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NASCAR fans are not happy with three-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton following his explanation of Saturday’s fight with rookie driver Nick Sanchez.
The incident occurred following a crash involving the two drivers.
Crafton ended up out of the race following the incident, while Sanchez went on to finish second.
Following the race, Crafton, 44, confronted the 22-year-old rookie and eventually threw at least one punch that left him bloodied.
EXCLUSIVE: @Nicksanchez080 involved in a post race fight after Talladega. #NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs
📹@WyattGametime pic.twitter.com/3qy3RxDH4Y
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 30, 2023
Sanchez gave an interview following the fight and claimed that Crafton walked up and sucker punched him.
But Crafton took to Twitter on Sunday to dispute that claim.
“Here is what wasn’t caught on video…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,” he began. “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.”
Crafton then explained that he was justified in punching Sanchez due to their on-track incident.
“What people don’t take into account is that he all but “sucker punched” me at 200 mph,” he wrote. “The way he pushed my truck gave me no ability to get out of the situation and he was told multiple times during that race the way he was pushing people was going to cause a wreck and going to get people hurt. There is a consistent pattern of certain drivers having a lack of respect on the track, and it was time for someone to say something.”
He then went on to say he wasn’t proud of the incident.
“Am I proud that it got physical, no, but last time I checked everyone on that track is a grown adult,” Crafton continued. If a man looks at me and threatens me, I am going to react. Especially when tempers are already flared from being wrecked on the track.”
Fans weren’t exactly accepting of Crafton’s explanation.
“Matt’s been beating up on young drivers for 20 years in the Trucks because his ceiling is just that. Took the role a little too seriously this week,” one wrote.
“The great thing about “what wasn’t caught on video” is you can make up whatever you want hours after the fact. F*** you, get parked,” said another.
It’s safe to say that Matt Crafton merchandise won’t exactly be flying off the racks in the weeks to come.