As Motorsport.com reports, the NASCAR grid is getting a serious injection of proven talent for the 2027 season. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has officially announced that Nick Sanchez will pilot their No. 18 machine for a full-time run at the NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series championship.
It is a massive return to a permanent, high-level home for a driver who spent this past year bouncing between part-time rides. After losing his full-time seat in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series with Big Machine Racing, Sanchez weathered a chaotic stretch that saw his early-year stint with AM Racing cut short by their abrupt shutdown. Since then, he has kept sharp by steering entries for the Peterson Racing Group in various NOAPS races, alongside four Truck starts with Spire Motorsports.
The raw speed and ability he brings to our group is going to elevate the entire operation,
Now, a proper full-time campaign awaits.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to join MHR and compete full time again at a high level,” Sanchez said, reflecting on the move. “It was a challenge to only run a limited schedule this last year, so I have a ton of energy and excitement for what’s ahead of us in February.”
The stats behind the machine speak for themselves. Sanchez brings a stellar resume boasting 51 previous starts in the Truck Series, yielding two wins, 14 top fives, 27 top tens, and eight poles. That includes a stellar 2024 campaign featuring victories at Daytona and Charlotte on the way to fifth in the final standings. Add in 59 starts and a win at Atlanta in 2025 within the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and you have a driver who clearly knows how to wrestle these beasts to the front.
Team owner Bill McAnally is thrilled to welcome the proven winner into the fold. “The raw speed and ability he brings to our group is going to elevate the entire operation,” McAnally noted. With a hungry driver returning to a full-time schedule and a team ready to chase glory, February cannot arrive soon enough.
