Sheldon Creed earned his long-awaited first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway, bringing home a landmark victory at the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 on February 21, 2026. The much-anticipated moment finally arrived for Creed after a string of runner-up finishes, making his Sheldon Creed O’Reilly Series win especially meaningful to both fans and fellow drivers.
Creed Breaks Through After Intense Final Laps
Competing in his #00 Chevy, Creed delivered a strong qualifying performance with a fast lap of 31.91 seconds and a top speed hitting 173.76 mph, which placed him fourth on the starting grid, just behind Taylor Gray. The 163-lap race at EchoPark Speedway unfolded with drama—most notably in the closing laps, when Austin Hill, who was leading, was sent spinning into the infield grass after a touch from Trackhouse Racing‘s Ross Chastain. Despite Hill’s skillful recovery, the chaos allowed Creed to seize the lead and ultimately secure victory after 137 career starts in the series.
Creed’s triumphant moment in victory lane was met with admiration from peers. Jimmie Johnson, seven-time Cup Series champion, expressed his excitement by saying:
“East County in the house!! Congrats @sheldoncreed!!”
—Jimmie Johnson, Cup Series Champion
Similarly, promising NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch offered candid congratulations:
“Bout damn time. Hell ya @sheldoncreed!!”
—Connor Zilisch, NASCAR driver
The race itself was a hard-fought battle, witnessing 24 lead changes and running for two hours, twenty-two minutes, and forty-five seconds. Creed crossed the finish line just 0.309 seconds ahead of Parker Retzlaff, ensuring a thrilling conclusion for supporters.
Haas Factory Team’s Switch to Chevy Paves the Way
Contributing to this milestone, the Haas Factory Team ushered in a major shift by transitioning from Ford to Chevrolet for the 2026 season. This strategic alignment included a new technical partnership with Hendrick Motorsports, aiming to bolster engine performance and race support. Rick Hendrick, reflecting on the collaboration, stated:
“We have a long history with Gene and his organization, including winning championships together, so this feels almost like a homecoming. Our relationship started many years ago with Haas CNC machines in our facilities, and I’ve always admired the passion that he and Joe Custer have for the sport and their desire to win. We’re proud to support Haas Factory Team and thrilled to work together to deliver more victories for Chevrolet.”
—Rick Hendrick, HMS Boss
This transformation saw Cole Custer take the wheel of the #41 entry in the Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer piloted the #00 and #41 Chevys respectively in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Although both Custer and Creed began their campaigns with P24 finishes at the Daytona 500 opener, Creed jumped ahead by capturing the first win for the Haas Factory Team and Chevy partnership at Atlanta.
Significance for Creed, Haas Factory Team, and the O’Reilly Series
Creed’s victory not only marked a breakthrough in his own racing career but also validated the Haas Factory Team’s offseason strategy. For a native of California like Creed, the arrival of Chevy and Hendrick Motorsports support represents a renewed opportunity for advancement, with the potential to compete in higher series, including the Cup and Truck Series.
The Sheldon Creed O’Reilly Series win is expected to energize his team, inspire other young drivers, and intensify competition across NASCAR’s 2026 season. Looking ahead, fans and competitors alike will be watching to see if this momentum leads to a new round of successes for Creed and his revitalized team in upcoming races.
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
