MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – APRIL 05: William Sawalich, driver of the #1 Starkey/Soundgear Toyota, … [+]
Most 18-year-olds are sweating the big stuff: college, career paths, flying the nest. For William Sawalich, though, adulthood comes with an entirely different brand of pressure—a pressure that few his age could even fathom. This Minnesota native has been racing since he was nine, and people in NASCAR have taken notice.
He’s not just another kid graduating high school. Sawalich has already ripped through the competition in five CARS Late Model Tour races, bagging two wins just for kicks. Then came the ARCA Series, which for those who don’t know, is like the gateway to NASCAR stardom. In two seasons, he’s claimed 18 wins in 39 starts across ARCA’s national, east, and west divisions. Oh, and he casually picked up the ARCA East title. Twice.
But ARCA wasn’t enough. Sawalich dipped his toes into NASCAR’s Truck Series, entering 13 races, and pulling in three top 10 finishes. Not bad, but then came the kicker—earlier this month just a day after his 18th birthday, the kid went out and snagged his first NASCAR pole position. Yeah, he’s got NASCAR’s attention.
Now everyone’s talking. Words like “phenom” and “future superstar” are being thrown around. And it’s not hard to see why. But soon, it’ll be time for him to prove he’s not just another over-hyped sensation. This weekend, he’ll be in the spotlight at Homestead-Miami Speedway, making his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Joe Gibbs Racing. And that’s only the start.
In 2025, Sawalich will be running full-time in the Xfinity Series, strapped into the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, the winningest team in the history of the series. No pressure, right? His car this weekend will be sponsored by Starkey, a company started by his grandfather.
“I am honored to be driving the No. 18 full-time in the Xfinity Series next year,” Sawalich said in a press release. “It has been really cool to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing, and I feel like I have developed so much as a driver over the past two years. I still have a lot to learn, especially with moving to a new series, so I am looking forward to taking this next step in racing.”
No kidding, it’s a huge step. Joe Gibbs Racing has a monstrous track record in Xfinity, racking up 214 wins (yep, you read that right) and playing host to names like Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Daniel Suarez. It’s basically the racing equivalent of a hall of fame factory.
Steve de Souza, the guy in charge of JGR’s Xfinity operation, is thrilled to have Sawalich on board. “His outstanding record of victories and development over the past two years shows he’s ready for the Xfinity Series,” de Souza said. “We’re confident he’ll remain a strong contender for wins as he takes on this new challenge in 2025.”
So, here’s the deal. In 2025, Sawalich steps onto the NASCAR stage, center spotlight. Everyone’s going to be watching to see if he can handle the sky-high expectations coming at him faster than a late-race wreck at Talladega.
Whether he crumbles or conquers under the pressure—that’s anyone’s guess. But one thing’s for sure: William Sawalich is facing way more heat than most 18-year-olds could ever dream of.
