Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Sanchez wins Baptist Health 200 pole award at Homestead-Miami

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated 10/20/23

How about this for bouncing back? Nick Sanchez wins the pole award in the first race back since his fight with Matt Crafton. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie has yet another pole award to his name after Homestead qualifying.

While Nick Sanchez said some things in the heat of the moment he shouldn’t have to Crafton, this is the best way to get back at him. When he was a little more calm after that Talladega race, Sanchez said he was going to go out and win the Baptist Health 200, that was his plan.

This is the fifth pole award this season for Sanchez who leads the Truck Series in that stat. He has now won the pole at Daytona, Texas, Nashville, Pocono, and now at his home track, Homestead-Miami this season.

All smiles heading into Saturday! @Nicksanchez080 wins the #CometicGasket Pole for tomorrow's race at @HomesteadMiami! pic.twitter.com/4Vm7mcfUg8
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) October 20, 2023

Nick Sanchez is still in the hunt for the Truck Series championship. He will try to make his way into the Championship 4 with a win at Miami or with a very good race compared to the other drivers in the field. Carson Hocevar will start next to Sanchez on the frontrow, it won’t be an easy task.

Just to give you an idea of how Matt Crafton, the three-time champion did, he was P20 in qualifying. If Sanchez plays his cards right, he won’t even have to look at Crafton in his rearview mirror. Last year Crafton was P20 in qualifying and finished P8.

Nick Sanchez and Matt Crafton fight was wild

That Talladega fight was nasty. I don’t know if we are going to ever know 100% what happened. However, seeing Crafton wait about an hour, change into street clothes, and then confront the rookie – it isn’t great.

Nick Sanchez is doing what he should do. Go out, perform your best, compete for a championship. With a few weeks between then and now, I’m sure these drivers have put this largely behind them. The season is almost over, let’s get to the offseason without any more literal bloodshed.

Zane Smith has to win to advance. Ty Majeski has a long road ahead if he wants to make the Championship 4. Good news for Sanchez, he’s in that 4th spot right now. Bad news? The three drivers ahead of him all have three wins. The driver behind him, Grant Enfinger, has three wins. Sanchez doesn’t have any.

Will the Baptist Health 200 be the race the Miami-born driver breaks through?

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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