Sheldon Creed secured his first ever NASCAR victory in a breathtaking final lap at Atlanta on Saturday night, breaking a 137-race winless run in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The win, achieved after a crash between Ross Chastain and Austin Hill, marks a significant milestone in Creed’s pursuit of motorsport excellence and highlights the unpredictability of racing at the highest level.
Final Lap Chaos Delivers Creed’s Long-Awaited Triumph
The closing moments of the race were packed with tension as Austin Hill claimed the lead from Ross Chastain with just one lap remaining. Chastain sought to regain his advantage on the backstretch, but Hill blocked aggressively, forcing the two cars into contact as they battled for victory. As Hill spun sideways, Creed took advantage of the situation and powered ahead, crossing the finish line to take the checkered flag—his first in 138 starts at this level.
“Yeah, I’ve been a loser the last few years,”
said Creed.
“I’ve just kept showing up. Not how you draw it up when you win a Truck championship and win races and go to (the O’Reilly Series) and go four years winless. So, incredible. I think all my past teams at RCR and Gibbs, they all gave me great opportunities. And now here with the Haas Factory team, back with Chevrolet.”
— Sheldon Creed, Driver
“It never plays how you kind of draw it up. But, yeah, just finally a winner. And maybe, I don’t know if one win will kind of (revitalize) my career, but maybe if I win a few this year, it will. And probably going to drink a ton of Coors Lights tonight.”
— Sheldon Creed, Driver
As Creed celebrated in front of fans and crew, Parker Retzlaff followed him over the line in second, with Nick Sanchez, Corey Day, and Jesse Love rounding out the top five. Chastain, Sam Mayer, Rajah Caruth, Taylor Gray, and Brandon Jones completed the top ten, reflecting a fiercely contested race with numerous lead changes and intense competition among the field.
Drivers React to the Intense Finish
The spectacular ending brought strong emotions from all involved. Hill and Chastain, both central to the race’s wild conclusion, offered their insights in the immediate aftermath. The collision not only decided the winner but also fueled discussion about racecraft and decision-making in the final laps of a tightly contested event.
“Ross Chastain doing Ross Chastain things”
— Matt Weaver, Reporter
“Ross Chastain made a ‘business decision’ to not block Austin Hill and now thinks he should but felt like he had to take that run. He says thats NASCAR racing for the win.”
— Matt Weaver, Reporter
Early Incidents Shape the Race
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race began shortly after Kyle Busch’s triumph in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series earlier in the day. Early drama unfolded within six laps as Corey Day attempted an audacious overtake but ran out of space, resulting in Ryan Sieg hitting the wall. The incident also involved multiple drivers, including Ryan’s brother Kyle Sieg, Harrison Burton, Blaine Perkins, and Patrick Staropoli. An angry Ryan Sieg showed his frustration before commenting on the risky move.
“It’s lap three, I think. So, we’re just riding, just kind of staying in the line, trying to get our line going, and then he’s got somewhat of a hole, and he just goes in it … I mean, what’s the point? It’s lap three.”
— Ryan Sieg, Driver
As the race resumed, Sam Mayer briefly took the lead but was hampered by a tire rub, leading to a pit stop and penalty. Jesse Love captured the Stage 1 victory, with Rajah Caruth and Parker Retzlaff close behind. Notably, presumed favorite Austin Hill managed to save his car from spinning and dropped back strategically to protect it for the remainder of the event.
Stage Two Brings On-Track and Pit Road Drama
The transition between stages saw a scary moment during pit stops when Taylor Gray accidentally struck his own tire carrier, Alex Morgan, who fortunately escaped injury. Gray was sent to the rear of the field for a safety infraction. Once racing resumed, the action remained fierce, with Caruth executing a daring three-wide pass to snatch the stage win from JR Motorsports teammates Justin Allgaier and Layne Kvapil. Corey Day, Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, Hill, Retzlaff, Creed, and Love completed the stage’s top ten.
Final Stage Sees Wrecks and Wild Overtakes
The intensity continued in Stage 3, which started with 65 laps remaining. Layne Kvapil quickly moved out front, only to be caught in a major wreck alongside Corey Day and Allgaier after contact at the front. While Kvapil and Allgaier retired from the race, Day pressed on a lap down, nursing a damaged tire. Hill assumed the lead, followed closely by Love and Creed. Another incident involving Cody Ware scattered debris and necessitated a caution.
After the restart, RCR teammates Creed and Hill lined up side-by-side. Love made contact with Hill, nearly spinning him, which allowed Chastain to boldly claim the lead in a three-wide maneuver. Chaos erupted further back as Sammy Smith triggered a multi-car pileup involving Ruggiero, Ryan Ellis, Scott, William Sawalich, Taylor Gray, Josh Leitz, Brennan Poole, Patrick Staropoli, and Mason Maggio, leading to another red flag.
“Turn 1 trouble! Multiple cars are involved in this incident on Lap 142.”
— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts, Event
Race Statistics and Closing Moments
After a final restart with 14 laps to go, Ross Chastain managed the lead, even as another yellow flag waved when Josh Williams crashed after avoiding a flat-tired Caruth. The race was stopped briefly with just ten laps left. As the field lined up for the finish, Chastain and Hill resumed their battle. Hill surged ahead with two laps remaining, but Chastain challenged again on the last lap. The resulting clash between them handed the opportunity to Sheldon Creed, who stormed past the chaos and into victory lane. Despite the heartbreak, Austin Hill retains the overall championship points lead leaving Atlanta.
Significance of Creed’s Breakthrough and What Comes Next
Sheldon Creed’s first NASCAR win comes after an arduous journey marked by frustration and near-misses, symbolizing the relentless optimism and perseverance required at elite levels of racing. The volatile finale confirms the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as a showcase for high drama and shifting fortunes, underscored by contributions from teams such as RCR, JR Motorsports, and Hendrick Motorsports. With the stakes raised by Creed’s landmark achievement, attention now shifts to upcoming events as drivers like Austin Hill and Ross Chastain look to rebound and other rising talents aim for their own breakthrough moments. The Atlanta showdown has set the tone for a fiercely competitive season ahead, keeping fans and competitors energized and alert for the battles to come.
The dramatic finish in Atlanta that ended with @sheldoncreed earning his first victory in 138 starts! pic.twitter.com/lssBvwMw76
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) February 22, 2026
"Ross Chastain doing Ross Chastain things" pic.twitter.com/IwWucsHv4d
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 22, 2026
Ross Chastain made a 'business decision' to not block Austin Hill and now thinks he should but felt like he had to take that run. He says thats NASCAR racing for the win. pic.twitter.com/ptUAwsqhPG
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) February 22, 2026
Turn 1 trouble!
Multiple cars are involved in this incident on Lap 142. pic.twitter.com/hAXmlEXHlB
— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) February 22, 2026
