No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry News and Notes:
SAWALICH AT FIVE FLAGS SPEEDWAY: William Sawalich will make his second career start at Five Flags Speedway this weekend after a dominating performance in last year’s ARCA Menards Series East (AMSE) season opener. Sawalich began his drive to his 2023 AMSE Championship by leading practice, earning the pole, and leading all 200 laps of the race on his way to victory. The reigning champion will look to start his 2024 season off in the same fashion at the half-mile oval.
LAST TIME OUT: Sawalich made his first start of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series (AMS) two weeks ago in Phoenix. The 17-year-old started his season on a high note, claiming the win with the race being called after 115 laps due to weather. Sawalich led practice, earned the pole, and led 66 laps on his way to the win.
2023 ARCA EAST CHAMPION: Sawalich claimed the 2023 AMSE championship at Bristol Motor Speedway. He ended the AMSE season with four wins and finished in the top-five in all eight races on the AMSE schedule. He became the second AMSE champion for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and the first Minnesotan to win the series championship.
JGR AT FIVE FLAGS: Joe Gibbs Racing has two previous wins at Five Flags Speedway. The first win came in the 2021 AMSE race with Sammy Smith behind the wheel, with the second being Sawalich’s victory last year.
FOLLOW ALONG: Follow along for updates and a behind-the-scenes look at Sawalich’s 2024 season.
Twitter: @WilliamSawalich I Facebook: William Sawalich I Instagram: @williamsawalich
RACE INFO: The Pensacola 150 at Five Flags Speedway will take place at 8:35 PM ET on Saturday, March 23. The race will be available to stream on FloRacing.
From the Driver’s Seat:
William Sawalich: “It was good to get back in the car at Phoenix and get a win right from the start. Five Flags was a great race for us last year and I’m confident in the car the No. 18 guys are preparing for this weekend. I’m excited to start the drive to defend last year’s championship and hope we can cross the finish line first in our No. 18 Starkey/SoundGear Toyota Camry.”
About Starkey:
Starkey is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Founded by Bill Austin in 1967, Starkey is known for its innovative design, development, and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Led today by President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Starkey is the only American-owned provider of hearing technologies. The company has more than 5,000 employees, operates 29 facilities and does business in more than 100 markets worldwide. Learn more at starkey.com.
About SoundGear:
Founded in 2010, SoundGear represents the latest advancements in hearing protection. SoundGear hearing protection and enhancement products are ideal for hunting, competitive shooting, law enforcement, construction, heavy industry, concerts and events, garages, motorsports, and much more. SoundGear engineers products that provide 100% digital sound enhancement to deliver superior environmental awareness, while still protecting your hearing. SoundGear products are manufactured by Starkey, a global leader in hearing technology and premier provider in hearing health care headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
About Joe Gibbs Racing:
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR with four NASCAR Cup Series teams, four NASCAR Xfinity Series teams, an ARCA Series team, and a driver development program. JGR is based in Huntersville, N.C., and owned by 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Joe Gibbs, who also earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was named as one of the NFL’s top 10 coaches of all-time with a winning career that included three Super Bowl Championships as head coach of the Washington franchise. JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, capturing more than 400 wins over that span. No team has more combined wins across the sport’s three national series in the history of NASCAR. In addition, JGR has won five Cup Series championships along with four Xfinity Series driver championships and six Xfinity Series owner’s championships. The organization also has captured four Daytona 500 titles, considered to be NASCAR’s premier event each season.
TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!
