Nick Sanchez to drive McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s No. 18 truck in 2027

NXTbets Pro | Published On: November 12, 2026

Sanchez joins lineup

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has tapped Nick Sanchez to drive the No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado full time in the NASCAR Truck Series, giving the 25-year-old Miami native a clear path back into a full-season ride. He will join Daniel Hemric and Christian Eckes in the team’s full-time driver lineup and take over the truck that Tyler Ankrum will vacate after the season. For Sanchez, the move closes a year of patchwork opportunities and puts him in a stable seat. He called it a “tremendous opportunity,” and said the chance gives him a shot to compete full time again while chasing what would be his third playoff appearance. The fit matters for both sides. Sanchez gets a stable home after building his 2026 campaign around pieced-together races, and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing adds a driver who has already shown he can win. The team made the move with a straightforward goal in mind, adding another proven piece to its lineup as it continues to push toward its first series title.

Sanchez résumé

Sanchez brings more than potential to the No. 18. He already owns two career Truck Series victories, and both came in 2024 at Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Those wins matter because they showed he can finish races at two of the circuit’s most recognizable tracks. His overall body of work is deeper than two trophies. In 51 career Truck Series starts, Sanchez has collected 14 top-five finishes, 27 top-10 finishes and eight poles. That combination points to a driver who has flashed speed in qualifying and translated it into results on race day. He also finished fifth in the 2024 championship standings, a strong marker for a young driver still building his résumé. The numbers line up with the move McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has made. The team is not signing a project. It is bringing in a driver who has already shown that he can run up front, earn track position and turn strong weekends into meaningful points. That background gives the organization another reliable option as it shapes its future roster.

McAnally-Hilgemann outlook

Bill McAnally said Sanchez’s speed and winning background should strengthen the organization, and that expectation fits the profile of the driver and the team alike. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing wants its first series title, so every addition carries weight. Sanchez gives the team another contender with proven race-winning ability and playoff experience. The timing gives Sanchez a fresh start at a point in his career when he needs one. He is leaving a season built on scattered chances and moving into a full-time role that should let him focus on one truck, one team and one championship chase. He will begin that stretch at Daytona. Sanchez has shown he can win, qualify well and finish races. Now he gets the chance to do it every week for a team that wants the same thing, a sustained run toward a title.