Joe Gibbs' upcoming star William Sawalich sets record straight on fan favorites ahead of 2025 Xfinity full-time move

Joe Gibbs Racing has signed upcoming NASCAR star William Sawalich as a full-time driver for their #18 race car for the 2025 Xfinity Series season. The Minnesota-based racer set the record straight on social media ahead of his transition from the Craftsman Truck Series.

Sawalich began his professional racing career at the age of 9 years. After winning several accolades in the Midget, Late Model, and ARCA Series, the youngster made his debut in one of the top National series (Craftsman Truck) with Tricon Garage as a part-time driver in 2023. Witnessing his progress, the team offered him a second run in the 2024 season, albiet with a few more races than before.

Apart from Tricon, Sawalich was also offered a part-time drive by Joe Gibbs Racing in the 2024 Xfinity Series. While he only raced once at Homestead-Miami, the 18-year-old racer's performance in the ARCA Menards and NASCAR Truck Series prompted JGR to offer a full-time role in the Xfinity Series for 2025.

Sawalich expressed his excitement during JGR's press announcement.

”I am honored to be driving the No. 18 full-time in the Xfinity Series next year. 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,” Sawalich said.

Apart from the press release, He also cleared a lot of fan questions via a reel on Instagram.

"What does William Sawalich do? William Sawalich drives race cars for Joe Gibbs Racing and has fun," he said, answering one of the most-asked fan questions.

Here's a look at Joe Gibbs Racing's post with @soundgear_official and @williamsawalich as collaborators:

"Who is @williamsawalich?!" JGR captioned.

Sawalich is set to pilot the #18 race car in the 2025 season.

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"I'd say it's a little bit of a late birthday present," - William Sawalich on making his debut in the Xfinity Series at Homestead-Miami with Joe Gibbs Racing

William Sawalich made his official debut in the Xfinity Series at Homestead-Miami. The Eden Prairie-born racer, who turned 18 on October 3, claimed his debut as a late birthday present during a pre-race media interaction.

"I'd say it's a little bit of a late birthday present. But I'm going to soak it all in like a sponge and use it all for the next year to come, as well as the next two races to come - Martinsville and Phoenix, and to build a relationship with Seth (Chavka), my crew chief, and hopefully everything today and tomorrow goes well," Sawalich commented.

As for the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 race (October 26) in Miami, Sawalich finished 24th, driving the #19 JGR Toyota race car. He lost multiple positions after getting into the wall on lap 146.