By Jerry Jordan, Editor
LAS VEGAS – Sam Hunt Racing (SHR) announced Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that the team signed Sheldon Creed to a multi-year deal to drive the organization’s No. 26 Toyota GR Supra in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starting in 2027.
Creed, the current series points leader driving the No. 00 for the Haas Factory Team, will move to Sam Hunt Racing after the 2026 season. Kris Bowen will serve as crew chief of the No. 26.
“I don’t get to be in here very often, so it’s good to see everyone’s face. I am here today to announce that I have signed Sheldon Creed to be the future of our 26 Toyota Supra, on a multi-year deal, super exciting,” team owner Sam Hunt said. “I’ve known Sheldon for a long time. He’s like a brother to me, so to be able to do this, do it here, is just really fun.”
A logical next step for a growing team
Hunt called the signing the move his team needed to reach the next level.
“It’s huge,” Hunt said. “Sam Hunt Racing’s kind of been built a little bit different than a lot of teams. 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 (Creed), make a home with us, with us and the Toyota family, was the move I needed to make. Yeah, it’s the logical next step for our race team. I’m just thankful for all the partners that kind of help with this together.”
Hunt added that he worked on the deal for a while to put together a package that helps Creed on and off the track, and praised both the driver and the person.
“I know the caliber of race car drivers Sheldon is, but I also know the caliber of human he is, and that’s something that’s very important to our organization. Sheldon’s a rock star husband and father,” Hunt said. “We’ve got a family atmosphere at SHR (Sam Hunt Racing), and I know he’s excited to kind of jump into that.”
The team will remain with Toyota long term, Hunt confirmed.
“No, not at all. We are committed to Toyota long term, and the Toyota family is a huge reason why I’m even sitting up here and I’m able to continue to progress as a race team,” Hunt said.
Creed: “I can race for the next 15 years”
Creed, who has won multiple races this season and leads the standings, said the move gives him a long-term home even as a NASCAR Cup Series opportunity remains his end goal.
“I’ve had the privilege to race, obviously, for RCR (Richard Childress Racing), JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing), now Haas, run good with all of them, but finally found Victory Lane this year, and numerous times now, being the points leader, is massive for us,” Creed said. “Obviously, haven’t gotten a Cup opportunity, and obviously, that’s still my end goal. But if I don’t ever get that call, I felt like Sam’s (Hunt Racing) is somewhere I can race for the next 15 years and make a good living and be able to raise my family and, yeah, just try to build a good life.”
Creed said Toyota’s resources played a big role in his decision.
“I believe that Toyota resources are arguably the best in our sport. I’ve gotten to race for every manufacturer now, so I’ve gotten to see it all,” Creed said. “I think just getting to learn all that will help me, you know, with the 26 team and Kris Bowen (crew chief), and being able just to share some knowledge.”
Leaving Haas was “not my first choice”
Creed was candid that walking away from the Haas Factory Team, where he has contended for the championship under crew chief Jonathan Toney, was not his preference – but business is business.
“I think it starts with Jonathan Toney, our crew chief, just a great leader, great human, and does a really good job with all of our guys. I feel like our team just gets along great. The shop atmosphere is amazing. I have zero complaints, 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,” Creed said.
“Me and Sam (Hunt, owner, Sam Hunt Racing) have joked about it for years. We hang out away from the racetrack, our wives are friends, and yeah, we would just laugh about it and, like, oh, we’ll get together one day, and, and yeah, just, it finally kind of came true.”
Hunt returned the respect, calling Toney and the Haas group phenomenal and saying he is their biggest cheerleader as they chase this year’s title.
“I not only want to see Sheldon (Creed) be champion this year, but that whole group deserves it,” Hunt said.
What Creed brings – and what comes next
Creed said he plans to share what he has learned across championship-level organizations without forcing his way on a new group.
“I don’t think it’s healthy just to come in and say, this is how we did it, this is how we need to do it,” Creed said. “Every team works a little differently, right? I’m going to try to share as much knowledge as I have, and just, you know, try to put pieces together and help Kris Bowen (crew chief) and all the guys there.”
Asked whether he can contend for a title in his first year with the team, Creed didn’t rule it out.
“I think making the Chase is a main goal, and we’ll start there, and as we get through the season, try to, like, get closer to the front and get wins. I don’t want to count us out. I think if we can get things right, I think certainly we could be in the hunt,” Creed said.
For now, Creed’s focus remains on finishing the 2026 season strong with the Haas Factory Team as the points leader before beginning his next chapter with Sam Hunt Racing in 2027.
“Yeah, just obviously announcing this morning, and then we’re right back to work, and just trying to run as good as we can every week,” Creed said.