A new era has begun in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and Haas Factory Team wasted no time proving they’re here to win.
Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer delivered an outstanding debut performance at Daytona International Speedway, finishing second and third in the United Rentals 300. Yet, despite their impressive start, it was a bittersweet ending—as they watched Jesse Love steal victory with a perfectly executed overtime restart.
Creed and Mayer Shine, But Love’s Chevy Steals the Win
🚨 WHAT HAPPENED:
🔹 Creed and Mayer lined up in the inside lane for the overtime restart.
🔹 Jesse Love got a crucial push from Toyota’s Taylor Gray, despite driving a Chevy.
🔹 With no late-race help, Creed couldn’t make a final charge.
🔹 A multi-car crash on the white flag sealed the running order, locking Creed and Mayer in P2 & P3.
After the race, Sam Mayer summed up the moment with a bold statement:
“Welcome to Xfinity, Haas Factory.”
The newly rebranded team, built from the remnants of Stewart-Haas Racing, nearly delivered the perfect result in its first official race.
Creed on Superspeedway Racing: ‘Loyalty Won’t Win You Races’
Sheldon Creed, who was agonizingly close to victory, believes Daytona taught him a valuable lesson about how alliances work at superspeedways.
“I think everyone is kind of catching on. If you marry yourself too much to your manufacturer cars or your teammates, you just get passed.”
“Just didn’t quite have the help out back that I needed. He (Love) could rebound and get back by me.”
The strategy of sticking with Ford teammates didn’t pay off, while Jesse Love had the speed AND a surprise Toyota ally pushing him to victory.
What’s Next for Haas Factory Team?
🚀 Takeaways from Daytona:
🔹 Haas Factory Team is already competitive—a huge statement in their first race.
🔹 Superspeedway strategy needs tweaking—relying solely on teammates won’t always work.
🔹 Creed and Mayer have the speed to win—expect them to be front-runners all season long.
Creed is already looking ahead to Atlanta, where handling will be a bigger factor than drafting.
“Just happy with another good start to a season and ready to get through Atlanta and get to real racetracks.”
The Bottom Line: Haas Factory Team Has Arrived
While Daytona didn’t end in victory, finishing second and third in their debut race is a massive statement for the new Haas Factory Team.
With two hungry drivers and serious speed, this team is already a championship contender—and their first win is only a matter of time.
