Sheldon Creed Wins Pole, Leads 23 Laps and Clinches NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase Berth at Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (July 25, 2026) — Sheldon Creed continued his championship-caliber season Saturday afternoon at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, capturing the pole, leading 23 laps and securing his place in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase with an eighth-place finish in the Pennzoil 250 Presented by Take 5 Oil Change.
Driving the No. 00 Road Ranger Chevrolet for Haas Factory Team, Creed once again showcased the speed that has made him one of the series' top championship contenders. His qualifying effort earned Haas Factory Team its second consecutive pole position and third straight at Indianapolis, continuing the organization's impressive record at one of motorsports' most iconic venues.
When the green flag waved, Creed immediately took control of the race. With teammate Sam Mayer providing a strong push from behind, the No. 00 Chevrolet jumped out front and quickly separated itself from the field. Creed paced the race for the opening 23 laps before heavy lapped traffic erased his advantage. As the run progressed, the handling of the Road Ranger Chevrolet gradually tightened, making it increasingly difficult to maintain the lead. Even so, Creed held on to finish seventh in Stage One.
A fast pit stop by the Haas Factory Team crew kept Creed in contention as Stage Two began. Restarting near the front, he quickly charged back into second place and spent much of the stage chasing race leader Ross Chastain. A late caution reshuffled the field, but Creed remained in the hunt and crossed the Stage Two finish line in fourth, collecting 11 valuable stage points.
Strategy once again placed Creed in position to battle for the lead entering the final stage. Restarting third, he remained among the front-runners before being caught on the outside of a three-wide battle that shuffled him back in the running order. Refusing to give up ground, Creed worked his way back toward the front, but tire wear over the closing laps ultimately limited his charge. He crossed the finish line in eighth, earning 40 championship points for the afternoon while officially locking himself into the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase. The strong performance also moved Creed to fourth in the championship standings with the postseason now secured.
"The day started off great with the pole and leading a bunch of laps there at the beginning, but our Road Ranger Chevrolet just kept trending tight," Creed said. "It's a little frustrating, but it's nice to secure our spot in the Chase with another strong run. Thank you to everyone at Haas Factory Team, Chevrolet and Road Ranger for supporting me all season long."
While the eighth-place finish may not fully reflect the speed of the No. 00 Chevrolet, the bigger picture is impossible to ignore. Creed started from the pole, led 23 laps, scored points in both stages, earned 11 stage points, and officially punched his ticket into the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase—another statement performance as the championship battle begins to take shape.
Creed and the No. 00 Road Ranger Chevrolet will return to action on August 8 at Iowa Speedway, where the team will look to build even more momentum heading into the Chase.
About Sheldon Creed
Sheldon Creed is one of NASCAR's premier young talents, earning championships and victories across multiple racing disciplines before becoming one of the top competitors in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Known for his versatility and ability to win on short tracks, intermediate ovals, superspeedways, road courses, and dirt, Creed continues to establish himself as one of the sport's leading championship contenders while driving the No. 00 Chevrolet for Haas Factory Team.
About Road Ranger
Road Ranger is one of America's leading travel center chains, providing quality fuel, fresh food, convenience items, and outstanding customer service to professional drivers and everyday travelers. With locations across the Midwest and beyond, Road Ranger proudly supports motorsports while helping keep America's highways moving.
About Haas Factory Team
Haas Factory Team is a premier NASCAR organization committed to engineering excellence, innovation, and championship-caliber performance. Fielding competitive entries in NASCAR's national touring divisions, Haas Factory Team is dedicated to developing winning drivers, building elite race cars, and competing for victories and championships at every level of stock car racing.
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