Sheldon Creed Battles Through Damage at Watkins Glen After Wild Late-Race Incident
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (May 9, 2026) — Sheldon Creed and the No. 00 Ollie’s Chevrolet team overcame major adversity throughout Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Watkins Glen International before a dramatic late-race incident derailed what had been a potential winning performance for Haas Factory Team.
Creed was originally scheduled to start third after showing impressive speed during practice sessions, but the team was forced to transition to a backup car following a spin in practice. The change required the No. 00 Ollie’s Chevrolet to drop to the rear of the field before the green flag.
Undeterred, Creed immediately began charging through the field on the historic road course. The Haas Factory Team driver steadily worked his way forward while battling changing track conditions throughout the afternoon.
Creed crossed the line 15th in Stage 1 and narrowly missed stage points in Stage 2 with an 11th-place finish. As the race entered its closing laps, the No. 00 Chevrolet had firmly positioned itself among the lead contenders despite starting from the rear of the field.
While battling deep inside the top group late in the race, contact from Justin Allgaier forced Creed off line and into the wet grass in the Inner Loop section of the course. The saturated turf caused the No. 00 Chevrolet to dig in and launch into the air in one of the wildest moments of the weekend.
The incident heavily damaged both the front and rear of the Ollie’s Chevrolet, but Creed never climbed from the car and continued battling to the finish one lap down in 29th position.
Following the race, Allgaier reportedly apologized to Creed for the contact after the two competitors spoke.
Although the finishing result did not reflect the speed of the No. 00 team, Creed once again proved he remains one of the top championship contenders in the series. Through 13 starts this season, Creed has recorded 10 top-10 finishes, six top-five finishes, and one victory.
Heading into Dover Motor Speedway on May 16th, Creed remains second in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship standings as the title fight continues to tighten.
About Sheldon Creed
Sheldon Creed is one of the most versatile drivers in American motorsports. The California native is a former ARCA Menards Series Champion and has earned victories across off-road racing, stock cars, and NASCAR competition. Driving for Haas Factory Team, Creed continues to establish himself as one of the premier contenders in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
About Ollie’s
Ollie's Bargain Outlet is America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, offering brand-name products at unbeatable prices. With hundreds of stores nationwide, Ollie’s continues to provide customers with incredible savings on household goods, food, books, flooring, and more.
About Haas Factory Team
Haas Factory Team competes in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Cup Series, fielding elite-level equipment and championship-caliber talent. The organization continues to establish itself as one of the top-performing teams in NASCAR competition.
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