Nick Sanchez and Sammy Smith Have Beef After Portland!
Portland has always been one of America’s wildest tracks, so it’s no shock that there was beef after the Xfinity race this Saturday. And absolutely no shock who it’s between either. Sammy Smith and Nick Sanchez have proven to be two of the most aggressive drivers in the series, so beef between the two was almost inevitable!
Before the Race!
Both have had their moments proving how willing and ready they are to go for the win or to keep their position. Smith infamously sparked a whole lot of anger at Martinsville when he spun Taylor Gray out of his first career win, only for Smith to finish 10th. This sparked beef with the Toyota development driver. Something that sparked so much outrage, Xfinity had a drivers-only meeting the next week, where Justin Allgaier and Austin Hill, of all people, had to teach the kids how to drive more respectfully. Or in ARCA, when he did a burnout right in front of Jesse Love, who was showing his anger after moving him out of the way to win in Toledo.
While not as publicized or discussed nearly as much, Sanchez has proven he’s willing to ruffle some feathers even after the meeting if it means having the best possible race he could. He was one of the beef kings during his short time in trucks. Fighting both Crafton after Talladega and Friesen after Bristol, responding to Nick Sanchez after he spun him out, and going for an aggressive move.
What Caused the Beef In Portland?
At Portland, the two aggressive and ambitious young drivers came together when, on an overtime restart, Sanchez was determined to get the best possible finish for his mid-pack team. Made it 4 wide into turn 1, locking up and having no choice but to spin out the iconic Junior 8. For Sanchez, the move paid off as he finished 3rd, but for Smith, from a potential top 5 finish, he finished 22nd. So, no wonder Smith was so mad at the Big Machine Racing driver and confronted him on pit road.
The Confrontation and Aftermath!
While this time it wouldn’t come to blows, which I’m sure Sanchez is very thankful for, it wasn’t calm either. Smith was yelling at him the whole time, while the driver of the 48 stayed calm and smiling the whole time. Even as Smith got to pointing at him. He walked away still greatly upset, while Sanchez looked back at him, one eyebrow raised. Of course, it’s not a beef in NASCAR without insults being exchanged, and Sanchez was very happy to do that after he got yelled at.
He was all too eager to point out that he can dish it out but can’t take it. Even saying, “I’m not here for hypocrites. I really don’t care,” Sanchez pointed out how he does try to race clean, even losing a bunch of spots because he tried to avoid a wreck on the last restart. Probably why he was so much more aggressive on this restart as well. Plus, he said that Sammy Smith locked up also, like he did, and was missing the corner too. Smith didn’t have anything to say, at least as far as I can tell, leaving the beef’s insult game one-sided.
Looking To the Future
The playoffs are two races away, and both Sammy Smith and Nick Sanchez have clinched their way in with a win apiece. While a championship looks unlikely for both due to Sanchez having a lower-budgeted ride and Smith not having quite the same consistency and decision-making as his fellow JRM teammate, Allgaier, and the pure speed and ability to get hot like his other fellow JRM teammate, Connor Zilisch. Although both have shown talent this season, they will be hoping to use that to go far this year.
