After a dominant 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Season that ended with the Driver’s Championship, Joe Gibbs Racing and William Sawalich are set to run it back for 2024, but this time they’ll be jumping to the ARCA Menards Series (national).
The 17-year-old will compete in 14 races in 2024. Due to age restrictions, he will have to sit out Daytona, Talladega, both Kansas races, Charlotte, and Michigan. Fellow Toyota and new signee with Joe Gibbs Racing Tanner Gray is filling the seat at those races. Both drivers were part of the JGR 2024 driver lineup announcement today.
Sawalich will also be joining the rotation of drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series after his 18th birthday in October. He will make his debut on October 26th at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The Eden Prarie, MN native is also back in the ARCA Menards Series East for 2024, attempting to defend his 2023 title after winning four of the eight races last year.
“I feel like if we do the same thing we did all year last year…I feel like we’ll have great success,” Sawalich said in the announcement video.
RUN IT BACK.
East Series champ @WilliamSawalich once again will be @JoeGibbsRacing's primary ARCA driver in 2024. He'll share the seat with @tannergray5! pic.twitter.com/H1KRDKfsCc
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) December 13, 2023
He was also stout in his several ARCA Menards Series starts, winning four of his 13 starts in the national series, and still finishing 8th in the driver’s points standings.
Sawalich also adds that teamwork is such a huge part of his success as he is still learning a lot at such a young age.
“No matter how far up you go, you’re gonna need a lot of teamwork and the skills to work through things,” he added.
Fellow driver of the No. 18 Tanner Gray also added that he was excited for the chance to run in 2024.
“I’m really excited to get behind the wheel for Joe Gibbs Racing next year. Their team has kept a winning culture that’s been around since I was a kid and their ARCA program has excelled the past few years, so to have the chance to race their equipment is a huge deal for me,” Gray said about the opportunity.
The 2024 ARCA Menards Series kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on February 17th.
