3/26/2023
Five Flags Speedway
Sawalich Runs Roughshod, Leads Every Lap En Route to ARCA Pensacola 200 Win
Sawalich Runs Roughshod, Leads Every Lap En Route to ARCA Pensacola 200 Win
By Chuck Corder
5flagsspeedway.com reporter
Fireworks peppered the sky above Turn No. 2 on Saturday at Five Flags Speedway.
As dusk fell upon the famed half-mile asphalt oval, the field for the Pensacola 200 rolled under caution and under pyrotechnics as the ARCA Menards Series East kicked off its 2023 slate. The colorful explosives were about the only fireworks the Five Flags faithful saw from the 15-car field.
Sixteen-year-old William Sawalich was a teenager on a quest to erase the sting of falling short at ARCA’s West series opener a few weeks back in Phoenix despite leading a race-high 93 of 150 laps. Mission accomplished, as Sawalich led every lap and delivered another Pensacola 200 victory for Joe Gibbs Racing.
“This was a fun race,” Sawalich said. “I have to thank my competitors and my team for getting the car as good as it is. The championship is in play for us, as good as this race went for us. We’ll try to dominate wherever we go.”
Dominate he did Saturday, as he has in recent trips to Five Flags. This was Sawalich’s fourth career victory at Pensacola’s high banks with the previous three coming in a Late Model.
Luke Fenhaus kept Sawalich honest, but had to settle for runner-up honors. Lynn Haven’s Jake Finch posted a career achievement by rounding out the podium.
“(It stinks) being second, but it was a good learning day for sure,” Fenhaus said. “I felt like we had something for (Sawalich), but it was so hit and miss. We lacked track position early on and it was hard to run cars down and pass them.”
Not for Sawalich. He began lapping cars a mere 11 laps in and was in full control of the No. 18 all night.
Each time lapped traffic allowed Finch or Fenhaus to draw near, Sawalich deftly maneuvered around the slower cars and rebuilt his comfortable advantage.
