Tensions always run hot at Talladega, and Nick Sanchez, driver of the No. 2 NASCAR Chevy Silverado RST, found himself on the receiving end of a punch from a competitor after the Truck Series race on September 30th, 2023.
Said competitor was Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 99 Ford F-150 race truck, who made contact with Sanchez during Stage 3 of the race. Crafton was sent spinning, picking up significant damage and putting an end to his run at Talladega, while Sanchez’s No. 2 Silverado got away without major damage. He was credited with a seventh-place finish, while Crafton finished 24th.
After the race, Crafton confronted Sanchez at his hauler and “sucker punched” him, significantly bloodying his face after striking him. The two exchanged heated words before they were pulled apart.
“I was walking back to the hauler, tap on my back, got punched in the face,” Sanchez said. “Cheap shot, but it is what it is, I guess. I’m all for fighting, but no cheap shots. I got a cheap shot. Never really had a chance to get him back.”
Crafton disagreed with Sanchez’s perspective of the issue.
In a statement on social media, Crafton said, “First, let’s address the ‘sucker punch.’ Before the cameras started rolling I approached Nick and said ‘hey’, when he turned around I said ‘what the —?!’ to which he looked right at me and threatened me. That is when it all went to hell. I had his attention, words were exchanged, all before anything physical took place, so I did not ‘sucker punch’ the guy. There may not be video, but there were plenty of eye witnesses.”
He added, “What people don’t take into account is that he all but ‘sucker punched’ me at 200 mph. The way he pushed my truck gave me no ability to get out of the situation… Am I proud that it got physical, no, but last time I checked everyone on that track is a grown adult. If a man looks at me and threatens me, I am going to react.”
NASCAR indicated that it is currently evaluating the situation before any penalties are issued to Crafton or Sanchez.
NASCAR RaceDay Headlines: Stewart Friesen and Greg Van Alst released from hospital, Matt Crafton facing discipline from NASCAR, Kyle Busch to run truck races for Spire and a repave coming to North Wilkesboro. pic.twitter.com/5Ql5jB5mzH
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 1, 2023
| Finish | Start | Car Number | Driver | Team | Laps Run | Laps Led | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | 34 | Brett Moffitt(i) | Fr8Auctions Ford | 99 | 22 | Ford F-150 |
| 2 | 8 | 99 | Ben Rhodes (P) | Campers Inn RV Ford | 99 | 0 | Ford F-150 |
| 3 | 4 | 5 | Dean Thompson | CST Industrial Toyota | 99 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 4 | 28 | 25 | Chandler Smith(i) | Rackley Roofing Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 5 | 9 | 11 | Corey Heim (P) | Safelite Toyota | 99 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 6 | 29 | 43 | Daniel Dye # | RaceToStopSuicide.com Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 7 | 2 | 2 | Nick Sanchez # (P) | Gainbridge Chevrolet | 99 | 25 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 8 | 23 | 13 | Hailie Deegan | Odyssey Battery Ford | 99 | 0 | Ford F-150 |
| 9 | 13 | 75 | Parker Kligerman(i) | Tide Chevrolet | 99 | 10 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 10 | 21 | 45 | Lawless Alan | AUTOParkit Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 11 | 7 | 42 | Carson Hocevar (P) | Worldwide Express Chevrolet | 99 | 5 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 12 | 14 | 24 | Rajah Caruth # | Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 13 | 25 | 23 | Grant Enfinger (P) | Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 14 | 6 | 51 | Jack Wood | TrueTimber Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 15 | 32 | 2 | Garrett Smithley(i) | Trophy Tractor/Celsius Chevrolet | 99 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 16 | 15 | 32 | Bret Holmes # | First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet | 99 | 3 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 17 | 33 | 30 | Ryan Vargas | Critical Path Security Toyota | 99 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 18 | 24 | 17 | Taylor Gray # | Dead On Tools Toyota | 99 | 1 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 19 | 16 | 19 | Christian Eckes (P) | NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet | 99 | 8 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 20 | 10 | 61 | Jake Drew | Toyota Tsusho Toyota | 98 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 21 | 5 | 98 | Ty Majeski (P) | Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford | 93 | 0 | Ford F-150 |
| 22 | 35 | 4 | Cory Roper | Fly Alliance/CarQuest Ford | 93 | 0 | Ford F-150 |
| 23 | 17 | 9 | Colby Howard | Titan Construction Chevrolet | 92 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 24 | 12 | 88 | Matt Crafton | Jack Links/Menards Ford | 91 | 1 | Ford F-150 |
| 25 | 19 | 15 | Tanner Gray | Sport Clips Toyota | 91 | 12 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 26 | 26 | 20 | Greg Van Alst | CB Fabricating Chevrolet | 91 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 27 | 36 | 22 | Jason M White | Powder Ventures Excavations Ford | 88 | 0 | Ford F-150 |
| 28 | 1 | 4 | Chase Purdy | Bama Buggies Chevrolet | 84 | 11 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 29 | 3 | 35 | Jake Garcia # | Quanta Services Chevrolet | 79 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 30 | 34 | 56 | Tyler Hill | Buffalo Wild Wings/UNITS Toyota | 59 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 31 | 27 | 41 | Bayley Currey | Unishippers Chevrolet | 58 | 1 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
| 32 | 18 | 38 | Zane Smith (P) | Love's/ RV Stop Ford | 55 | 0 | Ford F-150 |
| 33 | 22 | 16 | Tyler Ankrum | LiUNA! Toyota | 50 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 34 | 20 | 52 | Stewart Friesen | GearWrench Toyota | 38 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 35 | 11 | 1 | David Gilliland | Serial 1 Premium E-Bikes Toyota | 38 | 0 | Toyota TRD Tundra |
| 36 | 30 | 28 | Bryan Dauzat | FDNY Racing Chevrolet | 5 | 0 | Chevrolet Silverado RST |
# – Rookie
i – Points ineligible
* – Part-time driver
P – Playoffs eligible
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Comments
I LOVE it, when drivers show there true colors. Nascar, needs to let this tuff happen. Not let them kill each other, but let them take out their frustrations in an old fashione brawl. Let them settle it! NASCAR keeps this stuff from happening, and hands out crazy fines. “Let them be Boys” It will always work out in the end.
I mean, that was straight up assault, but yeah, “boys have at it” all right
Bring back “Boys have at it”. let it go! “Rubin’ is racing”” Nascar hs lost fans and TV viewers, bythe score. Just look at the stands at any race. Nascar is becoming it’s own worst enemy. Too many stupid rules, and getting involved with stupid actions. LET THEM RACE!!!!!
I agree Pete. Been a NASCAR fan since 1980. Was Dale Sr. follower. The “Good old days” are gone forever. NASACAR HAS become it’s own worst enemy by far. I can’t help but think, how many owners have left the sport due to high costs. Then add in all the very dumb little rules changes, (Most about having to do with safety) it’s a miracle there are any owners left. NASCAR, started as a “Good ol boys” grass roots idea. It’s since has become a money machine. Come on NASCAR< drop all the BS that has nothing to do with racing. Just K.I.S.S. It's easier than you think. Maybe more people would attend races, more owners would enter, and the overall racing would be a whole lot better.
So … you’d rather see drivers get killed than have the safety improvements that changed things? Wow.