A thrilling conclusion at Darlington
At Darlington Raceway, Sheldon Creed captured a thrilling victory in the NASCAR O'Reilly Chase, marking his second career win and positioning him just seven points behind championship leader Justin Allgaier as the 2026 Chase approaches.
The race unfolded under intense pressure, with multiple incidents reshaping the field. Corey Day fought his way back from a mid‑race setback to finish second, while Brent Crews secured third and Sammy Smith fourth, rounding out a top ten that featured Austin Hill in fifth.
Stage 2 was claimed by Anthony Alfredo, followed by Day and Creed, highlighting the competitive balance early in the event. Throughout the 400‑lap contest, the field endured a series of crashes involving drivers such as Alfredo and Taylor Gray, as well as a green‑flag pit stop by Rajah Caruth that cost him two laps after a mechanical issue.
Strategic moves defined the climax. A caution sparked by Preston Pardus after he spun his car brought the field together, altering pit strategies and allowing Creed’s Haas Factory Team to execute precise adjustments that ultimately benefited his push for the win.
Haas Factory Team’s coordination proved decisive. Crew chief decisions on tire management and fuel strategy kept Creed in contention despite the chaos, and his gratitude was evident in Victory Lane, where he thanked his team, family and supporters for the collective effort.
With the win, Creed moves into the top tier of the points standings, narrowing the gap to Allgaier, who still leads despite a mid‑race setback that dropped him from the top of Stage 1. The result sets a compelling narrative for the upcoming 2026 Chase, where the two drivers are poised to battle for the title.