Nick Sanchez’s mother insists her son was ‘sucker-punched’ after Matt Crafton denies allegations

Shanie Rosen Sanchez took it to X to support her son.

Nick Sanchez’s mother insists her son was ‘sucker-punched’ after Matt Crafton denies allegations

Things got ugly at Talladega after an intense race. ThorSport Racing driver Matt Crafton lost his cool after the race as he was seen punching rookie Nick Sanchez in the face. Since a few days have passed since the incident, both sides have shared their sides of the story. While Sanchez claimed that he was sucker punched, Crafton insisted that they first talked before things got heated up. Now, Sanchez’s mother, Shanie Rosen Sanchez, has also jumped into the mix, siding with her son.

In her post on X, Shanie wrote that Crafton had planned everything out and was waiting for Sanchez. She said that it is disappointing for a 47-year-old veteran to have taken a ‘cheap shot’ at a rookie. She said that no words were exchanged between the two, and he straight-up hit Sanchez out of nowhere.

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“When Nick turned his face to see who it was, he then sucker punched Nick. Didn’t say a word, no confrontation, just flat out blindsided him,” Shanie wrote on Facebook, as per Pro Talk. While Crafton is out of the title contention, Sanchez sits on P4 in the standings. With just two more races remaining, Sanchez must brush off the incident and focus on giving his best on the track.

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NASCAR’s punishments for Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez for Talladega

Sanchez’s and Crafton’s bloody altercation was one of the major highlights of the race at Talladega. With tempers flaring at an all-time high, both drivers were filmed being dragged away from each other. Sanchez, bleeding from his face, was heard threatening to kill Crafton and that he messed with the wrong guy.

Nick Sanchez post-race at Talladega
Nick Sanchez post-race at Talladega (Credits: Whiskey Riff)

The drivers were bound to face repercussions since NASCAR does not tolerate this kind of behavior. Sanchez was fined $5000 for his threats, while Crafton was fined $25,000 for punching him in the face. Also, Sanchez’s father, Rene Sanchez, is suspended from the remaining two Truck races for his involvement in the incident.

While both Sanchez and Crafton have given their sides of the story, it is clear that on-track incidents should not be brought to the by-lines. Drivers racing at high speeds in a close pack will make contact at one point or another. Collisions are a part of racing, and they should be treated as such while trusting the authorities to make the right decision.

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