TC Daily Pit Stop: Creed Confident in Playoff Run; Herbst Not Confident in 2025 Plans Yet
TC Daily Pit Stop: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
HUMP DAY! We’re there again. Just a couple of more days left until we get back to some racing. Hang in there, it’ll be here before you know it. Here is a breakdown of all of the latest news and notes in the world of NASCAR over the last day or so.
Sheldon Creed’s Confidence and Career Flourishing with Gamble on Himself
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sheldon Creed can’t win. So, what? The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who was at an all-time low point as far as confidence goes at the end of his tenure at Richard Childress Racing, is all smiles as he attempts to chase a championship with Joe Gibbs Racing this year.
“Yeah, I think it certainly has [helped my confidence],” Creed says of the change of scenery. “I think I came to [Joe Gibbs Racing] pretty low on confidence and I’m not sure I was having fun with it anymore, and yeah, I think that’s all turned around. I think my confidence grows every week.”
Even though he’s come bitterly close to winning, but hasn’t, Creed has a series-best 13 top-five finishes, and is among the most consistent drivers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series heading into the Playoffs.
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Riley Herbst ‘Not Confident’ About 2025 Plans As Xfinity Playoffs Begin
For the bulk of the 2024 season, Riley Herbst has been linked in numerous reports to be heading to 23XI Racing in a third-chartered entry in 2025. Only one problem, that team has yet to sign the NASCAR Charter Agreement, and may not even have one charter, much less three.
Heading into the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, Herbst has his eye on the ultimate prize, which is the NASCAR Xfinity Series title, but he can’t help but be distracted by the looming question of what’s next.
"[I'm] not confident, by any means," Herbst said of his 2025 plans. "Distraction-wise, I think it weighs on all of us a little bit. I'd be lying if I said it didn't, hopefully, things kind of sort themselves out in the meantime for the future, but I can't worry about that now."
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Kansas Speedway Entry Lists:
Expectation Versus Reality: NASCAR Puzzled Over Lack of Bristol Tire Wear: Drivers, crew chiefs, and race fans weren’t the only ones perplexed by the total lack of tire wear at Bristol on Saturday night. NASCAR was as well. Elton Sawyer talked about the situation at length on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Tuesday.
Matt Mills Returning to Niece Motorsports No. 42 in 2025: While the 2024 NASCAR Truck Series campaign hasn’t been what Matt Mills and Niece Motorsports hoped for (two top-10 finishes and 22nd in points), they’ll get a chance for a do-over in 2025 as Mills will officially return as the driver of the team’s No. 42 truck.
Mike Harmon Racing Acquires Owner Points from Richard Childress Racing’s No. 33: Mike Harmon Racing, which has only made the field in three of its 10 attempts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season, has acquired the owner points from Richard Childress Racing’s part-time No. 33 entry. The points don’t automatically lock the Harmon team in this weekend, but it slots them ahead of the No. 53 Joey Gase Motorsports team in the owner standings, which gives them a much better chance at qualifying for Kansas.
NASCAR TRIVIA:
NEED A HINT?
The win came at a drafting track
Not Atlanta
Jeff, YOUR LITTLE BOY HAS DONE IT!
DID YOU GET OUR LAST QUESTION CORRECT?
Q: When was the last time a Ford won a NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway?
A: 2020. 61% got it correct. Joey Logano won the 2020 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, which is the most recent win by the blue ovals at Kansas Speedway.