William Sawalich's Rise: From ARCA To Xfinity Series With Joe Gibbs Racing

Joe Gibbs Racing has recently made headlines by announcing the promotion of William Sawalich from its ARCA team to the Xfinity Series for the 2025 season. Sawalich, who has made a remarkable mark in the ARCA Menards Series East by winning championships in both 2023 and 2024, is set to debut in the Xfinity Series this Saturday at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. This transition is a significant step in Sawalich's racing career, showcasing the talent and dedication he has demonstrated over the past few years.

"I am honored to be driving the No. 18 fulltime in the Xfinity Series next year," expressed William Sawalich. "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."

Starting his motorsports career at the young age of nine in midget racing, William Sawalich transitioned to legends cars in 2020. By 2021, he was competing in late models within the Caroline Pro Late Model Series. This 18-year-old driver from Minnesota has an impressive record, winning 18 out of 39 starts across various ARCA platforms. Recently, he achieved a significant milestone by claiming his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole at Talladega Superspeedway, just a day after his 18th birthday.

In 2025, he will take the wheel of Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18 Starkey Toyota GR Supra. He joins a strong roster that includes Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray. Joe Gibbs Racing has a renowned history in NASCAR, having nurtured many successful Cup Series drivers from their Xfinity squad, such as Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano. Over the years, the organization has claimed five driver championships and a staggering 214 races.

Joe Gibbs Racing stands as the winningest team in Xfinity Racing Series history, boasting 214 wins, including 10 this current season. The organization has earned six owners' championships and four driver championships within the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Furthermore, 23 different drivers have celebrated victories in the Xfinity Series under their banner, with 14 of those drivers securing their first Series win with the team.

"We are thrilled to announce William's promotion to the next stage of his racing career with us," noted Steve de Souza, Executive Vice President of Xfinity Series and Development at JGR. "His outstanding record of victories and development over the past two years shows he's ready for the Xfinity Series. We’re confident he'll remain a strong contender for wins as he takes on this new challenge in 2025."