Nick Sanchez reflects before clambering into his No. 48 Big Machine Spiked Vodka Spiked Coolers Chevrolet. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Nick Sanchez pursued his dreams in motorsports since the age of 12 while growing up in Miami, Florida. Cutting his teeth in go-karts at the local speed palace, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Sanchez understood it was more than about going fast.
It was about being a student of motorsports to grow and learn.
Over the years, Sanchez was accepted into NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program in 2018, racing late models before racing in the ARCA Menards Series East division a year later. Graduating to the national ARCA Menards Series full-time in 2021, he placed third in the championship standings by capping off that year with a win at Kansas Speedway.
A year later, with three wins, nine top fives and 16 top 10s, Sanchez won the ARCA Menards Series championship. The 2022 season was a defining moment for the young racer as he made his raced eight total starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, including six with the fledgling No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet entry.
In the process, Sanchez, capturing a solid seventh in the Martinsville Playoffs race, became acquainted with his future racing home. The path to Big Machine Racing took him to one of NASCAR’s rough and tumble series to sharpen his racing knives.
Racing full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series for the past two seasons, the steady racer placed sixth and fifth in the points standings with two riveting wins at Daytona and Charlotte last year.
Following Parker Kligerman’s retirement from full-time competition late last year, Sanchez was named to the seat of the familiar No. 48 Chevrolet. Although he is familiar with his team, it is safe to say he leans on a strong leader like the man atop his pit box.
“Well, I don’t know if he’s learned from me, but it’s nice to have a very experienced veteran crew chief in Patrick Donahue,” Sanchez said. “I’m lucky to get to work with him, and it’s going to be a fun year.”
Donahue has extensive experience working with some of stock car’s stars like Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers and Tyler Reddick. For the past two years, Kligerman and Donahue took the No. 48 team from hidden potential to consistent frontrunners, a force capable of winning races and battling for the championship.
While Kligerman’s primary efforts are as an analyst for The CW’s XFINITY Series broadcasts, he left some helpful information for Sanchez to further the No. 48 team’s performances to the next level.
“It wasn’t necessarily picking his brain, but reading through his debriefs, right?” Sanchez considered. “I guess it’s indirectly picking his brain. So yeah, he left this team in a great place and a lot of good notes and useful data to look over and prepare for this race.”
Nick Sanchez worked ardently for his fifth place finish at Atlanta. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)
Certainly the season is young and Sanchez ranks 20th going into Saturday’s GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway. The best is yet to come especially with Sanchez driving to a hard fought fifth at Atlanta, his career best result in this division.
Sanchez is delighted about the change of pace and scenery after a wild start to the year at two drafting-style tracks and a road course in Del Valle, Texas. Phoenix is a sight for sore eyes and a place where the No. 48 team can capitalize on points and establishing consistent, strong finishes.
“I’m looking forward to the first traditional track of the year,” Sanchez said in a team press release. “Phoenix is a great track with great racing. Excited to see how we stack up Saturday.”
Throughout the year, Sanchez will engage with fans at the track and away from it. Team owner Scott Borchetta’s brands means his driver can interact with fans, old and new, to make memorable moments from a simple autograph, selfie or word of encouragement.
It is a full circle moment for Sanchez to not only be the face of a brand and team but for fans looking for a new favorite.
“I think that’s one of the unique things about the series team, right?” he considered. “The activation [with] Big Machine Vodka, Spike Cooler, Borchetta Bourbon… there’s so many great brands on the team under this team, and I get to represent them.
“And it offers a lot of cool opportunities for me to go in and out of market and activate and, get new fans for the team and the sport.”
Racing is Sanchez’s profession and passion, the culmination of those years trying to make a name for himself in go-karts, late models and ARCA competition. Given the effort needed to succeed, he has a perfectly normal way to unwind during his free time.
“I’ve been gaming something recently,” he shared. “I’ll bring a portable gaming device to the racetrack. [In] the hotel in my free time, and when I’m done studying, when I’m done looking on stuff for the weekend, I’ll decompress gaming. So I think that’s something that I’m getting into.”
Nick Sanchez’s love for racing is as unmistakable as the colors of his No. 48 Chevrolet. (Photo: Hayden Hutchison | The Podium Finish)
Just do not expect Sanchez to cut any slack if he plays you in Madden, Call of Duty or GTA. If his racing intensity is one thing, his gaming skills may leave one asking for mercy.
For the young racer, while it is a serious commitment and hardens even the most optimistic of souls, Sanchez’s love for racing is contagious, genuine and refreshing. His youthful energy to compete can only bode well for his career and the No. 48 team as the season rolls on.
“Yeah, I think I’m just having fun, right? Continuation of my childhood racing, right?” Sanchez said. “I did it back then because I love it. It’s my passion, and it’s fun for me, and it’s why I do it now. So I’m just going to live my dream.”
Editor’s Notes
Special thanks to Paul Williams of Big Machine Racing and Nick Sanchez for their time during the Focused Health 250 race weekend at Circuit of the Americas. Look for more stories about Sanchez and the No. 48 team throughout the season.
Check out the YouTube version of this story on the official Rob Tiongson channel!
