Mechanical Issue Derails Sheldon Creed At Richmond

Sheldon Creed (David Rosenblum/LAT for Toyota Racing photo)

RICHMOND, Va. – A frustrating spring stretch in the NASCAR Xfinity Series continued Saturday for Sheldon Creed, after a third problem in four races resulted in his first DNF of the year.

Creed, who has three top-five finishes to his credit in his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing, fell out of Saturday’s ToyotaCare 250 at Richmond Raceway just before the halfway point of the race at the three-quarter mile, D-shaped oval.

Originally thought to be an engine issue, Creed tipped afterward that it was a slightly different problem that forced him to the garage after completing just 118 laps. He was scored 35th in the final rundown.

“I think the right-rear brake [rotor] was dragging,” Creed explained. “I don’t know. It’s so frustrating, because that’s three weeks in a row that we’ve had car problems now, while our teammates are out there leading races and fighting for wins.

“I’m frustrated because we have so much potential with this (No.) 18 team and to not be able to run all the laps is a really bitter pill to swallow. We’ll battle back, though.”

The other three Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas, led by race winner Chandler Smith, swept the top-three finishing positions Saturday in an overall strong day for the organization.

Despite the tough result, Creed hung on to a provisional playoff berth in the Xfinity Series through six of 27 regular season races. He leaves Richmond 11th in the driver standings, seven points ahead of the cutoff.

Creed will have little time to regroup before a second straight short-track event, as the Xfinity Series heads to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in a week’s time for its seventh round of the season.

Broadcast coverage of the Dude Wipes 250 is slated for Saturday night, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET live on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.