s ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) race, Sawalich dominated the day. He earned the pole award and led 141 of 150 laps on his way to the victory. Afterwards, he hopped in TRICON Garage’s #1 Toyota Tundra for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race (NCTS) where he finished 26th. The 17-year-old will run double-duty again this weekend for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and TRICON Garage. (more…)
William Sawalich / No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – Springfield ARCA 100 at Illinois State Fairgrounds
William Sawalich has won his last two AMS outings. The most recent came in at his home track – Elko Speedway. The win was a big one for the local 17-year-old driver. Sawalich dominated the day, leading practice, earning the pole, and leading the first 149 laps before he was spun by a lap car. Despite damage to the car, Sawalich came through the field to battle for the lead on the final restart, securing the win at the checkered flag in a photo finish. (more…)
Sawalich, Deuser, & Pannell Winners On Music City 150 Night In Nashville
(Nashville, TN) Night #2 of a doubleheader race weekend was a big one at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway as 350 laps of feature action was contested in just three classes of racing. In the end, William Sawalich, Corey Deuser, and Michael Pannell claimed the popular guitar trophies during the Saturday, May 11 racing program which featured ARCA, CRA Street Stocks, and Nashville Pro Late Models.