Sheldon Creed is moving to Sam Hunt Racing for the 2027 season. This move comes even though he currently leads the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series standings. It is a tough break for a driver finally finding his rhythm.
Business math beats on-track results
Winning races is great, but it does not always pay the bills in this sport. Starting in 2027, Creed will drive the No. 26 Toyota as Sam Hunt Racing revealed on Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is a multiyear deal for the growing team. Creed is leaving Haas Factory Team behind despite having a massive season going.
He is not leaving because of a fight with his crew. According to reports, the decision was not his first choice. He said, “And I wouldn’t say it was my first choice to move on, but unfortunately business has to make sense. And that overrules results and performance on track sometimes.”
It is frustrating to watch a driver perform well only to be forced out by a contract. You can drive the wheels off a car, but you cannot change a balance sheet. The math simply does not work for him at Haas right now.
A great atmosphere left behind
The talent is clearly there, and the team environment at Haas sounds like a dream. Creed has no issues with the people he works with. He noted that his crew chief, Jonathan Toney, is “just a great leader, great human, and does a really good job with all of our guys.” He also said, according to CupScene.com, “I feel like our team just gets along great. The shop atmosphere is amazing. Like just the 41 to everybody, like I have zero complaints.”
The driver has definitely found his footing. He won the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship back in 2020. Richard Childress Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing have both featured him in subsequent roles. Now, he has found Victory Lane again and is sitting at the top of the standings. He holds an advantage over Justin Allgaier with five races left in the season.
The hunt for the next step
The move to Sam Hunt Racing is about growth. The organization wants to become a real championship contender. This is a fresh start for the Toyota family. Creed has already proven he can win in the O’Reilly Series. He won at Bristol Motor Speedway a few weeks ago and has two wins in the current Chase.
