You wouldn't realize it by looking at his accomplishments on the racetrack, but William Sawalich, 16, failed the driving portion of his driver's license test the first two times he took it.
"I think I turned into the wrong lane of a one-way, which I probably wasn't paying attention," Sawalich said with a laugh. "Definitely should've failed me there, but up until then it was perfect."
The third time was the charm for the Eden Prairie native, who returned to Minnesota to race in Saturday's ARCA Menards 250 at Elko Speedway.
It was almost a picture-perfect night, with Sawalich finishing just a shade out of first place.
Sawalich, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Series is coming off his first-ever series win last week at Michigan's Berlin Raceway. The miles between that win and the seat of the quarter midget he used to race as a 9-year-old at Little Elko Speedway don't seem too far apart.
"I think I discovered I really wanted to race in my late model years," Sawalich said. "Up until that it was just kind of for fun and just seeing what I can do in the sport. And then until the late models I kind of started progressing a little faster, learning a bit more, and winning some races."
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His love for motors and anything with wheels started well before hopping behind the wheel of a racecar.
"When I was really little I always loved anything with four wheels and an engine. Anything that goes fast always interested me no matter if it was a construction vehicle or just a really fast sports car. I was always really interested in that. I started watching NASCAR and then wondered how I could get into it myself."
2023 has been a busy year for Sawalich who competed in his first ARCA Menards Series race for Joe Gibbs in Phoenix. Despite starting first and leading most of the race, Sawalich spun during a green-white-checker finish and ended up placing 13th.
He's also raced in the Craftsman Truck Series, late model races, and in ARCA Menards Series East and West races, placing first in two of the East races.
Racing for a legend like Joe Gibbs isn't lost on the 16-year-old.
"He's legendary," added Sawalich. "He's got a lot of experience in NASCAR and the NFL. He's a good all-around coach and just to be with that organization is really humbling. I couldn't have found a better place to race."
He's currently a junior in high school and enrolled through Liberty Online Academy. Sawalich says there are a number of things to keep him busy outside of actual race day.
"As busy as race day is, the week prior is definitely busier. Five days of working out, sim work, and going over stuff with the team about the last race and the next race. There's a lot of prep work involved and it's almost become a job now, but it's a fun job and I probably wouldn't rather have any other job."
As busy as that schedule is, Sawalich looks forward to being back and competing in his home state of Minnesota, the place where his racing dreams began.
"It's awesome to be back here and enjoying the nice summer weather," he said. "Just to be back in my home state, seeing a couple of friends, and all the family that lives here. Ultimately I get to race where it all started."
By 2025, Sawalich plans to be racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series before ultimately moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series.
The roads leading to his goals include a stop at Elko Speedway on Saturday night.
"All the short tracks I've been on recently have been half-miles, but this will be one of the smaller tracks I will be one. There's going to be a lot of bumping and banging to get some people out of the way, but hopefully I won't have to do that and hopefully I'll be in the lead so I won't have to worry about that."