SHELDON CREED STRIKES LATE AT BRISTOL, WINS FOOD CITY 300 IN OVERTIME
No. 00 Ollie’s Chevrolet Driver Claims Third Win of 2026 and Extends NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase Lead
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sheldon Creed didn’t have the dominant car Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.
He didn’t need it.
A perfectly timed strategy call, a fast pit stop and an aggressive overtime restart put Creed in position when it mattered most, allowing the driver of the No. 00 Ollie’s Chevrolet Camaro for Haas Factory Team to capture the Food City 300 and continue a remarkable start to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase.
Creed crossed the finish line 0.253 seconds ahead of William Sawalich to earn his third victory of the 2026 season and his first career win at Bristol Motor Speedway after finishing runner-up at the famed half-mile in each of the previous two seasons.
The victory also gives Creed two wins in the opening three races of the Chase, with finishes of first, second and first, and extends his championship lead to 11 points over Justin Allgaier with six races remaining.
It was a victory built on patience and execution.
Creed started second but spent much of the 300-lap scheduled distance searching for the balance he needed in the No. 00 Ollie’s Chevrolet. As the race entered its closing stages, crew chief Jonathan Toney made the decision that ultimately changed the night.
Under caution on Lap 280, Creed came to pit road for fresh tires while many of the leaders remained on track. His Haas Factory Team crew delivered a strong stop, putting Creed in position to take advantage of the added grip.
Restarting eighth on Lap 286, Creed quickly charged through the field and into second place.
Then came another opportunity.
A late caution pushed the Food City 300 beyond its scheduled distance and set up an overtime restart with Creed lining up on the inside of race leader William Sawalich.
With fresher tires underneath him, Creed timed the restart and powered ahead, taking control of the race when it mattered most. He led the final three laps of the 305-lap event and held off Sawalich's charge to secure the victory.
“Just a great call by my crew chief and engineer to put tires on,” Creed said following the race. “Great pit stop by my guys to get me out first and be the first one on tires.”
Creed acknowledged that the No. 00 wasn’t necessarily the best car throughout the night, making the team’s ability to capitalize on its opportunity even more meaningful.
“To be honest, I wasn’t really good all night with the balance of our Chevrolet,” Creed said. “Hats off to these guys. They just never give up.”
The Bristol victory continues a dramatic turnaround in Creed’s championship story.
After opening the Chase with a victory at Darlington and following it with a runner-up finish at World Wide Technology Raceway, Creed arrived at Bristol holding a three-point advantage in the standings. He leaves Thunder Valley with another trophy and an 11-point lead over Allgaier.
Three races. Two victories. One runner-up finish.
And Creed remains firmly in control of the championship lead.
“I don't know if winning tonight makes us a title favorite,” Creed said. “There’s still a long way to go. Six races to go.”
What Creed does know is that the No. 00 team continues to find ways to put itself in position.
“It’s really a team effort to get out here and do this,” Creed said. “Just to open the Chase up with one, two, one finishes is amazing.”
William Sawalich finished second, followed by Brent Crews in third, Justin Allgaier in fourth and Corey Day in fifth.
Post-race inspection was completed without issue, officially confirming Creed and Haas Factory Team as the Food City 300 winners.
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series now takes a week off before the Chase resumes October 3 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
ABOUT SHELDON CREED
Sheldon Creed, 28, is a professional NASCAR driver from Alpine, California and the 2020 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. Known for his aggressive driving style and versatility across multiple forms of motorsports, Creed competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Haas Factory Team. In 2026, Creed has emerged as a championship contender, earning three victories and taking command of the Chase standings during the opening rounds of the postseason.
ABOUT HAAS FACTORY TEAM
Haas Factory Team competes in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with a commitment to engineering, performance and championship-level competition. The organization fields the No. 00 Chevrolet Camaro for Sheldon Creed and the No. 41 Chevrolet Camaro for Sam Mayer.
ABOUT OLLIE’S BARGAIN OUTLET
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet is one of America’s leading retailers of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, offering customers brand-name products at deeply discounted prices under its familiar “Good Stuff Cheap” philosophy. Ollie’s expanded its partnership with Haas Factory Team for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season and serves as a primary partner of Sheldon Creed and the No. 00 Chevrolet Camaro.
MEDIA CONTACT
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Race Face Brand Development
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