TALLADEGA, Ala. — NASCAR is investigating an altercation between Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez after Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series race at Talladega that left Sanchez bloodied.
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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.
Sanchez holds the final transfer spot to the championship race at Phoenix with one race left in the Round of (Oct. 21 at Homestead).
Crafton was eliminated in the first round.
Here is what wasn’t caught on video…
— Matt Crafton (@Matt_Crafton) October 1, 2023
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.
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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.
— Matt Crafton (@Matt_Crafton) October 1, 2023
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Nick Sanchez on what happened in the garage after the race at Talladega and indicated he might have a slight break in his nose. pic.twitter.com/KvykDiyOko
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 30, 2023
