William Sawalich Bio
William George Jerome Sawalich, born on October 3, 2006, is an American professional stock car racing driver from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He is widely recognized as one of the most promising young talents in the NASCAR development pipeline, having built a strong résumé across late models, ARCA, and the national NASCAR ranks. Sawalich drives the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing and is supported by Starkey Hearing Technologies. His early career achievements include back-to-back ARCA Menards Series East championships in 2023 and 2024, and a maiden national series victory in 2026.
Early Life and Background
William Sawalich was born and raised in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis known for producing a number of notable athletes. He comes from a business-oriented family. His father, Brandon Sawalich, serves as the president of Starkey Hearing Technologies, the largest hearing aid manufacturer in the United States, and the company also serves as the primary sponsor of William’s racing efforts. Brandon is the step-grandson of businessman William F. Austin, the founder of Starkey.
Sawalich first climbed into a race car at the age of nine, competing in midget classes such as Sr. Animal and World Formula. Between 2017 and 2019, he captured several track championships at Little Elko Speedway, establishing himself as a dominant force in Minnesota grassroots racing. Sawalich completed his high school education through Liberty University Online Academy, a flexible program that allowed him to balance his studies with a demanding racing schedule. He is also a client of KHI Management for off-track representation.
Path to NASCAR
In 2020, Sawalich moved into legends cars and won the INEX Young Lions State Championship in Minnesota, adding multiple top-five finishes and podiums to his résumé. He also scored a feature victory at Elko Speedway on August 22, 2020, further cementing his reputation as a rising talent in the Midwest short-track scene.
Sawalich transitioned to late models in 2021, running a near-full season in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series. Despite missing two events, he finished fourth in the standings with one win at Carteret County Speedway and seven top-five finishes. He also made his CARS Tour debut at Tri-County Motor Speedway that September, starting on the pole. The move to late models connected Sawalich with national-level teams and paved the way for his entry into the NASCAR ladder system.
William Sawalich Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
In 2022, Sawalich expanded his late model schedule, competing 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, he ran nine races and earned six wins, including four consecutive victories, before a late-race spin by Jake Garcia at Tri-County ended his streak. That same year, Sawalich was named the SCCA Trans-Am TA2 ProAm Series Rookie of the Year and won the series championship.
He also captured prestigious late model events such as the Rumble by the River 125 and the Throwback 276, two of the season’s marquee short-track races. These performances drew the attention of top NASCAR teams and led to a developmental opportunity with Joe Gibbs Racing.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2023-2024)
On December 9, 2022, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Sawalich would run twenty ARCA Menards Series races in 2023. He debuted at Phoenix, winning the pole and finishing thirteenth, before earning his first main-series ARCA win at Berlin Raceway after passing Jesse Love with two laps to go. He ultimately posted 13 ARCA Menards Series wins, 29 top tens, and 16 poles in his time in the series, with a best championship finish of eighth in 2023.
Sawalich’s ARCA Menards Series East tenure was even more dominant. After joining JGR for a full East campaign in 2023, he won the season opener at Five Flags Speedway by leading every lap, then added wins at Flat Rock Speedway and clinched the East championship following the Bristol race. He repeated as East champion in 2024 with three wins and seven top-three finishes, becoming one of only a select few to win back-to-back East titles. Sawalich also competed selectively in the ARCA Menards Series West, winning the season opener at Phoenix in 2024 and taking the Portland road course race the same year.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Debut (2023-2024)
On January 19, 2023, Tricon Garage announced that Sawalich would run six races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He debuted at Martinsville Speedway, finishing ninth and running near the top ten throughout the race. Across his 2023 and 2024 partial Truck Series schedules, Sawalich earned three top-ten finishes and his first career Truck Series pole at Talladega, one day after his eighteenth birthday.
He drove the No. 1 and later No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Tricon Garage, gaining valuable experience on intermediate and superspeedway tracks. His Truck Series best championship finish stands at 30th in both 2023 and 2024.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Era (2024-Present)
On December 13, 2023, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Sawalich would run the No. 19 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series part-time during the fall of 2024. He contested the final three races of the season at Homestead, Martinsville, and Phoenix, earning his first career Xfinity pole in his third start at Phoenix. On October 21, 2024, JGR announced that Sawalich would compete full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025, driving the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra.
Sawalich’s rookie Xfinity season in 2025 featured top-ten finishes at Atlanta, COTA, Mexico City, Sonoma, Dover, Indianapolis, and the Charlotte Roval. He earned a pole at Nashville, and his best results of the year were runner-up finishes at Portland and Gateway. A multi-car wreck at Talladega resulted in concussion-like symptoms that forced him to miss the Martinsville and Phoenix races, with Justin Bonsignore substituting in his place. Sawalich finished 18th in the 2025 Xfinity standings.
Joe Gibbs Racing 2026 Season
On January 6, 2026, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Sawalich would return to the No. 18 Toyota for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. He opened the year with a 26th-place result at Daytona before capturing his first career national series victory at Rockingham in the North Carolina Education Lottery 250. The Rockingham win made Sawalich the first Minnesota-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, a milestone that highlighted both his talent and his impact on Midwest motorsports.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sawalich is widely regarded as a polished, technically sound driver for his age. He excels on short tracks and road courses, where precise car control and tire management are critical, and has demonstrated an ability to lead long runs and execute late-race passes. His work ethic and communication with crew chiefs have helped him adapt quickly to each step up the NASCAR ladder. Sawalich is also noted for his qualifying pace, with 16 ARCA poles and three national series poles to his name.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Sawalich’s signature performances are his 2023 All American 400 victory, which made him the youngest winner of the prestigious late model event, and his dominant 145-of-150 lap win at Nashville in the 2024 ARCA East season. His first national series win at Rockingham in 2026 stands as his most significant milestone to date, marking a turning point in his transition from regional ace to winning NASCAR national series driver.
William Sawalich Career Wins
William Sawalich has accumulated victories across multiple stock car series, beginning with legends car and late model championships and progressing to regional and national NASCAR-level wins. His résumé features more than 25 combined wins across the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA East, ARCA West, CARS Tour, and select marquee late model events.
ARCA Menards Series East Highlights
Sawalich is a two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion, winning the title in 2023 and 2024. He earned seven career East wins, 16 top tens, and nine poles, opening the 2023 season by leading every lap at Five Flags Speedway and closing the 2024 campaign with a victory at Bristol. His consecutive East titles place him alongside some of the most accomplished developmental drivers in recent NASCAR history.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
In the main ARCA Menards Series, Sawalich recorded 13 wins, 29 top tens, and 16 poles. His first ARCA victory came at Berlin Raceway in 2023, and his last came at Toledo in 2024. He also helped the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing entry capture an ARCA owners’ championship during the 2024 season.
Other Wins and Performances
Sawalich’s non-ARCA victories include the 2022 SCCA Trans-Am TA2 ProAm Series championship, the Rumble by the River 125, the Throwback 276, the 2023 All American 400, and the 2023 Orange Blossom 100. He also won ARCA West races at Phoenix in 2024 and 2025, and at Sonoma and Portland in 2025, the latter a road-course victory he dedicated to mastering the discipline.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Menards Series | 13 | 29 | 16 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 7 | 16 | 9 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 5 | 9 | 6 |
| NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 6 | 1 |
William Sawalich Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
William Sawalich’s family has played a central role in his racing career, both through direct support and through the sponsorship of his cars. His father, Brandon Sawalich, is the president of Starkey Hearing Technologies and the step-grandson of William F. Austin, the company’s founder. Starkey Hearing Technologies serves as the primary sponsor of William’s No. 18 Toyota, linking his family heritage to his professional racing identity.
Personal Life
Off the track, Sawalich is an online student at Liberty University Online Academy, a setup that has allowed him to pursue his education while traveling the country for races. He is represented by KHI Management for his professional and commercial interests. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 155 pounds, Sawalich is one of the younger drivers competing in the NASCAR national series ranks.
2025 Season Performance
William Sawalich’s 2025 campaign marked his first full-time season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Joe Gibbs Racing. Driving the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra, he finished 18th in the final standings, a solid result for a rookie competing against seasoned veterans. He earned top-ten finishes at Atlanta, COTA, Mexico City, Sonoma, Dover, Indianapolis, and the Charlotte Roval, demonstrating versatility across oval, road course, and hybrid tracks.
His strongest runs came at Portland and Gateway, where he finished second in each event. Sawalich also captured a pole at Nashville Superspeedway, his second career Xfinity pole. The season was interrupted by a multi-car wreck at Talladega, which led to concussion-like symptoms and forced him to miss the Martinsville and Phoenix races, with Justin Bonsignore substituting in the No. 18.
Despite the setback, Sawalich’s rookie year produced one win, three poles, and 16 top-ten finishes, giving Joe Gibbs Racing confidence in his long-term potential. With the Rockingham victory in early 2026 already in hand, the foundation built during the 2025 season has positioned Sawalich as a clear rising star in the NASCAR national series ranks.
