NASCAR O'Reilly

Nick Sanchez released from Big Machine Racing in abrupt split

Sanchez called the surprising news 'unfortunate timing'

Nick DeGroot

Edited: Dec 8, 2025, 1:28 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Nick Sanchez, Big Machine Racing

Photo by: Chris Graythen - Getty Images

In a unexpected announcement on Monday morning, Nick Sanchez revealed that he will not return to the No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet in 2026.

"Over the weekend, I was informed hat I will not be driving the No. 48 for Big Machine Racing in 2026," Sanchez said in a statement. "I'm grateful to Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, everyone at Chevrolet and the whole team. I am proud of all we have accomplished this year including our win. Unfortunate timing and circumstances, but it's strictly business. When one door closes another one opens. Excited about what is ahead."

The news comes in the middle of the off-season with few rides still left unclaimed for the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity) Series season.

Nick Sanchez, Big Machine Racing

Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images

Sanchez had a decent year at Big Machine Racing, as the 24-year-old collected one win, seven top fives, and 12 top tens in his first season full-time in the series. He ended the year eleventh in the championship standings, and his victory at Atlanta was the team's first since Tyler Reddick won at Texas over three years ago.

It's unclear what the No. 48 intends to do for 2026, and of course, we have no indication regarding where Sanchez will land. He is also a winner in the NASCAR Truck Series with two victories in 2024, ending the NCTS season a strong fifth in the final standings. Sanchez also won the 2022 ARCA Menards Series title, and has four wins as an ARCA driver.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at the age of 39

Next article Lavar Scott secures full-time ride with Alpha Prime Racing

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

GT2 European: Maserati ends on a high note at Portimao, with titles for Hartling/Thilenius and Gialdini/Njor

Sponsored

Sponsored

Portimão

1 h

GT2 European: Maserati ends on a high note at Portimao, with titles for Hartling/Thilenius and Gialdini/Njor

Inside the competition building F1’s future engineering talent

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Inside the competition building F1’s future engineering talent

Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

9 h

Toyota clinches 2026 NASCAR Cup manufacturer championship early after dominant season

Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

9 h

Tyler Reddick really needed NASCAR Phoenix win for several reasons

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts