Inspection Issues Keep Sanchez Out Of Kansas Qualifying

Nick Sanchez (James Gilbert/Getty Images for NASCAR photo)

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – On a day filled with inspection issues in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage, Nick Sanchez ended up with the toughest situation of anyone.

Sanchez, who won the Truck Series season opener back in February at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway, saw his No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado RST fail inspection three times at Kansas Speedway.

As such, Sanchez was not permitted to take a qualifying lap at the 1.5-mile oval and will start from the rear of the field in Saturday night’s Heart of America 200.

Sanchez’s woes were part of a morning that saw 32 of the 33 trucks in attendance fail inspection at least once, with eight trucks failing twice and losing their pit selection for the next event at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

The Floridian was the only driver whose truck failed inspection three times.

Despite the early issues, Sanchez was smiling on the grid after practice and believes his team will be “very competitive” by the time the pay window opens at the end of the 200-mile race.

“It’s just going to make the night more fun for me and my No. 2 Gainbridge Chevy crew,” said an upbeat Sanchez of not being able to qualify. “I guess it sucks, not being able to qualify and go for another pole, but sometimes I feel like you learn a little bit more [by] starting in the back and racing your way up through the field.

“I know that, at least from what I felt in practice, my truck is plenty fast … so it should make for a good night for us.”

Of note, the only truck to pass inspection on the first try was the No. 88 ThorSport Racing entry of three-time series champion Matt Crafton.

Sanchez will begin his quest for a Kansas Speedway victory will begin at 8 p.m. ET Saturday night, live on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

In two prior Kansas starts, both with Rev Racing, Sanchez finished sixth and eighth with 43 total laps led.