AM Racing returns to action for the GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, continuing their fourth full-schedule season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. With drivers Nick Sanchez and Daniel Dye, the organization aims to improve its early-season momentum and strengthen its presence in one of the series’ premier events, making the AM Racing NASCAR Series Preview especially relevant for fans and followers.
Sanchez Embarks on Key Debut Season with AM Racing
Nick Sanchez will make his highly anticipated debut with AM Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, taking the wheel of the No. 25 Ford Mustang after previously driving for Big Machine Racing. At 25 and based out of Miami, Sanchez enters 2026 following a rookie campaign that marked him as one of the sport’s rising talents. AM Racing secured Sanchez after a February announcement, assigning him to compete in all 33 races this season, signaling their commitment to building around youthful, proven potential.
Sanchez brings considerable experience, having logged 44 career starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, including one victory, eight top-five results, and 14 top-10 finishes. His breakthrough series win came at EchoPark Speedway in a dramatic battle against fellow rookie Carson Kvapil, securing the checkered flag by just over a tenth of a second. Alongside this, he boasts a rich background with 47 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts and 60 ARCA Menards Series appearances.
Partnering for Performance: Paynuity’s Role with Sanchez
The partnership with Paynuity continues this weekend at Phoenix, where the financial technology provider serves as the title partner for the No. 25 Ford Mustang. Paynuity offers a global payments ecosystem, supplying streamlined banking and transaction processing services trusted by banks and merchants worldwide. With advanced digital transaction capabilities and links to over 58 payment networks, Paynuity’s support aims to enhance the team’s competitiveness both on and off the track.
Track Record at Phoenix: Sanchez’s Solid Foundation
Sanchez is no stranger to Phoenix Raceway’s unique one-mile oval. Saturday night’s event will be his fifth start at this iconic venue, with his best finish a 10th-place result after starting 7th in the 2025 edition of the track’s spring race. He holds an average finish of 15.8 at Phoenix and has consistently placed within the top 15. His overall strength at challenging venues, including prior top-five and top-10 results in both the NASCAR and ARCA series, underscores his adaptability and determination.
AM Racing’s Phoenix History and Recent Momentum
This weekend marks AM Racing’s seventh and eighth entries in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Phoenix Raceway. Their track record features a recent 11th-place effort by Harrison Burton, with an organizational best qualifying performance of 12th. The team averages an 18.5 finishing position at this track, with several top-20 outings delivered by drivers like Brett Moffitt, Dylan Lupton, and Burton himself. Across intermediate tracks between 1.0 and 2.0 miles, AM Racing has gathered two top-fives and nine top-10s in 46 series starts, with an average finish just below 19th.
Recent Road Course Recap: Learning Experiences at Circuit of the Americas
Coming into Phoenix, the AM Racing squad reflects on lessons from the previous week’s race at Circuit of the Americas. After an early incident during practice, the team rebounded to qualify 20th—their highest starting spot of the season so far. Utilizing smart pit strategy, Sanchez reached the top-10 at the second stage, but a spin forced him to recover lost ground. Despite a late-race gamble on track position during a caution, tire grip became an issue, and the team finished 25th. The setback provided valuable information as the team shifts focus to the oval at Phoenix.
“Our AM Racing team has been working hard to keep building momentum early in the season, and I’m looking forward to getting our No. 25 Paynuity Ford Mustang out there and seeing what we can do on Saturday night.”
– Nick Sanchez, Driver
“The track changes a lot throughout a run, so staying disciplined, hitting your marks and keeping up with the adjustments throughout the race are key. If we can execute all night, I think our No. 25 Paynuity Ford Mustang will have a solid shot.”
– Nick Sanchez, Driver
“I’m proud of the effort from everyone at AM Racing and we’ll take what we learned there and apply it going into Phoenix.”
– Nick Sanchez, Driver
“Our goal now is to keep building on that momentum, stay consistent each week and put ourselves in position to contend for more top finishes as the season progresses.”
– Nick Sanchez, Driver
Dye Takes the Wheel of Second AM Racing Entry
AM Racing expands its involvement at Phoenix with Daniel Dye driving the No. 52 Ford Mustang as part of a part-time effort. This marks the fourth time in team history they have fielded a second car in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Dye, 22 and hailing from DeLand, Florida, joined AM Racing following a full season with Kaulig Racing, notching eight top-10 results last year, including a pair of seventh-place finishes. He remains active in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with the No. 10 entry for Kaulig Racing.
Champion Container and the Drive for a Cause
Champion Container returns as the primary sponsor for Dye at Phoenix, furthering a collaboration focused on both competition and community impact. The company, a prominent Northeast-based packaging distributor since 1968, underpins the “Race to Stop Suicide” initiative—an effort championed by Dye to raise awareness around suicide prevention and mental health. With Champion Container’s backing, this campaign has grown from a local project into a nationally recognized movement, leveraging motorsports visibility to extend its mission far beyond the track.
Dye’s Experience at Phoenix and Career Stats
Dye enters the GOVX 200 ready for his fourth O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Phoenix, having achieved a best finish of 17th in last year’s championship race for Kaulig Racing. He has posted two top-20s in his three prior Phoenix starts, averaging a 21.3 finish at the track. In the broader series, Dye has made 46 career starts, recorded eight top-10s, and reached as high as 20th in championship points. His resume also features 49 Truck Series starts and numerous ARCA Menards Series races, as well as recognition as a Comcast Award honoree.
Dye Shares Perspective and Goals for Phoenix
Phoenix is a place where track position means a lot, so if we can qualify well, stay disciplined throughout the race and make the right adjustments, I think our AM Racing No. 52 Champion Container team can put together a solid finish.
– Daniel Dye, Driver
AM Racing’s Continued Journey in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
AM Racing, with its roots in Statesville, North Carolina, and a team philosophy focused on faith, honesty, and calculated performance, is now in its 11th year of racing. After its establishment in 2015, the organization competes across various national and developmental series within NASCAR. Their steady improvement at venues such as Phoenix and sustained partnership with sponsors like Paynuity and Champion Container position them well for ongoing progress through the 2026 season.
Crew Leadership and Team Dynamics
Guiding the two-car effort at Phoenix, Edward “Dewey” Townsend assumes crew chief duties on the No. 25 Ford Mustang for his first Phoenix NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. Townsend enters his fourth career Series outing as a crew chief, already holding one top-five and one top-10 finish this season. Meanwhile, longtime series veteran Matt Lucas leads the No. 52 car and brings experience from 116 prior O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts, including two victories and over 40 top-10 finishes, giving both drivers a strong strategic foundation for race day.
Season Outlook and Community Support
With just under 10 percent of the 2026 season in the books, both Sanchez and Dye, along with the AM Racing crew, have expressed gratitude to their array of support partners. Companies including AIRBOX Air Purifier, Mechanix Wear, and Volt Batteries, as well as Champion Container and Paynuity, help fuel the team’s pursuit of competitive results. The team’s commitment to performance, consistency, and broader initiatives like “Race to Stop Suicide” contributes to its unique place in the NASCAR community.
What Lies Ahead: Race Details and Next Steps
The GOVX 200 serves as the fourth event on the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series calendar, covering 200 laps (200 miles) at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The race is scheduled to begin just after 5:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday, with coverage available on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The performance of AM Racing and its drivers in this challenging early-season contest will help set the tone for the upcoming series races, as Nick Sanchez seeks a strong showing in his debut campaign and Daniel Dye strives to make progress in the team’s second entry.
This AM Racing NASCAR Series Preview demonstrates the organization’s continued evolution and its drivers’ readiness for the unique demands of Phoenix, where track position, discipline, and strategic adjustments often decide results. The spotlight on partnerships with Paynuity and Champion Container—as well as broader causes—reflects the multifaceted commitment that defines the team and its bid for top-tier results throughout the year.
