NASCAR exec Elton Sawyer explains why Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez were fined for Talladega fight

NASCAR VP of Competition Elton Sawyer took some time on Tuesday to explain the intricacies behind the fine of Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez. 

First off, NASCAR announced the punishments for the drivers earlier Tuesday morning, following the two getting into a bit of a brawl in the garage area. There was a video captured at the end of the event, where Sanchez yelled threats towards Crafton with blood covering his face. Then, the NASCAR rookie driver claimed the three-time champion had “sucker punched” him.

“NASCAR competition officials issued behavioral penalties Tuesday to Craftsman Truck Series drivers Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez for their roles in a post-race altercation last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway,” NASCAR announced, via press release. “Crafton, driver of the ThorSport Racing No. 88 Ford, was fined $25,000 for his actions in a fight after Saturday’s Love’s RV Stop 250. Sanchez, a rookie in the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet, was fined $5,000. 

“Sanchez’s father, Rene, was also penalized for his involvement in the fracas, with officials suspending him from NASCAR for the remaining two races on the 2023 schedule.”

Following the announcement, Sawyer explained how they NASCAR came to those numbers, first elaborating on why Crafton’s fine was higher.

“Matt had had some time to think about the situation,” Sawyer said. “It wasn’t like both drivers got out on pit road, heat of the battle, they go down and have a discussion with each other. This one spilled over into the garage sometime after the event, so felt like (it) could have been handled different, and that’s why Matt’s fine was at $25,000.”

As for Sanchez, it was more of his comments than his role in the altercation that’s going to take some money out of his bank account.

“We felt like some of the comments that were made by Nick, and we totally understand that’s in the heat of the battle, understanding the situation, but we just can’t have those type of comments,” added Sawyer. “That’s why he received the fine that he received.”

Of course, NASCAR never wants to see their drivers brawling off the track, especially when it escalates to the severity of the incident between Crafton and Sanchez. They’ll both think twice moving forward before getting into another altercation.

Nevertheless, tempers run hot during the NASCAR Playoffs, and that’s always going to be the case. It’s certain that lessons were certainly learned on Tuesday, though.