Sheldon Creed’s chance at victory was destroyed during Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, when an on-track incident left his car damaged and his hopes in ruins. The chaos unfolded in the final laps, as Creed’s run was derailed by a collision involving 19-year-old Corey Day, who was making just his second career Xfinity Series start for Hendrick Motorsports, transforming a promising afternoon into one characterized by frustration, heated words, and controversy.
The tension mounted as Creed, a regular contender in the Xfinity Series, was running inside the top ten, only to be taken out following contact with Day on the backstretch. As cars scrambled for position, Creed was sent spinning after touching Austin Hill and was forced into the inside wall, his bid for a strong finish abruptly ended amid a cloud of debris and disappointment. The dramatic scene, captured and widely shared online, became a flashpoint in what was already a caution-filled race at the Texas track.
Reacting immediately over the radio in the aftermath of the wreck, Sheldon Creed vented his exasperation with little restraint. “I’m tired of this shit,” Creed was heard saying, his anger echoing through team communications. In a more charged statement, he continued,
F*** yeah! F*** yes! I’m so tired of inexperience taking us out of this shit,
signaling the depth of his frustration and, indirectly, pointing a finger at Corey Day. Given Day’s inexperience — his only previous Xfinity start came recently at Martinsville where he finished 21st — it was evident to many observers who was at the core of Creed’s frustration.
The incident marked a low point for Creed, who has emerged as a durable presence in the Xfinity Series yet continues seeking his long-awaited first win on the circuit, despite holding eight career victories in the Truck Series. The tension also spotlighted Day’s challenging start with Hendrick Motorsports, where early opportunities have been plagued by misfortune and learning experiences, drawing fresh scrutiny from veteran competitors like Creed.
The fallout from the Texas incident reignited discussions around driver readiness in high-stakes racing, with Sheldon Creed’s blunt criticism underscoring the challenges experienced drivers face when sharing the track with less seasoned talent. As the dust settles, the relationship between Creed and Day remains strained, with expectations that conversations and reconciliations will be needed in the aftermath. Both drivers will have to find a way forward, as the relentless nature of NASCAR competition guarantees little time to recover before the next test, and tensions from Texas may yet shape races to come.
