william | The MotorSportsNews.Net(work)

William Sawalich Joins Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Xfinity Series Lineup in 2025

by MikeOctober 22, 2024

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.

(more…)

William Sawalich Repeats at Bristol to Capture His Second ARCA Menards Series East Championship

by MikeSeptember 20, 2024September 20, 2024

By Adam Fenwick www.arcaracing.com

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.”

(more…)

William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway

by MikeSeptember 19, 2024

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.

(more…)

William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – General Tire 100 at Watkins Glen International

by MikeSeptember 11, 2024

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.

(more…)

William Sawalich – No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry Preview – Southern Illinois 100 at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

by MikeAugust 30, 2024

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

by MikeAugust 22, 2024

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

by MikeAugust 14, 2024August 14, 2024

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…)

William Byron Survives Wild Daytona 500 Finish

by Chuck AbramsFebruary 20, 2024February 23, 2024

Welcome back to NASCAR 2024!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

(more…)

All-Pro Auto Reconditioning To Partner With William Byron And The No. 24 Team In 2024

by MikeFebruary 14, 2024

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 13, 2024) – All-Pro Auto Reconditioning, a company that offers car dealers a complete line of automotive repair and restoration services, has joined 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports as an associate sponsor of driver William Byron and the No. 24 team in 2024 and 2025. (more…)

William Sawalich Becomes Youngest All American 400 Winner in History

by MikeNovember 6, 2023

Rising star William Sawalich earned the biggest win of his young Super Late Model career, winning the Curb Records/Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers All-American 400 Presented by US Tank & Cryogenic Equipment at Nashville Speedway Sunday afternoon. Sawalich became the event’s youngest winner, beating a stellar 34 car field in front of a huge, sun bathed crowd. (more…)