Nicholas Sanchez, or just Nick, is the first driver of Hispanic descent to come out of the Miami area — and NASCAR hopes he’s the first of many. For a 21-year-old (soon to be 22 in June), he’s off to a really good start in stock-car racing, capturing the ARCA Menards Series title last year, and already registering two top-10 finishes in six starts this year in the Craftsman Truck Series, including a runner-up effort at Atlanta.
But the stats aren’t the only thing Sanchez would want you to know, nor does he want anyone to get stuck only on the fact that he’s part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program.
His background is an interesting story though, nonetheless. His father was only eight years old when he was a part of the historic 1980 Mariel boatlift from Cuba, the event when dictator Fidel Castro opened the Cuban harbors and let boats come in from the United States to take relatives out of the crumbling country. Many of the Cuban refugees relocated to Miami.
Homestead-Miami Speedway — the present-day track NASCAR races on — was the home to some of the earliest driving experiences Sanchez had. He was 12 years old racing go-karts when things really got rolling. He has since moved to Charlotte, N.C., the epicenter of NASCAR — something many (if not most) young drivers do.
“If you go back even further, from the time that I first strapped into a go-kart at Homestead [Miami Speedway] at 12 years old, this was the goal,” Sanchez noted in an interview with Kickin’ the Tires. “We didn’t know what the timeline was at that point … of course, but we knew the goal.”
Rev Racing, an organization run by Max Siegel (former DEI brass), mostly gives chances to members of the Drive for Diversity Program mentioned above. Sanchez has driven all six races so far with Rev Racing/Kyle Busch Motorsports (the two teams have a partnership). He is slated to run all 23 races and compete for the 2023 championship.
RevRacing is the entity that brought him to the ARCA Menards Series (the overall series and also the East and West divisions). He has had a lot of success at that level, and last year he raced a partial schedule in the Xfinity Series with Big Machine Racing and B.J. McLeod Motorsports, notching a top 10 at Martinsville in the second to last race of 2022.
“I always knew that if everything worked out, getting to this level could potentially happen,” Sanchez told Kickin’ the Tires. “To see it all come together is the amazing part.
“My goal was always to get to Trucks or higher, but I always want to be in the best position to win races … and that’s what excites me about this opportunity with Rev Racing, is that I feel I’m in that kind of a position to be able to go out and perform. With that being said, though, it’s mind-boggling to actually be here now. It’s really wild.”
Kaulig Racing and Ram Trucks have unveiled a brand new paint scheme for Justin Haley ahead of the Craftsman Truck Series race at Echopark Speedway.
You can check out all of Ram’s 2026 paint Schemes on our article linked below
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Team, Alpha Prime Racing, recently announced that Jusan Hamilton will be the new President of the team and take over the leadership role previously held by co-owner Tommy Joe Martins, who served as the leader of Alpha Prime Racing for its entire seven-year existence, including its time as Martins Motorsports.
Hamilton spent years inside NASCAR, most recently as managing director of competition operations since 2022, even becoming the first Black race director of the Daytona 500 after first getting his foot in the door as an intern in 2012 and returning in 2016. But then, near the close of the 2025 season in September, NASCAR cut ties with him.
And now he is stepping into a role where he will be responsible for laying foundations, building systems that scale, molding leadership from the inside out, and setting the team on a path that lasts. Hamilton is clear about his vision, and his first steps will revolve around listening, getting everyone on the same page, and turning plans into action.
Breaking the news, Martins took to X and wrote, “My new role is to spot for @LavarScott and support @JusanHamilton during his transition. I’m 100% confident he’s the right person to lead @TeamAlphaPrime, and I know he’ll take it to another level. Racing takes total commitment. For me, it was time. Our team needs a new voice.”
Hamilton echoed Martins’ sentiment, posting, “Appreciative of the opportunity and excited to help build what’s next with Alpha Prime Racing,” on his official X handle.
He stressed that his first order of business is drawing clear lines around expectations and goals, while building a space where people can show up and deliver on the track, because strong teams do not grow by accident, and that work starts now. Moving from the rulebook side of the sport into the garage, Hamilton will have to make decisions that hit the stopwatch right away.
The 31-year-old has worn many hats within NASCAR. He oversaw the Drive for Diversity program, pit crew development, and pro iRacing divisions, all while serving as race director. He also played a hand in shaping the yearly schedule, including helping bring new venues into the fold as the sport stretched its legs.
The team first joined the NASCAR stage in 2014 with the Blue Jeans Go Green 200 race at Phoenix and now fields three cars in the Tier 2 Series, two full-time and one part-time. Still, they have often found themselves chasing the pack instead of becoming a threat to outfits like JR Motorsports.
And the leadership shift is expected to be a fork in the road, as the team will look to sharpen its edge and take a new course in the sport. With Hamilton stepping in, the hope is to tighten the bolts internally and open doors that may have stayed shut before.
Bringing more than a decade of senior leadership experience from NASCAR, including time as managing director for competition operations and race director, Hamilton will be seen as someone who can help move the team from scrappy contender to an outfit built to last.
Tommy Joe Martins himself pointed to Hamilton’s experience and mindset as the reasons he believes the handoff makes sense and could push the team up the ladder.
Having called races and handled competition calls, Hamilton knows the rulebook inside out, giving the team someone who can read between the lines when it comes to officiating and race flow. His background dealing with stakeholders at the top levels of NASCAR could potentially also bring new sponsors into the fold while keeping current partners close.
Given Hamilton’s past work with the Drive for Diversity program and pit crew development, he could play a big role in helping young talent like Lavar Scott find their place and grow within the system.
The three drivers currently associated with the team are: Brennan Poole, who has been behind the wheel of the No. 44 Chevy full-time for the past two seasons, wrapping up those years in P16 and P20. Alongside him, Lavar Scott will take the No. 45 Chevrolet full-time this season after two starts with the team last year at Dover and Gateway, finishing P28 and P19.
Co-owner Caesar Bacarella was to run part-time in the 2026 United Rentals 300 at Daytona, as announced in January. But after Anthony Alfredo failed to qualify in the No. 96 car, a late swap saw him strike a deal with Alpha Prime Racing to run the No. 4 entry, bumping Bacarella from the seat. Even so, Bacarella has quite some experience driving in the series, having made 36 starts in nine years, of which he has finished four in the top 10. And he might make a few starts going forward this season.
Looking ahead, Hamilton’s arrival could shape how the drivers and team build, as Alpha Prime Racing looks to steady the ship, find its rhythm, and make sure the next chapter lands on firmer ground.
How do you think this will affect Alpha Prime’s performance moving forward? Let us know your opinions on Discord or X, and don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
The 2026 Daytona 500 wasn’t just another crown jewel; it felt like a turning point. After lawsuits, format changes, broadcast criticism, and a long offseason full of tension, this race carried real weight. And when the checkered flag flew at Daytona International Speedway, the winners and losers went far beyond the finishing order.
From MJ embracing Jim France after months of legal tension, to questions about fuel saving, pack racing, and whether this superspeedway package needs a serious tweak, this race sparked conversations that could shape the entire 2026 season. There were clear steps forward, but also warning signs hiding in plain sight. We break down who really won, who didn’t, and why this Speedweeks might matter more than most people realize. Watch the full breakdown and tell me where you land.
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