The box score will show a 10th-place run for Sheldon Creed, but his performance in Friday’s Strat 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway demonstrated much more than that.
Creed battled side-by-side with eventual winner Kyle Busch for laps upon laps, with the defending Cup Series champion ultimately besting Creed, who led eight laps, on the outside.
“I got to the point where I could run wide open behind him,” Creed said. “But Kyle’s so good, so smart, that I every time I almost got clear, he’d pull me right back. I could feel myself getting freer and freer and I knew I if I wasn’t careful I was going to get loose, and I ended up getting loose underneath him and lost a few spots.”
The No. 2 of @sheldoncreed puts up a big fight, but a big bobble gives the top spot back to @KyleBusch. pic.twitter.com/RCmaCWsq4l
— NASCAR Camping World Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) February 22, 2020
Creed was proud when reflecting on his run and start to the 2020 season, citing off-season improvements he’s made that he hope helps his cause.
“I’ve been working so hard on my craft this year, in the gym and in general,” Creed said. “It’s nice to see that my racing is getting better and I battled for the lead with one of the best. Some confidence boosting for Atlanta. Got some work to do in the shop with our trucks.”
KYLE BUSCH WINS LAS VEGAS TRUCK RACE IN DOMINATING FASHION
The finish marks Creed’s second consecutive top 10 to open the season (ninth at Daytona) and 15th of his Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career. On the heels of his 2018 ARCA Menards Series championship and a 10th-place finish in the 2019 Truck standings, he’s ready for a win.
“Wins are coming,” he said. “For sure. I just feel good in the truck right now. To be able to go run with Kyle like that in the truck is pretty cool. Just need to get a better craft and balance with our trucks. We made some gains in the offseason but now we need to help other areas. Proud of my guys.”
NASCAR RACE WEEKEND CENTRAL: LAS VEGAS
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