NASCAR Star Lifts Lid on Unspoken Garage Reality With Shock Paycheck Confession

NASCAR driver Sheldon Creed revealed that his upcoming 2027 move to Sam Hunt Racing will mark the first time in his career that he receives a paycheck directly from a race team. Creed, who currently leads the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series championship, is departing Haas Factory Team at the conclusion of the 2026 season after both parties failed to reach a business agreement.

Creed signed a multi-year deal to drive the No. 26 Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing, replacing Dean Thompson. Despite walking away from a title-contending car, the 29-year-old explained that financial sustainability and long-term career stability outweighed current competitive levels, noting that on-track success does not always align with racing business demands.