On Friday, just one day after turning 18, William Sawalich made his first competitive laps on an oval racetrack longer than one mile in length, at Talladega Superspeedway.
As it turns out, that second lap around the 2.66-mile superspeedway was quick enough to score him the pole for Friday’s Love’s RV Stops 225 at the historic racetrack in Talladega, Alabama.
It’s the first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series pole for the Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, who becomes the series’ fourth-youngest pole winner, behind Cole Custer, Chase Elliott, and Connor Zilisch.
Sawalich will lead the 36-truck field to green in Friday’s post-season event at the unpredictable facility, driving the No. 1 Starkey / SoundGear Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage.
The lap of 54.482 seconds (175.764mph) was the quickest in the second round of qualifying, beating out ThorSport Racing teammates Ben Rhodes and Ty Majeski who will roll from second and place.
Grant Enfinger, who barely held onto a spot in the NASCAR Truck Series Playoffs last weekend at Kansas Speedway, will start from fourth place, with Taylor Gray completing the top-five in the No. 17, a teammate to Sawalich at TRICON Garage.
Chase Purdy will roll from sixth, with a mix of playoff and non-playoff drivers completing the top-10 in Tyler Ankrum, Matt Mills, Corey Heim, and Jake Garcia.
STARTING LINEUP: Love’s RV Stops 225 at Talladega
Other NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff drivers who failed to advance into the second round of qualifying include Nick Sanchez (11th), Rajah Caruth (13th), and Christian Eckes (15th).
With 38 trucks entered for Friday’s 225-mile contest, and only 36 spots available, two drivers were sent home from Talladega, Alabama prematurely. Those being Keith McGee, in the No. 02 for Young’s Motorsports, and Timmy Hill, driving the No. 56 for his self-owned Hill Motorsports organization.
Johnny Sauter, making another appearance for Hattori Racing Enterprises this season, was the second-slowest of those who posted a lap time on Friday, but relyed on his Past Champions Provisional (PCP) to make the field.
Layne Riggs, Tanner Gray, and Daniel Dye all failed to post lap times in qualifying on Friday for various reasons. The No. 15 and No. 43 didn’t fire in line, while the No 38 failed the pre-qualifying inspection three times.
The Love’s RV Stops 225 at Talladega Superspeedway will air at 4:30 PM ET on FS1.
