William Sawalich earned the biggest win of his young Super Late Model career, winning the All-American 400 for the ASA Stars National Tour at Tennessee’s Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway on Sunday afternoon.
The Minnesota speedster inherited the point after a multi-car incident on lap 212, and would pace the final 88 circuits to earn the $20,000 winner’s share of the series finale. The incident took out several pre-race favorites, including Senoia, Georgia’s Bubba Pollard, Stephen Nasse and Jeremy Doss. It also dashed any hopes of winning for championship contenders Ty Majeski and Cole Butcher.
Majeski, who entered the day with a slim eight-point advantage, was leading at the time of the lap 212 melee. He was involved and sustained heavy damage to the right front of the car. His team thrashed on the car during the red flag and got Majeski back on track.
The Wisconsin driver was able to limp home to an 11th place finish, good enough to secure the inaugural ASA STARS National Tour championship and the $25,000 bonus. Cole Butcher (-32), Gio Ruggiero (-127), Pollard (-210), and Austin Nason (-212) unofficially round out the top-five in the final standings.
With the win, Sawalich becomes the youngest winner in All American 400 history at 17 years, one month and two days. Dawsonville, Georgia’s Chase Elliott and John Hunter Nemechek also won the event at the age of 17.
After kicking off the weekend with a win in the ARCA Menards Series West race at Phoenix Raceway, Sawalich made the cross-country flight to Nashville for the All American 400. He was 10th and eighth in the first two stages before he inherited the lead on lap 212, going unchallenged the rest of the way.
“The Donnie Wilson group gave me a really fast Toyota Camry here today and I couldn’t have asked for a better car,” Sawalich said. “I didn’t really think the car was going to be that good on the long run, we were struggling early in the race for grip. We got lucky that those cars had a pileup but I still feel like we had the best car here.”
Derek Thorn finished in second, with Michael House in third, Austin Nason in fourth, and Willie Allen in fifth.
Dustin Smith, Jake Finch, Billy VanMeter, Logan Bearden, and Jacob Goede rounded out the top 10.
For more information on the ASA STARS National Tour, visit STARSNationalTour.com.
ASA STARS National Tour
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway – Nashville, TN
All American 400* – November 5, 2023
1. William Sawalich
2. Derek Thorn
3. Michael House
4. Austin Nason
5. Willie Allen
6. Dustin Smith
7. Jake Finch
8. Billy VanMeter
9. Logan Bearden
10. Jacob Goede
11. Ty Majeski
12. T.J. Duke
13. Josh Hicks
14. Johnny Aramendia
15. Tommy Joe Martins
16. Michael Hinde
17. Hunter Wright
18. Luke Fenhaus
19. Jake Garcia
20. Albert Francis
21. Ty Fredrickson
22. Cole Butcher
23. Bubba Pollard
24. Jeremy Doss
25. Stephen Nasse
26. Gio Ruggiero
27. Jordon Riddick
28. Chase Burda
29. Matt Craig
30. Johnny Brazier
31. Jackson Boone
32. Allen Karnes
33. Johnny Sauter
*Unofficial Results
