On Oct. 23, 2021, Nick Sanchez captured his first ARCA Menards Series victory at Kansas Speedway. Three-hundred and fifty days later, on Oct. 8, 2022, the Miami, Fla., native finished sixth at Toledo Speedway to capture his first ARCA championship.
Sanchez finished the 2022 ARCA season finale as the last driver on the lead lap, but once Daniel Dye suffered mechanical woes, Sanchez piloted his No. 2 Chevrolet cautiously, not wanting to jeopardize the title.
“Throughout all 19 races, to be here at the end, that’s what you work for, and we’ve had pressure moments,” Sanchez told Frontstretch at a media event during the Toledo race weekend. “We’d like to have more wins, but at the end of the day, the championship has been my main goal.”
Sanchez earned the first main ARCA series championship for Rev Racing, as it also won the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East – now ARCA Menards Series East – championship with Kyle Larson.
Hear from the champion.@Nicksanchez080 | @RevRacin pic.twitter.com/v7haJsewcQ
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) October 8, 2022
Sanchez earned the ARCA title on the strength of three victories at Talladega Superspeedway, Kansas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway.
The improvement from his 2021 season, in which he competed in 18 of the 20 ARCA events, is due to his experience and continual confidence in his team.
“I have more seat time,” Sanchez added. “Going to these tracks for the second or third time, you know what you want, and you know what you need. If you don’t have that, you’re not going to be very happy. I’ve gotten more confident in myself and what direction and feel I’m looking forward in the car.
“You know what to expect. I’ve driven at Toledo a lot [and] many tracks many times so you know what to expect, what to look for and what I need so that’s been a huge difference.”
Sanchez only led 116 laps in the 2022 campaign, but he finished with three victories, nine top fives and 16 top 10s. More importantly, Sanchez had no DNFs and completed all but 20 laps during the season.
At 21 years old, Sanchez is incredibly kind, even when he did not have the fastest racecar. After unhappily climbing out of his No. 2 after practice at Berlin Raceway earlier in the season, his crew chief Matt Bucher asked about the car’s performance. Sanchez only answered, “We need to go faster.”
When the checkered flag flew that night in Marne, Michigan, Sanchez finished in sixth place,…
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