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Former NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Opens up on Abrupt Exit From Team

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - OCTOBER 25: Nick Sanchez, driver of the #48 Borchetta Bourbon Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2025 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images

Kauy Ostlien

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What’s Happening?

Following his surprise announcement that he will not return to Big Machine Racing, former NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie Nick Sanchez opened up about his exit from the team during a recent interview.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series silly season wheel kept turning this week when 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year Candidate Nick Sanchez announced he would not return to Big Machine Racing’s No. 48 in 2026.

This move was surprising, as Sanchez was coming off a year in which he was just one of three rookies from a stacked class to win a race. Furthermore, he had previously been reported to return to the team, suggesting this move was not the team’s initial plan for the coming season.

During an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio earlier week, Sanchez explained that fans weren’t the only ones surprised by this announcement, calling the news “quite shocking” when he found out this past Saturday.

“I got the call Saturday and released it yesterday [Monday],” Sanchez said. “So definitely quite shocking, especially in December given the season that we had.”

Though he did not give a direct reason for his abrupt departure from the team, the 24-year-old pointed to his social media post from Monday, which said it was “strictly business” and that fans “could only guess what that means from a financial standpoint.”

Sanchez then opened this door a little bit more, saying:

“Look, the business revolves around the finances of race teams and, obviously, this team was a little different in that regard, the past couple years. But it sounds like something may have changed in a financial way that affected the way we did business this coming year in 2026. So I can only assume those are the reasons, at least that’s what I was told.” — Nick Sanchez

What Sanchez is perhaps referring to in saying “this team was a little different” is perhaps due to the in-house sponsorship brought by owner and long-time record executive Scott Borchetta.

Though the team has yet to announce a driver for the coming season, much like Sanchez, this transition comes late during Silly Season, with plans for several big names and seats already set for the coming season.

Nonetheless, the multi-time NASCAR National Series winner is keeping his door open to opportunities, with Sanchez suggesting he is open to a return to the Truck Series should the opportunity come his way.

“Obviously, at this stage in the game, you can’t be picky. I’m certainly not, and I’m a driver who likes to win,” Sanchez said. “So I know whatever I get in, I want to see a future and a path to do that, right? I don’t want to be there to be there.”

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

by Bryan Aguiar

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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