Nick Sanchez, driver of the #48 Big Machine Spiked Coolers Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Krista Jasso/Getty Images)
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Nick Sanchez will return to Big Machine Racing in 2026 for his sophomore campaign.
The Xfinity Series rookie qualified for the playoffs this year, and he confirmed to Frontstretch.com that he will be back for a second season with the No. 48 team.
“Oh yeah,” Sanchez said to Frontstretch after being asked of his return. “Unless they tell me otherwise. That’s our approach. It hasn’t even been a question. Just go race this year and go race next year.”
Sanchez took over the No. 48 car this year in place of Parker Kligerman, who stepped aside from full-time racing. Sanchez won his first career Xfinity Series race and earned the team’s second-ever win at EchoPark Speedway.
Big Machine Racing, owned by Scott Borchetta, formed in 2021 after the brand was sponsoring some part-time efforts in Nascar.
Borchetta has used Nascar to promote his numerous brands, such as Big Machine Vodka, Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers, Borchetta Bourbon, Big Machine Label Group and more.
2025 marks the third straight season the No. 48 team has qualified for the Xfinity Series playoffs.
However, Sanchez’s average finish of 17.7 is down compared to Kligerman’s 11.9 in 2024.
