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

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.”

pic.twitter.com/Pq4j04A8K2

— Nicholas Sanchez (@Nicksanchez080) December 8, 2025

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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