Sawalich began racing at the age of nine, running various midget races, including Sr. Animal's and World Formula. From 2017 to 2019, he won several track championships at Little Elko Speedway.[1]
He moved into legends cars in 2020, winning the INEX Young Lions State Championship in Minnesota. He scored multiple top fives and podiums during his legends car efforts.[1][2] He won an INEX sanctioned Legends division feature race at Elko Speedway (MN) on August 22, 2020.[3]
Late models
Sawalich made the transition to late models in 2021, running nearly a full season in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series. Despite missing two races, he finished fourth in the standings, with one win at Carteret County Speedway,[4] and seven top fives. Along with that, he continued to run in select legend car races. He made his CARS Tour debut at Tri-County Motor Speedway in September, in which he started on the pole. He finished 17th after being involved in a late-race accident.
In 2023, Sawalich won the All American 400 in a controversial ending, after the top eight drivers were eliminated due to fluid on the racetrack, causing them to slip up and hit the wall. He also became the youngest driver to win the All American 400.[10]
On December 9, 2022, it was announced that Sawalich would join Joe Gibbs Racing to run 20 races in the ARCA Menards Series. This included a full season in the ARCA Menards Series East, along with select races in the main and West Series.[11] Swawlich would make his debut at Phoenix on March 10, 2023, winning the pole and finishing 13th. In his first East Series start at Five Flags Speedway, Sawalich won the pole, and led every lap to earn his first career ARCA win.[12] At Nashville, Sawalich was in contention to win his second race, until the caution came out on the final lap. He would spin his tires on the final restart, ultimately giving the win to Luke Fenhaus.[13] He earned his second win of the season at ARCA's return to Flat Rock Speedway, leading the final 50 laps of the race.[14] He scored his third win of the season at Berlin Raceway, after passing Jesse Love for the lead with two laps to go.[15] Following the Bristol race, Sawalich clinched the ARCA Menards Series East championship.[16]
On December 13, 2023, it was announced that Sawalich would run a more expanded ARCA Menards Series and West Series schedule, along with a full-time East Series schedule. He will run the No. 18 for the 14 races in the ARCA Menards Series, and the No. 18 as well in the East and the West Series. Tanner Gray will be the driver of the No. 18 for the six tracks in the ARCA Menards Series that Sawalich is too young to race at.[17] He would start his season in the ARCA Menards Series along with the ARCA Menards Series West with a victory at Phoenix after leading 66 laps in a weather shortened race.[18] In the East Series first race of the season, Sawalich would lead the most laps at Five Flags, but he would end up finishing second to Gio Ruggiero.[19] At Dover, Sawalich won the pole and once again led the most laps,[20] before being involved in a late race incident, unable to complete the race and finished 17th, the first DNF in his career.[21] In the following race at Nashville, Sawalich rebounded and led 145 of the 150 lap race to score the dominating win.[22] At Portland for the West Series race, Sawalich took the lead from Brandon Jones in the middle stages of the race, and led the final 31 laps to earn his first road course win in ARCA.[23] In fourteen races in the main ARCA series, Sawalich won nine races to go with thirteen Top 5s and finished tenth in the points standings. Sawalich's performance during the season contributed to the No. 18 winning the owners championship in the main ARCA Series.
During the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East season, Sawalich scored three wins and seven top-three finishes to clinch his second consecutive ARCA East championship.[24]
After earning three top tens in 2023, Tricon announced that Sawalich would returning to the No. 1 team in 2024, this time with an expanded nine race schedule.[27] Sawalich would start his season with a 21st place finish at Bristol, along with a 26th place finish at Martinsville. During the season, he scored his first career pole at Talladega, one day after his 18th birthday.[28]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
