{"id":53100,"date":"2025-06-28T01:16:40","date_gmt":"2025-06-28T06:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=53100"},"modified":"2025-06-28T16:25:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T21:25:10","slug":"rookie-nick-sanchez-scores-first-career-nascar-xfinity-series-win-at-echopark-speedway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/28\/rookie-nick-sanchez-scores-first-career-nascar-xfinity-series-win-at-echopark-speedway\/","title":{"rendered":"Rookie Nick Sanchez scores first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win at EchoPark Speedway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nick Sanchez, driver of the #48 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Krista Jasso\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service <\/em><\/p>\n

HAMPTON, Ga. \u2013 Nick Sanchez charged to the front after a restart with seven laps left in Friday night\u2019s Focused Health 250 and held off fellow Sunoco rookie Carson Kvapil to secure his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory.<\/p>\n

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Nick Sanchez, driver of the #48 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Sanchez, who rallied from a spin through the frontstretch grass at EchoPark Speedway on Lap 68, lost the top spot to Jesse Love on the final restart on Lap 157 of 163, but regained it on the following circuit.<\/p>\n

Sanchez spent the next five laps doing everything in his power to keep Kvapil behind him. The win earned the 24-year-old from Miami, Fla., a berth in the Xfinity Series Playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a weight lifted off my shoulders, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d Sanchez said after climbing from his car on the frontstretch. \u201cNow we can go chase checkered flags.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Nick Sanchez, driver of the #48 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Kvapil was lined up in front of third-place finisher Sam Mayer, fourth-place Connor Zilisch and fifth-place Taylor Gray as he chased Sanchez over the closing laps, trying to find a way around the race winner.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be that close really does sting,\u201d said Kvapil, who started from the rear of the field after unapproved adjustments to his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. \u201cI couldn\u2019t really generate a run there. I didn\u2019t feel like we had enough cars nose-to-tail and organized.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were all kind of just too far away from each other. I tried backing up on the last lap\u2026 I probably could have made a move earlier. I just felt like, if we got side-by-side, we\u2019d get swallowed up by somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Nick Sanchez, driver of the #48 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

For his part, Sanchez was fortunate his No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet sustained minimal damage on the slide through the grass, which caused the fourth of nine cautions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still a little embarrassed about that,\u201d Sanchez said. \u201cIt was certainly a rookie mistake, but we rebounded.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was after midnight when Sanchez took the checkered flag, thanks to some threatening weather near the 1.54-mile track. Lightning forced NASCAR to halt the race after 36 laps.<\/p>\n

After a delay of one hour, 18 minutes, 55 seconds, the race resumed. Sheldon Creed, who led the first 37 laps from the pole, tried to flip the stage by pitting under caution after the resumption, but the strategy backfired.<\/p>\n

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Sheldon Creed, driver of the #00 Friends of Jaclyn Ford, leads the field to the green flag to start the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Creed was one of 10 drivers involved in a massive wreck on the backstretch moments after a restart on Lap 41. Contact from Sanchez turned Jesse Love across traffic near the front of the field.<\/p>\n

Love\u2019s Chevrolet collided with Ryan Sieg\u2019s Ford, turning it into the outside wall. A broken axle eliminated Sieg\u2019s No. 39 RSS Racing Ford. Other victims included series leader Justin Allgaier, who exited the race in 31st place, Sammy Smith, Katherine Legge, Patrick Staropoli, Jeb Burton and Christian Eckes.<\/p>\n

Creed, credited with 32nd place, suffered his fifth DNF (did not finish) in the last nine races and sixth of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was probably the best car I\u2019ve had all year,\u201d Creed said ruefully after leaving the infield care center. \u201cJust really fast, could control lanes and felt really good up front. So we were just trying to keep ourselves up front by short-pitting there, and it didn\u2019t work out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notes: Sanchez led 32 laps to Aric Almirola\u2019s 48 and Creed\u2019s 37… The nine cautions put the race under yellow for 58 laps\u2026 Mayer was the only non-rookie to finish in the top five\u2026 Love, Almirola, Daniel Dye, Kyle Sieg and Jeremy Clements finished sixth through 10th, respectively\u2026 Austin Hill, trying for his fourth straight win at EchoPark Speedway, lost six laps early with fuel pickup issues and finished 26th.<\/p>\n

Interview:<\/h3>\n

NXS Race Winner Nick Sanchez (No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet) –<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Focused Health 250<\/b><\/p>\n

EchoPark Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Hampton, Georgia<\/b><\/p>\n

Friday, June 27, 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (11)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                2. (24)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                3. (3)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 163.<\/p>\n

                4. (6)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                5. (7)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 163.<\/p>\n

                6. (5)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                7. (10)  Aric Almirola, Toyota, 163.<\/p>\n

                8. (22)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                9. (21)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 163.<\/p>\n

                10. (26)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                11. (29)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 163.<\/p>\n

                12. (19)  Leland Honeyman, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                13. (9)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 163.<\/p>\n

                14. (4)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 163.<\/p>\n

                15. (33)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                16. (27)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                17. (32)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                18. (34)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                19. (17)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                20. (37)  Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                21. (28)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                22. (15)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                23. (36)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                24. (35)  Nick Leitz, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                25. (31)  Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 163.<\/p>\n

                26. (2)  Austin Hill, Chevrolet, 158.<\/p>\n

                27. (38)  Mason Maggio, Ford, 153.<\/p>\n

                28. (8)  CJ McLaughlin, Chevrolet, Accident, 138.<\/p>\n

                29. (25)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, Accident, 53.<\/p>\n

                30. (13)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, DVP, 46.<\/p>\n

                31. (16)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, Accident, 42.<\/p>\n

                32. (1)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, Accident, 41.<\/p>\n

                33. (14)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, Accident, 40.<\/p>\n

                34. (23)  Katherine Legge(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 40.<\/p>\n

                35. (20)  Patrick Staropoli, Toyota, Accident, 40.<\/p>\n

                36. (12)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, Accident, 4.<\/p>\n

                37. (18)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, Accident, 3.<\/p>\n

                38. (30)  Josh Williams, Chevrolet, Accident, 3.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  96.402 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 36 Mins, 14 Secs. Margin of Victory:  .104 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  9 for 58 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  12 among 9 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   S. Creed 1-37;S. Mayer 38-40;T. Gray # 41-50;C. Zilisch # 51-82;C. Kvapil # 83-85;B. Jones 86-90;T. Gray # 91-94;A. Almirola 95-142;N. Sanchez # 143-145;J. Love 146-147;N. Sanchez # 148-156;J. Love 157;N. Sanchez # 158-163.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Aric Almirola 1 time for 48 laps; Sheldon Creed 1 time for 37 laps; Connor Zilisch # 1 time for 32 laps; Nick Sanchez # 3 times for 18 laps; Taylor Gray # 2 times for 14 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 5 laps; Sam Mayer 1 time for 3 laps; Carson Kvapil # 1 time for 3 laps; Jesse Love 2 times for 3 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,41,10,48,26,88,44,70,1,99<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 20,1,2,99,44,26,48,28,31,71<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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 <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service  HAMPTON, Ga. \u2013 Nick Sanchez charged to the front after a restart with seven laps left in Friday night\u2019s Focused Health 250 and held off fellow Sunoco rookie Carson Kvapil to secure his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory. Sanchez, who rallied from a spin through the frontstretch grass […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":53083,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[52,1107,16,181,902],"class_list":["post-53100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-atlanta-motor-speedway","tag-echopark-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series","tag-nick-sanchez"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2222553157-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-dOs","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53100"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53105,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53100\/revisions\/53105"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}