Trackin’ Trucks: Sheldon Creed Wins, Earns Championship at Phoenix
Sheldon Creed became the 2020 Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series champion at Phoenix Raceway. He earned his fifth win of the season in overtime, going four-wide on a restart that gave him the lead and victory over teammate Zane Smith.
“I can’t believe it, thank you so much,” Creed screamed into his team radio as he crossed the finish line.
“The caution came out and we were like, ‘we’ve got nothing to lose’,” Creed said. “I pride myself on my restarts week-in and week-out and just nailed the restart right there.”
Creed pitted for fresh tires and lined up ninth after a caution came out with a few laps remaining in the Lucas Oil 150, but surged to victory after battling with his teammates for majority of the night.
Smith finished second in the race and the Final 4, clinching Rookie of the Year honors in a year where he earned two victories. Chandler Smith finished third, Christian Eckes finished fourth, and Raphael Lessard rounded out the top-five finishers.
Brett Moffitt finished in the 10th position after leading 78 laps, a disappointing finish for the GMS Racing driver who broke both his legs in an accident prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Moffitt does not have a secured truck ride for 2021.
“It’s frustrating losing like that,” Moffitt said. “It would have been an honor to win with this paint scheme in honor of [NASCAR Cup Series champion] Jimmie Johnson,” said Moffitt, adding, “I guess if broken legs isn’t enough of a handicap, race strategy is.”
Grant Enfinger finished in the 13th position after nearly running Moffitt down in the closing laps. The restart sent Enfinger out of contention late in the event.
Stewart Friesen finished sixth. Ben Rhodes, Tyler Ankrum, Todd Gilliland, and Moffitt finished seventh through 10th, respectively.
