ROCKINGHAM — William Sawalich earned his first NASCAR win Saturday, taking the checkered flag in the N.C. Education Lottery 250 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Rockingham Speedway.
Sawalich, who started 14th, took the lead from rookie Brent Crews — winner of last year’s ARCA Menards Series East race at the Rock — and held on for the last 80 laps of the race.
“It’s a bit surreal … it’s hard to describe,” he said after the race.
The 19-year-old Minnesota native had a good showing at Rockingham in 2025, coming in second behind Crews in the ARCA race.
Sawalich started driving in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in late 2024 and last year was his first full season. He earned nine top 10 finishes, with back-to-back second-place finishes.
Saturday’s win makes his third top-ten finish in seven starts this season.
Coming up in the ARCA Menards Series, Sawalich secured 13 wins in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He also has six wins in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour, and one in the ASA STARS National Tour.
Pole-winner Corey Day kept the first position for the first 118 laps, and 2025’s disqualified winner Jesse Love led 15 laps before dropping back several positions. Day and Love finished 10th and 27th, respectively.
Crews, winner of last year’s Rockingham ARCA 125, worked his way to the front of the pack and led several laps, before losing his lead to William Sawailich — who finished behind Crews in last year’s race — following a restart off of a caution.
Cleetus McFarland, who finished fourth in the Rockingham ARCA Menards East 125 earlier in the day finished 32nd.
