NASCAR Drivers Crafton & Sanchez Fined 💰 For Bloody Post-Race Fight

Nick Sanchez vs Matt Crafton
BLOODY PUNCHES

Matt Crafton and Nick Sanchez will have to cough up some cash after their post-race brawl last week ... because the NASCAR drivers were fined thousands for the bloody altercation!

NASCAR made the announcement Tuesday, announcing Crafton, the ThorSport Racing driver, was fined $25k. Meanwhile, Sanchez, a rookie driver for Rev Racing, was hit with a $5k fine ... both for their roles in the epic scrap at Love’s RV Stop 25 at Talladega Superspeedway.

It seems the melee started after the drivers made contact with each other during the last lap of the race, a playoff event. Once the race finished, Crafton confronted Sanchez as he walked to the garage.

Witnesses say Crafton, 47, caught Sanchez, 22, by surprise, and the fight was on.

Sanchez ended up with a bloody face ... and he wasn't pleased, threatening Crafton for the punch, which some people have described as a cheap shot.

"You're f***ing dead," Sanchez yelled. "I'm gonna f***ing kill you!"

Sanchez -- the 2022 ARCA Menards Series champ -- suffered a broken nose ... which was treated at the track by medics.

NASCAR also suspended Sanchez's father from the last two races of the year for getting involved in the fight.

"I think if you look at our history with our drivers and how we handle these situations, a suspension was definitely considered," NASCAR VP Elton Sawyer said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

"We had long conversations about that yesterday with our group. There is where we landed."

J Balvin Feliz cumple, cariño Fiesta sorpresa para su novia Valentina Ferrer

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¡Sorpresa!

J Balvin sabe cómo pasarlo bien, y se aseguró de que su novia disfrutara del mismo modo en su cumpleaños, ¡por lo que le organizó una fiesta sorpresa de lujo!

El artista colombiano alquiló una villa enorme, de más de 7.000 pies cuadrados, en el paseo marítimo de Miami Beach para celebrar el cumpleaños número 30 de su novia, Valentina Ferrer este domingo, que tuvo cerca de 35 invitados, incluyendo a su familia.

Nos dicen sus padres, hermanos y otros miembros de la familia volaron desde Argentina para estar el gran día. Su hijo de 2 años, Río, también estuvo presente, pero no se quedó disfrutando hasta las tantas de la noche, como el resto de ellos.

La comida fue otro de los platos fuertes. J Balvin contrató a un chef colombiano que preparó un menú de carnes argentinas. También hubo un DJ, que estuvo marcando el ritmo durante toda la noche, pero sin hits de Jay Balvin, que se tomó la noche libre y no actuó.

¡Nos dicen que Valentina no tenía ni idea de la fiesta, por lo que fue un secreto súper bien guardado, sobre todo que su familia estuviera presente!

Para su información, este fue un fin de semana de torbellino para la pareja, quien también estuvo disfrutando de la Copa NASCAR Series en Tennessee el sábado, donde J lanzó su zapatilla en colaboración con Nike Jordan, antes de volar a Miami.

Antes de eso, habían disfrutado de una cita doble el jueves por la noche en Beverly Hills con Cher y Alexander Edwards, dos personas que según nos han dicho, pusieron fin a su relación. 👀

J Balvin Happy Birthday, Boo ... Throws Huge Surprise Party For Model GF

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BIRTHDAYS BY BALVIN

J Balvin knows how to have a good time ... and he made sure his model GF was doin' the same for her birthday, which is why he threw her a luxurious surprise party!

The Colombian artist rented out a massive villa -- over 7,000 square feet -- on the Miami Beach waterfront for his boo, Valentina Ferrer's, 30th bday Sunday night ... with about 35 people showing up to celebrate, including her family.

We're told he flew her parents, siblings and other family members out from Argentina for the big day -- their 2-year-old son, Rio, was also in attendance but likely didn't party as hard as the rest of them.

The food was another highlight ... J Balvin hired a private chef from Colombia who put together a spread of Argentinian meats to enjoy. There was also a DJ bumping beats throughout the night  -- and no, JB unfortunately took the night off and didn't perform.

We're told Valentina had no idea about the party, so it was a well-kept secret ... especially getting her whole fam to show up!

FYI, it was a whirlwind weekend for the couple ... they were enjoying the NASCAR Cup Series in Tennessee Saturday where J launched his shoe collab with Nike Jordan before jetting over to Miami.

We're told their weekend fun came after going on a double date Thursday night in Beverly Hills with Cher and Alexander Edwards ... 2 people whom we were told pulled the plug on their relationship. 👀

Kyle Larson NASCAR's Making Strides In Safety ... Thankful Preece Is OK

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THANKFUL HE'S OKAY
TMZSports.com

NASCAR star Kyle Larson tells TMZ Sports he's relieved to see Ryan Preece escape serious injury after Saturday's terrifying crash ... praising the organization for taking necessary steps over the years to improve driver safety.

Preece's No. 41 car flipped multiple times during an accident in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona last weekend ... leaving many shocked he was able to walk away from the scene.

Of course, superspeedway racing is the most dangerous in the circuit ... with cars reaching their limits at insane speeds.

Larson's wife, Katelyn, shared her hatred for the style of race on X shortly after the Preece crash ... and while Kyle said he wasn't aware of her post, he admitted superspeedway events can really get the nerves going.

"I'm not sure what she said, but I just know that we're all thankful that we were able to see Ryan get out of that car and walk away from that wreck," Kyle said. "That was a very scary accident."

"It's definitely a style of race in that it's really the only time I'm ever a little bit nervous in a race car. I have been caught up in a lot of big accidents at those style tracks."

Larson said NASCAR is doing a great job at taking the proper measures to keep all the drivers out of harm's way ... adding, "On the flip side of that, our sport has gotten so much safer in the last couple of decades that allows a guy to flip that violently to get out, walk away, go see his family at home is pretty remarkable."

"Our sport can always be safer, but it's come a long way and we're all thankful for that."

As for Preece, he posted after the accident ... vowing to return.

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SUPPORTING THE CHILDREN
TMZSports.com

We also spoke with Larson about a great cause ... helping raise $50,000 for the Phoenix Children's Hospital at the NASCAR Championship Ignition Luncheon earlier this week, and he said it's rewarding to use his platform to give back to the community.

"I'm excited to be a part of it," he said. "I'm a new resident here in Arizona, so good to be a part of the event, help raise money but also raise awareness to our sport and our playoffs that are starting soon."

NASCAR Driver Ryan Preece Escapes With His Life ... After INSANE Stock Car Crash

NASCAR speed demon Ryan Preece is lucky to be alive after his car wildly flipped over nearly a dozen times during a race in Florida.

Preece was zooming around the track in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs stock car race at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night when he ran into some serious trouble.

Check out the video ... with just six laps to go, Preece's car suddenly cuts across the track and goes airborne before tumbling over 10 times and coming to a stop in the infield.

A medical team responded, helping Preece out of his mangled car, which appeared to be on fire. Preece was placed on a stretcher and rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

It's not clear what caused the accident in the 16-car race, which was won by Chris Buescher. As a result of his loss, Preece was eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

But the good news is Preece seems to be OK. His rep posted a message on the social media platform "X," explaining that Preece was "awake and alert and obviously shaken," while still undergoing standard tests.

NASCAR's Noah Gragson Suspended Indefinitely After Liking George Floyd Meme

Noah Gragson's getting taken out of the driver's seat after liking a meme that mocked George Floyd -- and he's owning up to the fact that he screwed the pooch.

The race car driver -- who competes professionally for NASAR's Cup Series -- was suspended indefinitely Saturday by his stock car team, Legacy Motor Club, which announced he was being benched just a day before the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway ... in which Gragson was supposed to participate.

That ain't happening now -- Josh Berry is now taking his place. LMC denounced Gragson's social media activity by saying his actions "do not represent the values of our team."

As for Gragson himself, he's apologized ... writing, "I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media. I understand the severity of this situation. I love and appreciate everyone. I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple."

It's unclear when NG hit the like button for this Instagram meme, but it was pretty offensive. The image shows the live-action version of Sebastian the crab from 'The Little Mermaid,' with Floyd's face superimposed. A caption reads, "Under Da Knee, Under Da Knee."

Gragson's big in NASCAR ... he tends to place high up in the races he's been in of late.

Nascar Champion Jimmie Johnson First Remarks On Triple Murder-Suicide ... Devastated By Family Tragedy

Jimmie Johnson is speaking publicly for the first time about the apparent murder-suicide that claimed the lives of three family members.

The NASCAR driver posted a statement on Instagram Friday, saying he's devastated by the loss of his 11-year-old nephew Dalton and his wife Chandra's parents, Jack and Terry Lynn Janway. Jimmie also thanked well-wishers for their outpouring of love and support during his time of grief.

What's interesting is that Jimmie made a point of mentioning Terry in his heartfelt message, showing compassion for his in-law despite police naming her as the suspect in the fatal shootings of Dalton and Jack before turning the gun on herself.

As we reported ... police responded to the family's Oklahoma home in June after receiving a 911 call from a woman who said she saw someone with a gun.

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"SHOTS FIRED"

Cops found one person sprawled out dead in the hallway near the front door moments before a gunshot was heard elsewhere inside the house, where two more bodies were later discovered.

Johnson -- a 7-time NASCAR Cup champion -- tied the knot with Chandra in 2004 and they have two daughters together, Genevieve and Lydia.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Jimmie Johnson Body Cam Reveals Gunshot Heard Inside In-Law's Home ... As Cops Responded to Murder-Suicide

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"SHOTS FIRED"

Eerie police body cam footage has emerged from the response to the home of NASCAR superstar Jimmie Johnson's in-laws ... revealing his mother-in-law shot herself just as officers arrived.

In the video, obtained by TMZ, officers approach the home of Dr. Jack Janway and his wife, Terry Janway. Cops observe Jack through a window, deceased from a gunshot wound and covered with a blanket. They open the front door, announce their presence and another gunshot is heard from inside the home.

Cops say that shot was from Terry, who died by suicide. Her body was discovered on the couch. Terry also shot and killed their grandson, Dalton, whose body was found under a blanket in one of the home's bedrooms.

TMZ broke the story ... officers from the Muskogee Police Department in Oklahoma raced to the home June 26 after a female called to report someone with a gun.

Jimmie and his wife, Chandra, have yet to make a public statement about the tragic incident ... but Jimmie was scheduled to race in a NASCAR Cup event in Chicago just days later. He withdrew from the event.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

NASCAR Star Jimmie Johnson In-Laws Dead In Murder-Suicide

UPDATE

11:10 AM PT -- Jimmie Johnson's team, Legacy Motor Club, just announced Jimmie will not race this weekend after the tragedy involving his family, saying they "elected to withdraw the No. 84 Carvana Chevrolet from this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event in Chicago."

NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson's wife's parents and 11-year-old nephew died following a fatal shooting at their Oklahoma home on Monday ... and according to law enforcement, the tragedy is being investigated as a murder-suicide.

Muskogee Police tell TMZ Sports -- Chandra Janway's parents, Jack and Terry Janway, and nephew, Dalton Janway, were found dead shortly after 9 PM ... after receiving a 911 call from a woman who reported someone with a gun before hanging up the phone.

Cops say Terry is considered the suspect ... but the motive is unknown and currently under investigation. It's not clear if she's the one who made the 911 call.

Cops tell us they found a body laying in the hallway after arriving at the scene ... and heard another gunshot come from inside the home.

Cops searched the house and found two more dead bodies. All three died from gunshot wounds, police say.

Johnson -- a 7-time NASCAR Cup champion -- married Chandra in 2004 ... and they have two daughters together, Genevieve and Lydia.

Jimmie is currently slated to compete in NASCAR's Chicago street race this weekend.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Originally Published -- 9:26 AM PT

Stefan Wilson 2 Titanium Rods, 8 Screws In Back ... After Indy 500 Practice Crash

Racecar driver Stefan Wilson just revealed he needed some serious hardware put into his back -- including rods and screws -- to fix gnarly injuries he suffered during an Indy 500 practice crash last month.

The 33-year-old announced the update on his social media page late Wednesday night ... explaining docs had to affix two titanium rods and a slew of other metal onto his spine in order to stabilize it after he injured it on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track on May 22.

Wilson said he couldn't even get out of bed -- let alone take steps -- following the surgery ... but he told his fans in his Wednesday update that he's now doing better.

In fact, the driver said he actually got up to walk 4.5 miles this week!

"Pleased with how far I've come so far," Wilson said.

It's all pretty miraculous ... when you consider how bad the crash looked.

You'll recall, Katherine Legge struck Wilson from behind during the practice run ... sending him into a wall. He ended up fracturing his 12th thoracic vertebra ... and was raced to the hospital.

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HOSPITAL UPDATE

Wilson, though, is clearly on the road to recovery ... and he said his focus has now shifted to getting back to the Indy 500 in 2024.

Get well soon, Stefan!

Jewel Unique Nat'l Anthem at Indy 500 ... Leaves Fans Divided

Jewel sang the National Anthem at the Indy 500 this weekend, but there's no consensus for it online ... folks either thought it was the greatest thing ever or straight dog poo.

The singer was tapped as the talent to lead everyone while crooning the "Star Spangled Banner," which she did to kick off the festivities in Indianapolis ... except, she had a very unique take on the classic tune -- and it doesn't sound like everyone enjoyed it.

Check it out for yourself ... Jewel was strumming the guitar and pretty much rearranged the entire song, belting out a slower, more soulful take that had some country twang embedded.

Like we said, it was very ... different. You could argue it was in the same vein as Fergie -- or, on the flip side, maybe Marvin Gaye. Depending on how you interpret it will probably decide which camp you fall in -- as the reactions to Jewel's rendition were very love/hate.

One wrote, "Jewel butchered the national anthem at the Indy 500. People were trying to sing along but couldn't because of the way she sang it. What a shame." Another shared a similar sentiment ... "jewel’s national anthem for indy 500 might be the worst anthem rendition to date." There are tons of other responses like this ... likening it to Roseanne.

Of course, there were just as many who liked it ... with one person praising it mightily, writing ... "Jewel just did the best national anthem I’ve ever heard in my life I’m not exaggerating."

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Jewel's iteration definitely didn't follow the traditional structure of the Nat'l Anthem, but that's kinda what you want from these ... right? Anybody can come out and belt put the "SSB" right on cue, but that's been done a ton.

Bottom line ... Jewel took a risk and tried something new, and considering how much chatter it's spurred -- you could argue she succeeded. IndyCar Series wants eyeballs on their product, and it sounds like they achieved that with Jewel.

Start your engines ... and start the outrage!

NFL's Ty Montgomery Sending Foster Kids To Holy Land ... 'Transformative Experience'

New England Patriots player Ty Montgomery is providing a life-changing opportunity to a group of former foster kids this summer ... sending them to Israel for what is being described as a "transformative experience."

TMZ Sports is told -- the wide receiver will send 11 foster care alumni to the Holy Land for a 10-day Jerusalem Encounter tour ... with the intent to give them some guidance right as they adjust to living on their own.

The trip will include a tour of Israel, reading the Bible, and getting a better understanding of the history behind their faith ... something Montgomery did back in 2022.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Of course, the cause means a lot to Montgomery ... whose mother, Lisa, raised foster kids throughout his childhood.

Montgomery spoke about his decision to help out ... saying, "I want to send these people to Israel because God has asked me to, and I believe this experience will transform their lives."

"Those who have been in the foster care system will always hold a special place in my heart. I know the love they need. I saw it firsthand as my mom raised 17 foster youth alongside me."

"What better way to impact the lives of those exiting foster care than providing this experience of a lifetime."

Montgomery is hoping to make the trip an annual thing through his charity My 10 Percent ... and has already gotten financial support from NASCAR stars Chase Elliott and Bubba Wallace to help the cause.

Awesome!!

NASCAR's Ross Chastain Socks Noah Gragson In Face ... Wild Pit Road Fight

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PIT ROAD PUNCHES
Twitter/@NASCAR

A NASCAR race looked more like a boxing match on Sunday ... after star drivers Ross Chastain and Noah Gragson got into a wild fight on pit road.

The tiff happened following the AdventHealth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway ... after Chastain had put Gragson's car into the wall on the track, ending the driver's day early.

Gragson was clearly furious over the move -- especially after the two had a similar incident during a race earlier this year -- so he confronted Chastain about it when the race concluded.

You can see in video of their altercation -- the two traded words, before Gragson grabbed Chastain.

The guys then tussled a bit -- before Chastain fired off a huge right hand that connected flush with Gragson's cheek.

Gragson tried to fire back punches of his own -- but NASCAR security stepped in, preventing the fight from escalating further.

After the incident, Gragson told FOX he was "sick and tired" of the way Chastain has been racing -- and wanted to make sure the driver knew about it.

As for Chastain, he spoke generally about the beef, but noted, "We have a no-push policy here at Trackhouse."

The race, meanwhile, was won by Denny Hamlin -- who, by the way, got a kick out of watching replays of the Chastain-Gragson throwdown during the post-race press conference.

NASCAR's Alex Bowman Fractures Vertebra In Wild Crash ... Could Miss One Month

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HIGH-SPEED WRECK
34 Raceway

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman suffered a fractured vertebra in a horrifying car accident at a sprint car race this week ... and now, he'll be sidelined for up to a month.

The scary incident took place in the opening heat of a race in the High Limit Sprint Car Series in West Burlington, Iowa. Bowman -- in the #55 car -- collided with Conner Morrell after hitting his rear tire -- resulting in both cars flying through the air.

Looking like a scene out of an action movie, both cars suffered significant damage. Somehow, both drivers got out of their vehicles and were able to walk away. But unfortunately for Bowman, he later discovered he had a fractured vertebra.

In a statement released via his Twitter, Bowman said he is feeling okay and is focused on healing and resting to ensure he can return to the race track ASAP.

"Being out of the car is never an update any driver wants to make," Bowman said. "I’ll be doing everything I can at home to help ensure my recovery is as quick as possible to get back in the 48 car soon."

Bowman -- whose first cup series came in 2014 at the Daytona 500 -- has won seven races in the series. He has also raced in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

No word on Conner Morrell's status following the crash ... but being able to walk away from a scary scene like this at least inspires confidence that Morrell will be good in the long run.

As for Bowman, here's hoping for a speedy recovery from his injuries!!

NASCAR's Cody Ware Arrested ... Accused Of Assaulting Woman

NASCAR driver Cody Ware was arrested on Monday ... following allegations he assaulted a female.

According to police records, the 27-year-old was booked into jail in Iredell County, N.C. at 7:38 AM on charges of assault by strangulation -- inflicting serious injury, and assault on a female.

The records show as of Monday afternoon, he was still in custody.

Specifics regarding the allegations against Ware have not yet been revealed ... though police documents, obtained by TMZ Sports, show the alleged incident initially happened on April 3 at a home in Mooresville, N.C.

NASCAR suspended the Cup Series driver indefinitely following his arrest.

Ware did not race in Sunday's NASCAR Cup event at Bristol Motor Speedway ... with Rick Ware Racing announcing earlier in the weekend that Cody would sit out while dealing with "a personal matter."

Cody began racing in the Cup Series in 2017. His best career finish came last season, when he came in sixth place at Daytona International Speedway.

Story developing ...

Pete Davidson, Chase Sui Daytona 500 Date ... Smoochin' At The Racetrack!!!

It certainly looks like things are gettin' serious between Pete Davidson and Chase Sui Wonders -- 'cause the two had a sweet PDA moment on their date at the Daytona 500 ... and TMZ Sports has the pics of it!!!

The comedian and his "Bodies Bodies Bodies" costar enjoyed their Sunday at NASCAR's Super Bowl in Daytona Beach, Florida -- and they were inseparable throughout the action while mobbin' around the famous racing event.

The couple toured the Daytona International Speedway track, and then, at one point, they got up into a box -- where they just couldn't keep their hands off each other.

They strapped on red earmuffs, wrapped their arms around one another, and locked lips -- all while cars whizzed by on the track just feet away.

Of course, this ain't the first time we've seen the two kissing ... just last month, they gave each other a big smooch during a date at Universal Studios Hollywood.

So as you can see, the relationship appears to be getting pretty serious.

Outside of the two lovebirds, a bunch of other celebs showed up for the race ... Tiffany Haddish, WWE's Charlotte Flair, NFL's Ian Thomas, and country singer Dierks Bentley were all there too.

Michael Jordan, who launched the 23XI Racing team in 2020 with NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, was also in attendance ... taking advantage of the NBA All-Star break.

When it comes to the race, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was victorious ... earning his first Daytona 500 after 212 laps.

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