Creed’s Michigan Runner-Up Sets Xfinity Series Record

Sheldon Creed (Lesley Ann Miller/LAT Images for Toyota Racing photo)

BROOKLYN, Mich. – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Sheldon Creed made a dubious bit of history Saturday by finishing second, yet again, with the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Driving the familiar No. 18 Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Toyota GR Supra, Creed started from the pole and raced among the top 10 all day long in the Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan Int’l Speedway, leading the first 23 laps before a lap-24 spin in turn four cost him track position for the middle stages of the race.

Despite the early setback, Creed fought his way back through the field and found himself eighth by the end of the second stage, just before the halfway point.

A long run for the majority of stage three allowed Creed and his Sam Macauley-led team to make up spots during the final round of green-flag pit stops, and the Alpine, Calif., native was running second to leader Justin Allgaier when rain slowed the pace with eight laps left in regulation.

After a brief red-flag period for track drying, Creed chose the outside lane for the overtime restart and lined up in the second row, directly behind Allgaier.

With seven-lap older tires, Creed couldn’t get a run for the lead on the first lap of overtime, after getting loose in front of teammate John Hunter Nemechek in turns one and two.

He eventually got clear, though, and had a half-second deficit to Allgaier at the white flag.

With drafting help from Nemechek, Creed built up a run down the backstretch and was closing rapidly on Allgaier in the final corners before a caution flag – for the flipping car of Kyle Sieg behind the lead pack – froze the field to end the race.

That prevented Creed from being able to make a move for the win and left him with a frustrating runner-up finish behind Allgaier.

Not only was it Creed’s fourth second-place finish of the season, it was the 11th such result of his Xfinity Series career, breaking a tie with NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett and past series champion Daniel Hemric for the most runner-ups without a victory in the history of NASCAR’s second-highest division.

While Creed remains pleased with the recent consistency of his team, with three straight top-five finishes and six in the past eight races, he admitted he’s “more than ready” to finally break into the winner’s circle.

“We’ve set the record,” Creed quipped, “so now we need to go out and win a race. It’s not the record I was hoping to set this season, but we’ll just keep pushing forward and going after it.”

The 26-year-old was actually gaining on Allgaier in the laps before the final caution, making Saturday’s end result all the more bittersweet, as he believed he had the better car in the closing stages.

“This one might have frustrated me the most out of all of them so far. I had a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GR Supra as fast as Xfinity internet today, led the beginning, got spun there and rallied back,” Creed recalled. “I was probably too conservative behind the 20 (Nemechek) trying to save fuel. I was a couple laps short on fuel there, and the 7 (Justin Allgaier) was in a little bit better spot, so once the 7 got around both of us and the 88 (Carson Kvapil), I knew I needed to go.

“I probably sat behind the 20 another two laps and then charged and was running the 7 down,” he added. “Just had a really good car, but that caution for rain came at a bad time for us.”

Creed has posted 10 top-five finishes in 21 races this year, leading all drivers in that category. His 13 top 10s are tied for second most, behind only current point leader and defending series champion Cole Custer.

With five races remaining in the regular season, Creed sits 10th in the Xfinity Series playoff picture, 69 points ahead of the cut line and in comfortable position to qualify for the postseason.

He wants to go into the playoffs with momentum, though, and knows a win would generate just that.

“The speed we need is there,” Creed noted. “The last step now is a win, and I don’t think anyone wants it more than we do at this point.”

The NASCAR Xfinity Series season continues Friday night, Aug. 23 at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway with the running of the Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola.

Broadcast coverage from the World Center of Racing is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET, live on USA, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.