Early in 2022, Rev Racing announced Nick Sanchez would return to its program for the fourth consecutive year, this time as a full-time driver in the ARCA Menards Series. The goal was to win a series championship.
Sanchez, the 21-year-old from Miami, Fla., accomplished exactly that and became the 2022 ARCA Menards Series champion. In doing so, he became the first Rev Racing driver to capture a NASCAR or ARCA touring series championship since Kyle Larson won the East Series title in 2012.
Sanchez claimed three victories throughout his first year driving full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, taking checkered flags at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Kansas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway.
Sanchez, who entered the ARCA Menards Series season finale at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway with just a two-point edge over GMS Racing’s Daniel Dye in the championship standings, secured the title with a seventh-place finish in the Shore Lunch 200. He ended the season with nine top fives and 16 top-10 finishes through 20 races.
Sanchez has been a participant of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program since he entered Rev Racing’s youth program in 2017. He scored a pair of top-10 finishes, including a pole at Virginia’s South Boston Speedway, in his first three East Series races in 2019.
The following year, Sanchez ran the full East Series schedule and finished third in the series standings. He spent 2021 running the majority of the ARCA Menards Series schedule before moving to a full-time slate this season.
In addition to his action in the ARCA Menards Series in 2022, Sanchez also made his debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He has made four starts so far this year with a best finish of 11th at Texas Motor Speedway.