“Time to go to the retirement home and never return”- Fans demands Matt Crafton’s suspension over the brawl with Nick Sanchez at Talladega
Matt Crafton has a storied career of over 23 years, where as Nick Sanchez is now only 22 years old.
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Matt Crafton (Left) and Cory Roper holding Nick Sanchez (Credits: IMAGO)
The Talladega Superspeedway, notorious for its chaotic NASCAR races, witnessed a dramatic showdown between Nick Sanchez and veteran driver Matt Crafton. The race took a contentious turn in the later stages when Sanchez, attempting to recover from a mid-race penalty, collided with Crafton in a three-wide situation, triggering a multi-truck pileup. The aftermath unfolded in a post-race brawl, drawing intense scrutiny and fan backlash for Crafton’s actions.
Crafton, having sustained damage to his truck, retaliated by pulling it into Sanchez’s team stall after the race. This led to a heated confrontation between the two drivers, captured in a video by Frontstretch and shared on their official X handle. Punches were thrown, and a full-blown fight ensued, leaving Sanchez with a visibly bloodied face.
Sanchez, clearly agitated, threatened Crafton with a vengeance at the upcoming race in Homestead Miami, stating, “I’m going to f****** kill you at Homestead. You f***** with the wrong guy, motherf*****.” In the aftermath, Sanchez, who eventually finished seventh in the race, revealed his side of the story. He described Crafton’s actions as a “cheap shot” and expressed his frustration at not having the opportunity to retaliate.
Crafton’s approach in initiating the fight came under scrutiny during the ongoing NASCAR investigation. According to eyewitnesses, Crafton tapped Sanchez on the shoulder from behind, instigating the brawl. Sanchez, after being checked and released from the infield care center, recounted the incident and the unexpected nature of the cheap shot. Sanchez said. “I was walking back to the hauler, got a tap on my back and got punched in the face. It was a cheap shot.” He added, “It is what it is.”
Fans deem the incident as an average Matt Crafton skill loss moment
The viral video of veteran driver Crafton engaging in a physical altercation with rookie Sanchez sparked fan outrage. At 47, Crafton, a three-time Truck series champion with a 23-year racing history, threw punches at the much younger Sanchez. One fan took to Twitter, suggesting that ‘Crafton should retire and never return,’ reflecting the sentiment of several others who found the veteran’s behavior towards a young competitor absurd.
Fans expressed frustration, demanding NASCAR’s intervention, with calls for an “indefinite” suspension for Crafton’s off-track behavior. Many felt Crafton had lost respect, urging him towards retirement. Amidst the disapproval, fans thanked Cory Roper for stepping in to defuse the situation and ensure Sanchez’s safety. While the focus was on Crafton’s suspension, a few noted the scrutiny Sanchez may face for his strong warning to Crafton.
Despite the physical altercation and a potential break in his nose, Sanchez remains resolute about his goal for the next race, asserting, “Try to win the race” at Homestead. The unfolding drama at Talladega adds another chapter to the track’s history of intense competition and post-race confrontations.
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Rohit Bhaskar
(727 Articles Published)