Sheldon Creed, the current O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points leader and driver of the No. 00 Chevrolet, will not be returning to Haas Factory Team after the 2026 season. That’s right, the guy with three wins this season, who’s currently sitting 11 points clear of Justin Allgaier in the championship fight, is jumping ship. What a bombshell!
Creed’s New Home and Haas Factory Team’s Dire Search
Creed, the 29-year-old phenom, has inked a multi-year agreement to drive the No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota, with the announcement dropping on Saturday right there at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This makes Sam Hunt Racing his fourth different team in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Talk about making moves while you’re at the top of your game!
Haas Factory Team, understandably, put out a statement confirming the split. They’re thanking Creed for his dedication and those three big wins he brought to the organization. But let’s be real, you don’t want to lose your points leader. The statement also said the No. 00 team “remains focused on wins and the 2026 championship,” which is exactly what you’d expect. As for 2027? Driver lineup announcements are “TBO at this time.” No kidding, they’ve got some serious work to do.
Haas Factory Team Needs TWO Drivers For 2027
Here’s where it gets even tougher for Haas Factory Team. This isn’t their only driver headache for next season. Earlier this year, we heard that Sam Mayer is also bailing at the end of the 2026 season. Mayer, who’s been piloting the No. 41 for HFT for two seasons, is making a return to JR Motorsports.
So, with both Creed and Mayer heading out the door, Haas Factory Team is officially on the hunt for *two* drivers to fill their O’Reilly Auto Parts Series cars for 2027. That’s a massive rebuilding job in front of them.
It’s a lot for a team that’s gone through some changes already. Haas Factory Team, which used to be Stewart-Haas Racing, rebranded for the 2025 season with Cole Custer behind the wheel of the No. 41 in the Cup Series. Custer himself is a former NOAPS champion, winning the title in 2023 when he drove the No. 00 for Stewart-Haas Racing. The whole operation even switched from Ford to Chevrolet before the 2026 season. Now, they’ve got to find new talent to keep the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program competitive.
What’s Next for Creed and HFT
With six races left in the season, Creed is on an absolute tear, having won two of the last three races at Darlington and Bristol. He’s obviously locked in on that 2026 championship and pushing that No. 00 to the limit for Haas Factory Team.
But for Haas Factory Team, the pressure is on. Losing your points leader and another seasoned driver means they’ve got to make some big announcements for their 2027 driver lineup. How they rebuild, and who they bring in, is going to define their next chapter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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