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Nick Sanchez's mom shares her account of Matt Crafton fight, reaffirms sucker punch allegations

DSprofileby:Dustin Schutte•10/01/23•

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nick sanchez
Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

The mother of NASCAR Truck Series driver Nick Sanchez is getting involved in the Talladega feud that unfolded over the weekend. She reaffirmed that Matt Crafton sucker-punched her son following the race.

In a video posted by Frontstretch, Sanchez was seen fighting another individual and was left bloodied by the incident. He claims that Crafton took a “cheap shot” at him. In a Facebook post, Shanie Rosen Sanchez — Nick’s mother — backed up his allegations.

“When Nick turned his face to see who it was he then sucker punched Nick,” she wrote. “Didn’t say a word, no confrontation, just flat out blindsided him.”

Below is the video of the incident that unfolded. Sanchez had to be held back as blood streamed down his face. He was shouting as he was being pulled away from the altercation.

Following the incident, Sanchez commented on what happened.

“Yeah, I mean, I was walking back, tap on my back, got punched in the face,” he said. “Cheap shot but it is what it is, I guess. I’m all for fighting but, no cheap shots. I got a cheap shot, didn’t have a chance to get him back. But, it is what it is. Part of racing.”

Sanchez and Crafton were involved in a late-race wreck. Obviously, that incident did not sit well with Crafton.

Matt Crafton denies allegations of “cheap shot”

Despite the reports that Crafton took a cheap shot at Sanchez, the driver is defending himself. He said that’s not exactly what happened.

In a post on X, Crafton said words were exchanged and Sanchez threatened him before anything happened. After the chirping is when the fight broke out.

“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.

“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.”

The next NASCAR Truck Series race comes on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Baptist Health 200. The circuit closes out on Friday, Nov. 3 at Phoenix Raceway for the Craftsman 150.