Most 18-year-olds are sweating big things like college, a career, or leaving the nest. But for William Sawalićh, growing up presents very different pressures that few people his age can imagine. The Minnesota native has been racing since he was 9 years old, and the people at NASCAR took notice. He’s not just a high school graduate. Savalic has already competed in five CARS Late Model Tour races, earning two wins just for fun. Then came the ARCA Series, the novice’s gateway to NASCAR stardom. In two seasons, he played in 39 games and earned 18 wins in the ARCA National, East and West divisions. Oh, and he happened to win the ARCA East title. Double.
But the ARK alone was not enough. Savalic entered the NASCAR Truck Series, competing in 13 races and earning three top-10 finishes. It wasn’t bad, but it took a toll. Earlier this month, the day after his 18th birthday, the kid went out and took his first NASCAR pole position. Yes, we are getting interest from NASCAR. Everyone is talking about it now. Words like “phenomenon” and “future superstar” are thrown around. It’s not hard to see why. But soon it will be time to prove that it is not just an exaggerated sensation. This weekend, he will be in the spotlight when he makes his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Joe Gibbs Racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. And this is just the beginning. In 2025, Sawalich will drive full-time in the Xfinity Series, driving the #18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, the winningest team in series history. No pressure, right? This weekend, his car will be sponsored by Starkey, the company founded by his grandfather.
“I am proud to drive car no. 18 full-time in the Xfinity Series next year,” Sawalich said in a press release. “Driving for Joe Gibbs Racing has been really great and I feel like I’ve improved a lot as a driver over the last few years. “I’m looking forward to taking the next step in the world of racing, especially as I still have a lot to learn, including moving to a new series.”In fact, this is a big step forward. Joe Gibbs Racing has an impressive record of 214 Xfinity wins and is home to the likes of Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Daniel Suarez. It’s basically the same race as Glory Factory. Steve de Souza, JGR’s director of Xfinity Operations, said he was delighted to have Savalic on board.
“His outstanding record of wins and progress over the last two years shows that he is ready for the Xfinity Series,” said de Souza. “We are confident that it will remain a strong contender for victory as it faces new challenges in 2025.”Here’s the deal. In 2025, Sawalic will step onto the NASCAR podium and be in the spotlight. Everyone will be watching to see if he can live up to the expectations of a faster pace than the last crash at Talladega. Who knows, will he withstand the pressure or emerge victorious? But one thing is certain: William Sawalich will have to endure much more than most 18-year-olds ever dream of.
