UPDATE 10-3-2023: NASCAR has fined Nick Sanchez $5000 and Matt Crafton $25000 following their fight after Saturday’s Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Rene Sanchez has been suspended for the remainder of the year.
In the Cup Series,, Chandler Smith was fined for not having a helmet sock on during qualifying.
Click here to download the penalty report.
Penalty sheet_2023_updated_10_03_23UPDATE: Matt Crafton took to Twitter on Sunday to tell his side of the story following his fight with Nick Sanchez post race in Talladega.
(Sanchez spoke to the media shortly following the confrontation. His remarks are below in a posted video.)
Crafton’s response:
“Here is what wasn’t caught on video…
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.
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 and he was told multiple times during that race the way he was pushing people was going to cause a wreck and going to get people hurt. There is a consistent pattern of certain drivers having a lack of respect on the track, and it was time for someone to say something.
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. Especially when tempers are already flared from being wrecked on the track.
I apologize to my team, my sponsors and partners, my family, and the NASCAR community for the negativity and for taking attention away from a good day of racing at Talladega.”
Here is what wasn’t caught on video…
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.
1/6
— Matt Crafton (@Matt_Crafton) October 1, 2023
Previously posted: NASCAR is investigating an altercation between Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez after Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega that left Sanchez bloodied.
Sanchez went to the infield care center after the incident. He talked to reporters after exiting the care center.
“I was walking back to the hauler, tap on my back, got punched in the face,” Sanchez told reporters. “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.”
Contact with Sanchez led to Crafton wrecking on Lap 93 and collecting eight other trucks. Crafton eventually stopped his damaged truck in Sanchez’s pits and exited the vehicle.
— NBC Sports —
NASCAR is still gathering info from the fight between Crafton and Sanchez to determine if any penalties. Sanchez said he didn’t need any stitches but indicated his nose might be broken. Said he got sucker punched.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 30, 2023
Nick Sanchez out of the care center, here’s what he had to say. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/A3L3bDRXDx
— Noah Lewis (@Noah_Lewis1) September 30, 2023