Sanchez Secures First Xfinity Series Win at Focused Health 250
Miami’s Nick Sanchez clinched his inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series victory on Friday night at EchoPark Speedway, powering past fellow rookie Carson Kvapil after a late-race restart. The race concluded shortly after midnight, following an hour-long weather delay.
Sanchez, who had previously spun through the frontstretch grass on lap 68, lost the lead to Jesse Love when the caution flag waved with just seven laps remaining. However, Sanchez quickly reclaimed his position on the next lap and expertly fended off Kvapil for the final laps, solidifying his spot in the upcoming Xfinity Series Playoffs.
“It’s a weight lifted off my shoulders, that’s for sure,” Sanchez said, reflecting on his victory.
Kvapil, who started at the rear due to unapproved adjustments on his JR Motorsports Chevrolet, ran closely behind Sanchez but was unable to mount a successful challenge. "To be that close really does sting," Kvapil acknowledged. “I didn’t feel like we had enough cars nose-to-tail.”
Third-place finisher Sam Mayer, along with Connor Zilisch and Taylor Gray, closely trailed the leaders in the closing laps. Mayer was the only non-rookie in the top five.
The race experienced multiple disruptions, including a significant wreck involving ten cars just after a restart on lap 41, when Sanchez made contact with Love’s Chevrolet, triggering a chain reaction. This incident claimed several contenders, including series leader Justin Allgaier, who finished 31st, and Sheldon Creed, who was left frustrated with a 32nd-place result after attempting a strategic short pit that backfired.
“Just 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’t work out,” Creed lamented.
In total, the race featured nine cautions, leading to a total of 58 laps under yellow. Sanchez led 32 laps in contrast to Aric Almirola’s 48 and Creed’s 37.
Top 10 Finishers:
- Nick Sanchez
- Carson Kvapil
- Sam Mayer
- Connor Zilisch
- Taylor Gray
- Jesse Love
- Aric Almirola
- Daniel Dye
- Kyle Sieg
- Jeremy Clements
Sanchez’s success marks a crucial milestone in his developing career as he shifts focus to securing further achievements in the Xfinity Series.
