Here is the thing about Silly Season: business occasionally overrides pure performance, and that is precisely how Sheldon Creed found himself plotting a brand-new chapter. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series points leader has signed a multiyear agreement with Sam Hunt Racing to pilot the No. 26 Toyota for next season and beyond, making a massive splash ahead of the racing action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Creed, who turned 29 years old Wednesday, arrives at his new home following a two-year stint with Haas Factory Team's No. 00 group. His departure was not necessarily what he originally sought out, as he admitted that business realities sometimes overrule results and on-track performance. Over at Haas, his old seat will be filled by Dean Thompson as that organization expands into a three-car operation.
Sam Hunt Racing’s kind of been built a little bit different than a lot of teams,
It has been a wild, breakthrough year for the California native, who secured his first victories in the series and rocketed to the top of the standings. All three of his O'Reilly Series wins have come during this current campaign, which marks his fifth as a full-time competitor on the circuit. Those triumphs have built him an 11-point advantage in the standings over former series champ Justin Allgaier, following two victories in the opening three races of The Chase presented by Mobil 1.
Creed's career résumé already boasts an impressive pedigree, including an eight-win run and the championship crown in the 2020 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, plus the 2018 title in the ARCA Menards Series during a four-win season. While a Cup opportunity remains his ultimate end goal, he candidly noted the stability of his new destination. If the ultimate call never comes, he feels that Sam Hunt's garage is a place where he can race for the next 15 years, make a good living, and raise his family.
For the team itself, the acquisition represents a calculated leap forward. Crew chief Kris Bowen is set to return for his fifth season with the organization, while the rest of the driver and sponsor lineup for 2027 will be revealed at a later date.
“Sam Hunt Racing’s kind of been built a little bit different than a lot of teams,” owner Sam Hunt said of landing his new star driver. “It’s been progress every single year. I felt like for us to take the next big step that we wanted to take, having a guy, like Sheldon make a home with us — with us and the Toyota family — was the move I needed to make.”
