Nick Sanchez enters the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs with Big Machine Racing, aiming to make a mark as the postseason kicks off Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. With the Nick Sanchez Xfinity Series Playoffs campaign gaining momentum, Sanchez hopes to build on his recent performance and challenge established favorites in what has been a fiercely contested season.
Sanchez Starts Playoff Run as Underdog with Big Machine Racing
Despite widespread discussion around JR Motorsports‘ dominance in 2025, especially with Connor Zilisch’s impressive nine-win tally, Nick Sanchez and the Big Machine Racing team are quietly positioned for a possible upset. Entering the first playoff race at Bristol as the seventh seed and sitting just one point above the elimination line, Sanchez carries momentum from his breakthrough win at EchoPark Speedway earlier this year, where he drove the No. 48 chevrolet/”>Chevrolet to his inaugural Xfinity Series victory.
While Big Machine Racing has yet to reach the consistency and results of JR Motorsports, particularly the No. 88 team led by Zilisch, Sanchez recognizes the challenge ahead yet sees an opportunity to be a contender behind standout competitors Justin Allgaier and Zilisch. During the Xfinity Series Playoffs Media Day, Sanchez praised Zilisch, saying,
“What Connor is doing is insane, and rightfully so, he deserves the praise he’s getting,”
and added,
“But I feel like there’s a world where we could be the third fastest race car in the playoffs behind the 7 (Justin Allgaier) and the 88 (Zilisch). Like at Stage 1 after Gateway, I know it’s just one race. That’s where we were. And I feel like we’ve qualified very well. We’ve had raw pace, and that’s something that’s very hard to get.”
—Nick Sanchez, Driver
Qualifying Pace and Race Execution Remain Crucial
Sanchez’s qualifying speed has been a highlight, with the No. 48 starting on the front row in three of the last seven events at venues like Dover, Indianapolis, and Gateway. However, disappointing results, including finishes outside the top 30 in those races, underline the need for better race execution as the playoffs intensify and elimination looms.
Acknowledging the team’s technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, Sanchez believes Big Machine has demonstrated greater raw speed than its partners, including Austin Hill and Jesse Love. Still, he stresses the need for consistent performance throughout each race.
“I think it’s just having good, tough, sometimes tough and hard conversations with the team and identifying where we could be better, right?”
Sanchez said.
“Because like I said, the pace is there, but qualifying and just merely being fast is one thing, but executing throughout the whole race is another. And there’s areas where I could improve. There’s areas where the team can improve. I think we’re having those conversations now and trying to rectify those problems for the playoffs. And I think we definitely can.”
—Nick Sanchez, Driver
Strengths on Road Courses Offer Playoff Advantage
Preparation for the opening race in Thunder Valley includes focusing on improvements, while leveraging existing strengths. Road courses stand out as a major asset, especially with the Round of 12 cutoff event taking place at the Charlotte Roval. Last year, Big Machine Racing nearly advanced further in the playoffs with Parker Kligerman until a late caution at the Roval dashed their hopes during overtime, allowing Sam Mayer to seize victory.
For Sanchez, recent form on road courses has been impressive with three consecutive top-five performances at Chicago, Sonoma, and Portland. The Miami native does not feel his team is in a must-win position at this stage, saying,
“Outside of the top two in points, everyone has one win,”
and continued,
“I know Austin has three, but he lost all his points. So in that regard, we’re not really overcoming a huge deficit in the playoff reset. You know, I’m plus one, I think, seventh seed, and I’m 10 points out of third seed. So everyone’s really close, right? You could change, you could swing it in the stage. So in that regard, I don’t feel like there’s many must-wins ahead of me.”
—Nick Sanchez, Driver
Upcoming Challenges on Superspeedways and Short Tracks
If Sanchez advances to the Round of 8, he will encounter Talladega, a venue that suits his strengths and where he previously secured his first Xfinity Series triumph on a drafting track in Georgia. Martinsville follows as the final race to determine Championship 4 participants; Sanchez managed a strong seventh-place result there in 2022 while running only part-time.
The unpredictable nature of Martinsville, highlighted by the chaotic spring race, means that simply surviving and finishing near the front could be enough for Sanchez to advance if the team meets its potential during the high-pressure postseason stretch.
Sanchez Aims for Consistent Performance and Deep Playoff Push
With the playoff field tightly packed on points, Sanchez is focused on maximizing stage finishes and keeping pace with top seeds.
“I need to be top three or top five in every stage of the playoffs and finish there,”
Sanchez stated.
“If I do that, I think it’s good enough to get to Phoenix. Obviously, the win and you’re in changes things a little differently, but I feel like everyone’s really close in points. So you just really got to beat your competitors. And I know the 88 (Zilisch) and the 7 (Allgaier) are in a different points situation than everyone else. So I think the rest of the spots are pretty wide open.”
—Nick Sanchez, Driver
The 2025 Xfinity Series Playoffs open the door for emerging teams and drivers like Sanchez to capitalize on shifting fortunes and intense competition. As Big Machine Racing works to address weaknesses and rely on strengths such as qualifying pace and road course prowess, the team will be counting on steady, composed performances to progress through each round, with the goal of a breakthrough run that could disrupt the expected order.
