HAMPTON, Ga.—Rookie Nick Sanchez had to fight for his first top-five finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
After starting 15th in the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250, the 23-year-old driver’s No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet received so much damage during the first stage of the race, he dropped out of the top 30 in the first 45 laps.
The No. 48 Big Machine Racing team pounded down the hood so Sanchez could continue to race, and Sanchez climbed to 11th in the second stage, after which he battled to fifth over the final 64 laps.
“It was a thrash all day,” Sanchez said. “We had to fight and claw our way to stay on the lead lap in Stage 1 and Stage 2. The No. 48 was not as fast as Xfinity Mobile in Stage 1 and Stage 2, but we were able to get the hood down under it, just to where we could keep up with the pack in Stage 3.
“Just right place, right time at the end. We just tried to capitalize on other people’s mistakes. And four fresh tires at the end helped me a good bit.”
In his team debut, Sanchez finished 35th last weekend following a wreck on Lap 60 at Daytona International Speedway.
Saturday’s top-five result elevated the Miami native 15 positions in the NASCAR Xfinity standings. Only points leader Austin Hill, who won the race and both stages at Atlanta, gained more ground. Sanchez currently sits 15th in points.
Although Sanchez gained experience racing in the Xfinity Series last season while campaigning full-time in the Camping World Truck Series, his Xfinity schedule didn’t include drafting tracks. In two truck starts at Atlanta, Sanchez collected a pair of top fives. But nothing could prepare him for his freshman Xfinity voyage on the 1.5-mile track.
“No, I had never really been involved in a wreck here, and I was involved in quite a few,” Sanchez said after the race. “Obviously, I know how to get to the finish here in a truck. I was down in the Xfinity car in Stage 1 and Stage 2.
“I guess I know this track, but the car is so different with the way it drives that I came here with an open book.”
Sanchez was selected to replace Parker Kligerman at Big Machine Racing after the veteran elected to lighten his competition schedule. Veteran crew chief Patrick Donahue remained with the team to oversee Sanchez’s effort. BMR is part of a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing in Welcome, N.C.
In his 10th Xfinity Series start, Sanchez learned valuable lessons with his new crew.
“Never give up, never stop fighting because you can easily grind it out with a top five,” Sanchez said. “I’m proud of the way I kept my composure in Stage 1 and Stage 2.
“Now, I want to go to COTA (Circuit of the Americas) and run up front with a clean car. I’m excited to get back to a non-drafting track.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
