It took some luck to fall his way and suriving a late-race restart, but William Sawalich managed to take home the victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, and win his second career ARCA Menards Series West Championship.
The 17-year-old managed to go back to back in the East after an early wreck took out hot shoe Connor Zilisch and the 28 team, similar to last year.
VIDEO: Connor Zilisch’s Champion Bid Ends Early After Wreck With Logan Misuraca
“Had Tony Hirschman in my ear just kinda calming me down. Just kinda making me be cautious around those lap cars. That was definitely the whole race right there. Lots of restarts so had plenty of time to work on them. Can’t thank the 97 (Lewis) enough for racing me really good. We’ve been friends for a while and great racing him here,” the two time champion said post-race.
This win marked his 12 wins in the ARCA Menards Series national platform, just his seventh in the East.
“There was definitely a lot more on the line. We weren’t sure if we had it coming in here or not. It was kind of a surprise in the middle of the race and it made me happy and gave me the drive to go after it,” he added.
For the second straight year, @WilliamSawalich takes the checkered flag at @ItsBristolBaby! ? pic.twitter.com/83jQbLAZ7M
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) September 19, 2024
Just coming up short of his friend was Landen Lewis, driving for CR7 Motorsports.
“I feel like I mistimed it a little. I had a restart earlier on in the race where I mistimed and I made up for it and got the lead back and then mistimed it again. All day, me and William raced each other hard and clean. Just hard as we can go,” the Ocean Isle Beach, NC native said.
The two Rev Racing teammates of Lavar Scott and Andres Perez were third and fourth, with Truck Series regular Dean Thompson rounding out the top five.
This race featured a historic 13 cautions on the night. Including the aforementioned wreck with Zilisch and Logan Misuraca. Tempers also flew for Greg Van Alst after contact with Christian Rose ended his day early too.
Incase you're wondering, @GregVanAlst35 was not telling @CRoseRacing he was No. 1.
? @FS1 | @ItsBristolBaby pic.twitter.com/Vd9Trk8Y7O
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) September 19, 2024
Up next, the ARCA Menards Series heads to Kansas Speedway for the Reeses 150 on September 27th.
Official Results from the Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway
| Fin | St | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Diff | Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 18 | William Sawalich | Joe Gibbs Racing Starkey / Soundgear Toyota | 205 | -- | Running | 48 |
| 2 | 4 | 97 | Landen Lewis | CR7 Motorsports Grant County Mulch Chevrolet | 205 | 0.397 | Running | 43 |
| 3 | 26 | 6 | Lavar Scott | Rev Racing Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet | 205 | 1.16 | Running | 41 |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | Andres Perez | Rev Racing Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet | 205 | 1.227 | Running | 40 |
| 5 | 10 | 55 | Dean Thompson | Venturini Motorsports Thompson Pipe Group Toyota | 205 | 1.418 | Running | 39 |
| 6 | 5 | 23 | Tyler Reif | Vegas Fastener Machine / SPS / Spencer Clark Foundtn | 205 | 1.696 | Running | 38 |
| 7 | 8 | 82 | Corey Day | Pinnacle Racing Group Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet | 205 | 1.815 | Running | 37 |
| 8 | 9 | 1 | Jake Finch | Phoenix Racing Phoenix Construction Toyota | 205 | 1.957 | Running | 36 |
| 9 | 11 | 33 | Lawless Alan | Reaume Brothers Racing AutoParkIt Ford | 205 | 2.174 | Running | 35 |
| 10 | 16 | 73 | Andy Jankowiak | KLAS Motorsports Acacia Energy Toyota | 205 | 3.265 | Running | 34 |
| 11 | 20 | 11 | Zachary Tinkle | Fast Track Racing Racing For Rescues Toyota | 204 | 1 lap | Running | 33 |
| 12 | 21 | 25 | Toni Breidinger | Venturini Motorsports Sunoco Toyota | 204 | 1 lap | Running | 32 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | Kris Wright | Venturini Motorsports FNB Corporation Toyota | 201 | 4 laps | Running | 31 |
| 14 | 25 | 12 | Eric Caudell | Fast Track Racing Wet Pets By Steve / Coble Enterprises / Doug Design Chevrolet | 201 | 4 laps | Running | 30 |
| 15 | 6 | 20 | Gio Ruggiero | Venturini Motorsports JBL Toyota | 199 | 6 laps | Running | 29 |
| 16 | 22 | 27 | Tim Richmond | Richmond Motorsports Immigration Law Center Toyota | 198 | 7 laps | Running | 28 |
| 17 | 33 | 10 | Cody Dennison | Fast Track Racing Timcast.com Toyota | 198 | 7 laps | Running | 27 |
| 18 | 15 | 95 | Andrew Patterson | MAN Motorsports Winsupply / SCS Gearbox Toyota | 194 | OUT | Out | 26 |
| 19 | 28 | 03 | Alex Clubb | Clubb Racing Inc. Race Parts Liquidators / Misfit Productions Ford | 192 | 13 laps | Running | 25 |
| 20 | 12 | 32 | Christian Rose | AM Racing West Virginia Department of Tourism Ford | 190 | 15 laps | Running | 24 |
| 21 | 18 | 35 | Greg Van Alst | Greg Van Alst Motorsports Phil’s Heating And Air Ford | 139 | OUT | Out | 23 |
| 22 | 17 | 17 | Marco Andretti | Cook Racing Technologies Group 1001 Chevrolet | 131 | OUT | Out | 22 |
| 23 | 23 | 39 | D.L. Wilson | CW Motorsports Heart O’ Texas Speedway / ETR Toyota | 108 | OUT | Out | 21 |
| 24 | 27 | 99 | Michael Maples | Fast Track Racing Don Race Petroleum LLC / Maples Motorsports Chevrolet | 89 | OUT | Out | 20 |
| 25 | 19 | 22 | Amber Balcaen | Venturini Motorsports ICON Toyota | 76 | OUT | Out | 19 |
| 26 | 1 | 28 | Connor Zilisch | Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet Performance / Silver Hare Development Chevrolet | 64 | OUT | Out | 20 |
| 27 | 13 | 9 | Logan Misuraca | Rev Racing Clean Harbors Chevrolet | 61 | OUT | Out | 17 |
| 28 | 30 | 31 | Tim Goulet | Rise Motorsports Max Buchanan Foundation Chevrolet | 45 | OUT | Out | 16 |
| 29 | 29 | 98 | Dale Shearer | Shearer Speed Racing Shearer Speed Toyota | 29 | OUT | Out | 15 |
| 30 | 24 | 06 | Nate Moeller | Wayne Peterson Racing Peterson Motorsports Toyota | 17 | OUT | Out | 14 |
| 31 | 32 | 93 | Brian Clubb | CW Motorsports Race Parts Liquidators / Misfit Productions Ford | 13 | OUT | Out | 13 |
| 32 | 34 | 48 | Brad Smith | Brad Smith Motorsports Copraya.com Ford | 12 | OUT | Out | 12 |
| 33 | 7 | 71 | Dawson Sutton | Hettinger Racing Chevrolet / Wheeler Trucking / Victory Custom Trailers Chevrolet | 4 | OUT | Out | 11 |
