Denny Hamlin's Reaction to Sheldon Creed's Historic NASCAR O'Reilly Win at Atlanta
Denny Hamlin expressed his delight as Sheldon Creed secured his first-ever NASCAR O'Reilly win at Atlanta, marking a significant milestone in his racing career. In a recent podcast interview, Hamlin shared his thoughts on Creed's hard-fought victory, which came after 137 races in the O'Reilly Series.
"Finally!" Hamlin exclaimed, echoing Creed's sentiments post-race. "It wasn't quite how he envisioned it, but with some other drivers facing issues, he managed to find his way to the top. He's had his fair share of setbacks, so this win is well-deserved, especially on the final lap."
The race's pivotal moment occurred during the final lap, where Austin Hill and Ross Chastain collided while battling for the lead. This collision handed Creed the top spot, ultimately leading him to victory.
Creed, driving the No. 00 Chevrolet for the Haas Factory Team, expressed his elation, stating, "Incredible! It all worked out. I've had numerous strong performances, but this is the first time I've crossed the finish line first. After a close second-place finish in Turn Two, we managed to pull through and secure the win."
Despite the win, Chastain, who finished sixth, took responsibility for the collision with Hill, saying, "There's no excuse. I turned him, and I'm sorry I did that to another Chevy. I'm glad Sheldon was there to take it from there. I didn't intend to crash, but I didn't execute the move well."
Creed's journey in the O'Reilly Series includes a second season as a full-time driver and his fifth season overall. He has finished as the runner-up 15 times, including twice in the previous season. Prior to joining the O'Reilly Series, Creed spent three seasons as a full-time driver in the Truck Series, where he achieved eight race wins and the Truck Series championship in 2020.
