So close from Sheldon Creed yet again who finished 2nd for the 12th time now in his 88-race Xfinity Series career for the No.18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He had a really good start from pole before he got spun out late whilst leading in stage 1 by the No.98’s Riley Herbst from Stewart-Haas Ford, then he had to work his way back up there as the race goes on thanks to several yellows along the way (some in Stage 2 and lots late in Stage 3) but unfortunately, Creed just couldn’t catch up race winner Justin Allgaier (No.7 Chevy for JR Motorsports) on time towards the checkered flag when it was done via overtime.
If the Kyle Sieg crash occurred and NASCAR held the race back once more if it wasn’t for the white flag overtime, then Creed would’ve surely had the perfect weekend out and shut Allgaier down in the Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway. Not only he had a long on-track day in the office, but we now all know that Creed will be moving teams once again regardless of his 2024 results this time for the Haas Factory Team’s Xfinity side next year. Looks like we could see another Daniel Hemric type story for Creed when Hemric left it so late until the Championship 4 at Phoenix with both the win & championship before he left Gibbs on a high for his previously announced Kaulig Racing ride back in November 2021.
As long as Creed does well without issue when he was so unlucky not to make it to the Championship 4 late last year at Martinsville for Richard Childress Racing, there’s no reason why he can’t win another championship when Creed won the Trucks title back in 2020. He will be replacing Cole Custer in the No.00 Ford Mustang with Custer already confirmed his return to full-time Cup level last month within the same newly-reformed squad since his dad is the president there and Creed will be joined by former GMS Racing Truck Series team-mate Sam Mayer for the other No.98 Haas Xfinity seat in place of Herbst.
Other than Creed falling short yet again, John Hunter Nemechek did well in 3rd for Gibbs as still a long way to go with his Cup progress at Legacy Motor Club, Anthony Alfredo finished 4th who survived every bit of yellow to bring himself home towards an excellent performance on show today, and Stewart-Haas’s Noah Gragson finished 6th for Rette Jones Racing having not heard much from him other than his good start of the Cup year but you never know when it comes to these big track races.