NORTH WILKESBORO, NC – One of the hottest young drivers in short track racing is 15-year-old William Sawalich, winner of five consecutive CARS Pro Late Model Tour races. This weekend, he’s hoping to continue his hot streak with a win in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Sawalich, who hails from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has had most of his success in Pro Late Model racing, including his most recent win at Motor Mile Speedway on Saturday. However, he has two top-five finishes in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour and is looking for a third on Wednesday night.
“The plan’s just to ride around and get out front,” Sawalich told Short Track SCENE. “A top-five would be good because we’ve already proven we can win in this series. The goal is always to learn as fast as possible and try and apply everything I’ve learned and keep learning more and more. You can never stop learning.”
Earlier this year, he had a runner-up finish after a thrilling duel with Connor Hall at Hickory Motor Speedway.
“Yeah, that was a really good run,” Sawalich said. “I was super fortunate to be able to do that with Connor Hall. It’s just another learning experience.”
Sawalich’s first win came last summer in a Carolina Pro Late Model Series race in Coastal North Carolina, and he has constantly improved since then, and now he will have the opportunity to race with names such as Dale Earnhardt, Jr., along with the CARS Tour regulars.
“It’s been really cool to be able to do that from the learning perspective and trying to get my name out there. Then coming here to North Wilkesboro to learn even more in a different type of car, so I think I have better luck in Pros and Supers than in Late Model Stocks though.”
Sawalich will start 21st in Wednesday’s Window World 125, which can be seen live on Racing America and XR+.
