Overview
- Sawalich announced he was not medically cleared for Phoenix, missing a second straight race after sitting out Martinsville.
- Joe Gibbs Racing tabbed Justin Bonsignore to drive the No. 18 again following his top-10 substitute run at Martinsville.
- Bonsignore’s Phoenix assignment follows JGR’s lineup shift after Aric Almirola’s Las Vegas win locked the No. 19 into the Owners Championship 4.
- The Talladega multi-car wreck led to concussion-like symptoms for Sawalich and a post-race hospital visit before late-night release.
- Sawalich’s rookie season ends two weeks early with 31 starts, three top fives, nine top 10s and one pole, as he thanked Dr. Collins and UPMC and signaled plans to be ready for Daytona in 2026.