Bristol, Tenn: Starting the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series with a different team and challenges, Sheldon Creed doesn’t seem to think it has had too many challenges.
In fact, it has been pretty seamless for the driver of the No. 00 Haas Factory Team Ford Mustang.
“Honestly, it felt seamless,” Creed said Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I felt like my transition from RCR to Gibbs was harder. They just did things a lot different, so that was a little more challenging, and then rolling into Haas Factory Team, I don’t know.”
Creed credits his crew chief, Jonathan Toney, for the smooth transition.
Coming into the SciAps 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Ford driver is very encouraged by how the team has worked together since day one.
“Going back to my crew chief, he just made it super easy for me, and he’s super easy to get along with, and we just have great conversations with him and the guys, having dinners or whatever away from the track,” explained Creed.
Even with all of that, Creed knows that the year still has a lot of opportunities ahead. Sitting fourth in the points standings and coming off a string of four top-10 finishes, Creed understands that he has work to do in order to stay with the team and possibly move up into the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Winning helps,” sounded Creed. “I need to win to have that opportunity or get a call possibly, but stability is a nice thing to have in the back of your mind” when asked about his future in racing.
“I hope Haas Factory Team is a home for me for a while, and it is through at least 2026, so hopefully, we can go win races and run well and make Papa Joe (Custer) happy, and we can keep this thing going.”
Having more than one team back at the shop and on the track brings some comfort to Creed as he seems to like the “smaller team” atmosphere.
Even with that said, he seems content with what is going on with the Haas Factory Team and says that it might be beneficial to have another team for information.
“Yeah, probably. Maybe not a benefit, but it doesn’t hurt it,” stated Creed when questioned.
Knowing that it’s not just his racing that controls his destiny, he also understands the financial responsibility that comes along with his week-to-week duties.
“It’s definitely financial, so sponsors always help – PSA deals, whatever. I don’t know, you probably hear it a lot.
“Money is just not what it was 20 years ago, so being able to afford it on your own is challenging.”
Looking forward to running next week at Rockingham Speedway, Creed thinks the track will be fast and tricky.
“Obviously, it’s a repave so it’s extremely fast, like really fast for the Xfinity cars, so passing might be difficult.” Creed seems to think that it will be challenging “I would say at least the first time we go. It could widen out. I think one and two will widen out, but it’s probably gonna be a track position game most of the day.”
Creed, though, before he can turn his concentration towards Rockingham, he’ll eye his first career Xfinity Series win at Bristol.
He qualified 21st ahead of Saturday afternoon’s SciAps 300.
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