Haas Factory Team driver Sheldon Creed went for a wild ride on Saturday evening. He launched the No. 00 Chevrolet into the air after getting sent through the grass.
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The incident unfolded during the final stage of the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Watkins Glen International. Creed, who started last after a crash in practice, worked his way up to 15th place. As he battled Justin Allgaier, he got sent into the grass in the Bus Stop.
Normally, a trip through the grass at Watkins Glen would not be a major issue, especially if the driver slowed down the car enough. However, the amount of rain that fell on Friday and Saturday turned the grass into a treacherous area.
Not exactly how we were trying to get some TV time for @OlliesOutlet… 😅😅😅
The No. 00 is still on track and on the lead lap after this incident at @WGI. pic.twitter.com/K76RgHPCjm
— Haas Factory Team (@HaasFactoryTeam) May 9, 2026
As a result, Creed's car hit the midpoint of the grass and then launched into the air like this was an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard. This ripped the rear off the No. 00 Chevrolet and sent clods of grass flying in all directions.
As expected, the amount of debris flung into the air forced NASCAR to throw the caution. This brought the race to a halt and set up a restart.
Surprisingly, this did not end Creed's day. He made it back to pit road after exiting the grassy area, and his team made repairs to the extent that they could. They kept him on the lead lap ahead of the final green flag pit stops.
Staying on the track was pivotal for Creed, who remains a championship contender. He entered the day second in the championship standings and 121 points back of leader Justin Allgaier. He was 46 points ahead of defending champion Jesse Love.
Creed could not afford to have a DNF after launching the No. 00 into the air. He needed all of the points that he could earn, even with damage.
