Sheldon Creed finally achieved his first victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) last weekend at EchoPark Speedway, ending a frustrating streak of 15 second-place finishes without a win. Known for his championship success in off-road racing and multiple other series, Creed’s breakthrough win marks a pivotal moment in his career as he moves forward with the Haas Factory Team.
Before this breakthrough, Creed had built an impressive record including off-road championships, two Stadium Super Trucks titles, the 2018 ARCA Menards Series championship, and the 2020 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title. However, despite top-10 finishes in half of his NOAPS starts since joining in 2022, the elusive victory had remained out of reach until now.
The Long Road of Runner-Up Finishes and Challenges
Creed’s run of near-misses was unprecedented, setting a series record with 15 second-place results without a victory. These runner-up finishes came under a variety of circumstances—sometimes after leading dominant races, other times without ever taking the lead. He fell short due to last-lap passes, crashes, and close photo finishes, exemplifying his persistence despite disappointment.
One particularly notable moment came during the 2023 fall race at Martinsville Speedway. Creed was poised to claim his first win and secure a spot in the championship contenders, but a critical mistake on the final lap allowed Justin Allgaier to overtake him, while Creed’s teammate Austin Hill was also involved in the incident. Neither driver advanced to the championship round, sparking intense reactions from the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) camp.
Following the race, tension was high—RCR competition director Andy Petree openly criticized Creed in the media’s presence, and Hill sarcastically applauded his crew as he headed to the infield care center. Hill later commented,
“I can’t wait for him to go over to Joe Gibbs Racing and not have to put up with his [expletive],”
highlighting the strained relationships within the team at the time.
This painful near-win was compounded by another second-place finish the following week at Phoenix Raceway. Creed then went on to place second eight more times over the next two seasons, which somewhat diminished his reputation while carrying the unwelcome title of “bridesmaid but never the bride.”
Despite the conflict and frustration, Creed acknowledged his own error after the Martinsville race, and Petree issued an apology later. Hill, who won the spring Martinsville race in 2025 while Creed finished second, revealed in hindsight that the rivalry had evolved into a strong friendship between them.
Competition Intensifies and Teammate Dynamics Shift
Fast forward to the most recent NOAPS race, held last Saturday where unpredictable action unfolded near the finish. Austin Hill, a dominant presence on his home track with six wins and backing from race sponsor Bennett on the No. 21 car, led most of the race. On the last lap, Creed made a significant move by pushing Ross Chastain—himself a polarizing figure in NASCAR—out of line, allowing the controversial driver to surge ahead.
Hill attempted to block but lost traction and slid onto the apron, slowing the bottom lane. Creed capitalized on this opening and finally secured the win, a milestone greeted enthusiastically by Jesse Love, who gave Creed a congratulatory bump in the same car Creed narrowly missed victory with at Martinsville in 2023. Hill, despite previous harsh words, was among the first to congratulate Creed in victory lane.
Though Creed’s win came amid chaos—including another driver, Sam Mayer, suffering a wreck unrelated to Creed or Hill—it signified a turning point for the hard-to-beat veteran. Creed described the victory as one of the biggest moments in his career given the long wait and continual doubts about his performance over the past five years.
Looking Ahead: Embracing New Challenges with Haas Factory Team
With this victory closing a chapter on a hard-fought journey, Creed now focuses on championship aspirations with his new team.
“Joe Custer and Gene Haas expect us to win and have a shot at winning the championship at the end of the year,”
Creed explained.
“That starts now. Tonight helps gets some wind in the sails for the team, just winning more races throughout the season. New points format so that’s going to pay dividends and stage points are really important now. It makes being consistent and running up front more important.”
Although the Haas Factory Team has evolved since Stewart-Haas Racing’s 2023 title win with Cole Custer, the team retains much of the infrastructure that can support a championship campaign. Creed’s teammate Sam Mayer has demonstrated that success is attainable, having won four races following his first career victory at Road America last year.
While Creed’s first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win confirms his talent, the driver is well positioned as a legitimate title contender as the 2024 season progresses. With many competitors still adapting to their roles and Creed entering his prime, expectations are high for future success in the series.
Profile of a Determined Champion
James Krause, who has contributed coverage from Illinois and Indiana since March 2024, covers motorsports extensively and highlights this milestone as an important development not only in Creed’s career but also for the competitiveness of the series. Creed’s journey—from off-road championships and ARCA dominance to NASCAR Craftsman victory and finally breaking through in the O’Reilly Series—underscores both his resilience and skill amidst intense pressure and rapid changes in the competitive field.
