Sanchez hits out at Rockingham fuel saving calls after wreck

Nick Sanchez showed impressive performance at the Rockingham Xfinity race this weekend, with the driver aiming to finish his campaign on the podium. But instead, his Saturday ended in disappointment as the rookie driver was involved in a wreck towards the end of the race.

Sanchez began on the first row alongside Parker Retzlaff but was quickly ahead, leading from Turn one of the first lap. The Big Machine Racing driver led the first 44 laps with a controlling pace.

Talking to the media after being released from the infield care center, he said:

"Obviously I led the first good portion of the race and stayed out for stage points," he said. "It's just really hard to pass here. I mean, do I think I had the fastest car? No. I thought I had a fifth or sixth-place car at the end. It's just really hard to pass, and you really need a tyre or something like that to make anything happen."

After a battle with Jesse Love where the Richard Childress Racing driver pushed forward, Sanchez was able to regain the lead and secure the Stage 1 win.

Nick Sanchez, Big Machine Racing

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

With strong strategy, the driver was expected to be finishing well.

"Everyone was stretching it on fuel, and obviously we were the first car on two tires. We were good to go on fuel. We were really in a good position to get a top three or maybe even - I don’t know - a win. But yeah, really got it taken away, which is, you know, super unfortunate. Frustrating. Not good."

Sanchez was clearly frustrated as his race came to an end just 16 laps from the finish line, but more so with the behaviour of drivers trying to conserve fuel. 

"Obviously they weren't even close to making it. So I don't know why you put yourself in that position to tear cars up. But I'm not the crew chief - I don't make the calls. I'm proud of my team, and I think we were in the right position at the right time. It's, you know, really unfortunate."

He retired from the race in a disappointing 32nd place.