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You know things are serious when you have to get mom involved.
That was the case this past weekend after a fight in the NASCAR Trucks Series garage left rookie driver Nick Sanchez bloodied and in need of stitches.
Sanchez was involved in an on-track accident with three-time series champion Matt Crafton. The crash left Crafton out of the race while Sanchez went on to finish seventh.
Following the race, the 47-year-old Crafton approached Sanchez and eventually threw a punch that split open the 22-year-old.
Sanchez said in an interview that Crafton threw a “sucker punch.”
Crafton has since denied that claim, though fans weren’t exactly buying his explanation.
Now Sanchez’s mother, Shanie Rosen Sanchez, is telling her side of the story on Facebook.
“After the race, Nick and his PR-right hand lady, Christy, were walking next to each other back to his hauler.
Rene and I were about 10 steps behind them,” she began. “Then in a flash, another driver literally came out of nowhere (we think he was hiding behind some tires) then tapped Nick on his shoulder from behind, when Nick turned his face to see who it was he then sucker punched Nick. Didn’t say a word, no confrontation, just flat out blindsided him. The driver had already changed out of his firesuit into plain clothes to blend in with everyone else. Obviously he was waiting for Nick to walk by – he had it planned.”
Her description is far different from that of Craftonissue, who claims that he spoke to Sanchez before fists began to fly.
She went on to chastise Crafton for his behavior.
“This was all because of an on track incident which happens all the time, that’s racing. After watching the video, most people are stating it wasn’t Nick’s fault,” Sanchez wrote. “Regardless of who’s fault, to not even come up to Nick and talk about it and have a discussion is so classless and cowardly. Especially coming from a 47 year old, veteran driver who should be a role model. Yes – a 47 year old taking a cheap shot at Nick.”
NASCAR has not issued a statement on the incident or penalized either driver as of the time of writing.