William Sawalich will miss Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway after experiencing “concussion-like symptoms,” Joe Gibbs Racing announced Wednesday evening.
Sawalich was collected in a multicar crash in the series’ Oct. 18 race at Talladega Superspeedway, where cars driven by Connor Mosack and Dean Thompson crashed into Sawalich’s No. 18 Toyota in the melee.
MORE: Xfinity standings | Martinsville schedule
Sawalich was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation that evening and was released in the early morning hours of Oct. 19.
“I‘m disappointed to not be in the car this weekend, but my health is my number one priority,” Sawalich posted on social media Oct. 22. “I‘m feeling better every day and working with Dr. Collins at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and NASCAR to go through their concussion protocol to return to the track as soon as possible.”
Four-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore will replace Sawalich in Saturday’s race at Martinsville. Bonsignore has made seven starts in JGR’s No. 19 car this season. By virtue of Aric Almirola’s victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the No. 19 Toyota, that entry is eligible to win the owners’ championship at Phoenix Raceway in the season finale on Nov. 1.
Sawalich has three top fives and nine top 10s in 2025, his rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
