It hasn’t been the best season stats wise for Sheldon Creed this year, but the defending NASCAR Truck Series champion is getting back to his winning ways.
Taking Sunday morning’s Truck Series race at Darlington, Creed has officially opened up his 2021 playoffs with wins in each of the first two races of the postseason.
“We’ve had a tough season, but we’re shining at the right time,” Creed said on Fox Sports 1. “It feels so good to get back-to-back wins. We’ll be on the front row at Bristol.”
Creed attributed his success in the playoffs this season to being less intense about his approach to the races.
“I’m just trying to enjoy it,” Creed said on the broadcast. “Last year, I was super serious about it. I had fun, but I want to remember this (run) more.”
Creed was already locked in to the second round of the playoffs, but he picked up a handful of bonus points once again today to help him try and qualify for the final round.
While Creed was on his way to the win, though, tempers flared elsewhere.
After being spun in his No. 45 Niece Motorsports truck, Lawless Alan said on the radio that someone should knock in Derek Kraus’ teeth and that he’s been wrecking trucks all season.
The team also sent a series of tweets regarding the incident.
.@NieceMotorsport twitter is 🍿😳 pic.twitter.com/tvlLCaHNbm
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) September 5, 2021
There’s more to play out here as the playoffs continue in two weeks. The final race of the first round for the series comes at Bristol on September 16.
NASCAR Truck Series Results
Playoffs Round 1 Race 2
Darlington Raceway
1. Sheldon Creed
2. John Hunter Nemechek
3. Stewart Friesen
4. Todd Gilliland
5. Parker Kligerman
6. Grant Enfinger
7. Chandler Smith
8. Johnny Sauter
9. Zane Smith
10. Matt Crafton
11. Carson Hocevar
12. Austin Hill
13. Colby Howard
14. Austin Wayne Self
15. Chase Purdy
16. Derek Kraus
17. Josh Berry
18. Tyler Ankrum
19. Clay Greenfield
20. Danny Bohn
21. Spencer Boyd
22. Spencer Davis
23. Dawson Cram
24. Tanner Gray
25. Josh Reaume
26. Jordan Anderson
27. Lawless Alan
28. Kris Wright
29. Hailie Deegan
30. Jack Wood
31. Dylan Lupton
32. Tyler Hill
33. Ryan Truex
34. Ben Rhodes
35. Norm Benning
36. Jennifer Jo Cobb
37. Ryan Ellis
38. Tate Fogleman
NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Grid
1. Sheldon Creed (ADVANCED, 2 wins)
2. John Hunter Nemechek +67 (ADVANCED, in on points)
3. Matt Crafton +35
4. Stewart Friesen +33
5. Ben Rhodes +15
6. Todd Gilliland +11
7. Carson Hocevar +8
8. Austin Hill +5
______________________
9. Zane Smith -5
10. Chandler Smith -12
