Matt Crafton, Nick Sanchez penalized for Talladega fight
NASCAR penalized Matt Crafton, Nick Sanchez and Sanchez’s dad for their involvement in a post-race fight at Talladega.
The sanctioning body hit Crafton with a $25,000 fine and Sanchez with a $5,000 fine.
Meanwhile, Sanchez’s dad, Rene, was suspended for his involvement in the fight.
Sanchez and Crafton made contact on track Saturday that sparked a wreck and took Crafton out.
Crafton parked his truck near Sanchez’s pit stall and gestured to his team.
Following a 7th-place finish, Sanchez was walking in the garage when he said Crafton tapped him on the shoulder and punched him in the face.
Crafton had a different perspective, saying he tapped Sanchez on the shoulder, said “Hi” and then was threatened by Sanchez before things turned physical.
NASCAR executive Elton Sawyer said Tuesday they fined Crafton because he had time to cool off before he confronted Sanchez.
Sawyer also said they fined Sanchez for the threats he made to Crafton and suspended Sanchez’s dad for getting involved in the fight.
NASCAR has a precedent of suspending anyone who gets into a fight happening between two drivers. The sanctioning body would rather have the two drivers settle it amongst themselves than there be a large brawl, such as what happened at Texas in 2014.
A media member captured the brawl in progress and the aftermath. Sanchez is seen with a bloodied face, levying threats against Crafton.
Sanchez had noticeable marks on his face and told the media afterward the medics “glued him back together.”
His dad’s suspension will go through the end of the year.
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com