{"id":33825,"date":"2021-05-06T22:40:12","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T03:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=33825"},"modified":"2021-05-09T13:03:43","modified_gmt":"2021-05-09T18:03:43","slug":"sheldon-creed-holds-off-ben-rhodes-for-darlington-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2021\/05\/06\/sheldon-creed-holds-off-ben-rhodes-for-darlington-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheldon Creed holds off Ben Rhodes for Darlington win"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Sheldon Creed, driver of the #2 GMS Racing Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LiftKits4Less.com 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 07, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

After a 17-truck wreck effectively ended Kyle Busch Motorsports\u2019 stranglehold on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Sheldon Creed outdueled Ben Rhodes on the final two restarts to win Friday night\u2019s LiftKits4Less.com<\/a> 200 at Darlington Raceway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sheldon Creed, driver of the #2 GMS Racing Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LiftKits4Less.com 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 07, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Driving a No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet whose paint scheme was an homage to the late Jason Leffler, Creed took the lead from runner-up Rhodes in a side-by-side battle after a restart on Lap 140. <\/p>\n

After Danny Bohn\u2019s spin brought out the 11th caution of the race on Lap 141, Creed prevailed once again on a Lap 146 restart when Rhodes got loose, slipped and lost ground. Fittingly, the race ended under yellow for Hailie Deegan\u2019s final lap spin on the frontstretch.<\/p>\n

That caution was the 12th of the race, for a total of 66 of the 147 laps.<\/p>\n

Creed, the defending series champion, collected a $50,000 bonus for winning the first Triple Truck Challenge event of the season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sheldon Creed, driver of the #2 GMS Racing Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LiftKits4Less.com 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 07, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cIt feels great,\u201d Creed said after a celebratory burnout on the frontstretch. \u201cDidn\u2019t have the best truck there, for sure\u2026 firing off I was really tight. Then I was wrecking loose there, just doing everything I could.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was really aggressive on restarts \u2014 that\u2019s what it takes. We\u2019ve been struggling, but we keep chipping away at it. We\u2019re getting better trucks the last couple weeks. All I ask for are trucks I can race with.<\/p>\n

\u201cWon an extra $50K tonight \u2014 whoo!\u201d<\/p>\n

The victory was Creed\u2019s first of the season, first at Darlington and the sixth of his career. Not only did it stop a record-tying streak of five-straight victories for KBM, but it also broke Toyota\u2019s seven-race monopoly to start the season.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Todd Gilliland, driver of the #38 Black’s Tire Ford, Ryan Reed, driver of the #24 GMS Racing Chevrolet, and Tyler Ankrum, driver of the #26 LiUNA! Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LiftKits4Less.com 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 07, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Before a game-changing restart on Lap 117, however, KBM drivers seemingly had firm control of the race. Series leader and Stage 2 winner John Hunter Nemechek held the point with teammate Corey Heim \u2014 making his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut on one of NASCAR\u2019s most challenging tracks \u2014 beside him.<\/p>\n

But wide disparities in tire strategy created an accordion effect on the restart, with trucks with newer tires pushing trucks that were having trouble putting power down. Nemechek and Heim both turned sideways due to contact from behind, and chaos reigned in their wake.<\/p>\n

All told, 17 of the 33 trucks still running sustained damage in the wreck, including all three of the KBM entries.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Austin Hill, driver of the #16 United Rentals Toyota, and Spencer Davis, driver of the #11 Inox Supreme Lubricants Toyota, spin after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series LiftKits4Less.com 200 at Darlington Raceway on May 07, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

That set the stage for Creed and Rhodes to battle for the victory. Rhodes had recovered from two flat tires and a penalty for pitting early to work his way back to the front.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw going into the corner we were going to push low, so I tried to work our way back up to give us some line so we could be side-by-side coming off of (Turn) 2, but got really loose,\u201d Rhodes said of the final restart. \u201cLuckily, we saved it, but it was an up-and-down night. I had a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe set ourselves up for the end there with our Bombardier Tundra to go for a long run \u2014 with like low pressures, and then lo-and-behold, red flags and caution after caution after caution. So what do you do, right? He had seven-lap newer tires, some help on the restarts, and I guess conditions were perfect for him, but I\u2019m not going to pout about it. I\u2019m driving a race car. I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunoco rookie Carson Hocevar ran third, followed by Matt Crafton, Grant Enfinger and Johnny Sauter, as ThorSport Racing placed four trucks in the top six. Timmy Hill was seventh, and Nemechek recovered to finish eighth. Austin Wayne Self and Jordan Anderson completed the top 10.<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Post-Race: Second-place finisher Ben Rhodes (No. 99 Thorsport Toyota) and race winner Sheldon Creed (No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet)<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/DARNCWTSRhodesCreed050721audio.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – 2nd Annual Liftkits4less.com<\/a> 200<\/strong><\/p>\n

Darlington Raceway<\/strong><\/p>\n

Darlington, South Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday, May 7, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

               1. (15)  Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               2. (4)  Ben Rhodes, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               3. (14)  Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               4. (9)  Matt Crafton, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               5. (17)  Grant Enfinger, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               6. (6)  Johnny Sauter, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               7. (26)  Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               8. (1)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               9. (12)  Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               10. (31)  Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               11. (18)  Ryan Truex, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               12. (19)  Ryan Reed, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               13. (2)  Austin Hill, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               14. (16)  Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               15. (5)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 147.<\/p>\n

               16. (3)  Zane Smith, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               17. (22)  Erik Darnell, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

               18. (27)  Danny Bohn, Toyota, 147.<\/p>\n

               19. (21)  Timothy Peters, Chevrolet, 147.<\/p>\n

              20. (10)  Hailie Deegan #, Ford, 147.<\/p>\n

               21. (38)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 146.<\/p>\n

               22. (34)  Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 144.<\/p>\n

               23. (13)  Corey Heim, Toyota, DVP, 142.<\/p>\n

               24. (37)  Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, Overheating, 139.<\/p>\n

               25. (7)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, DVP, 131.<\/p>\n

               26. (36)  Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, Accident, 130.<\/p>\n

               27. (8)  Chandler Smith #, Toyota, Parked, 126.<\/p>\n

               28. (35)  David Gilliland, Ford, Accident, 117.<\/p>\n

               29. (28)  Spencer Davis, Toyota, Accident, 117.<\/p>\n

               30. (33)  Tate Fogleman, Chevrolet, Accident, 117.<\/p>\n

               31. (32)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, Accident, 117.<\/p>\n

               32. (39)  BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, Accident, 117.<\/p>\n

               33. (11)  Tanner Gray, Ford, Accident, 110.<\/p>\n

               34. (23)  Akinori Ogata, Toyota, Accident, 110.<\/p>\n

               35. (20)  Derek Kraus, Toyota, 109.<\/p>\n

               36. (24)  Chase Purdy #, Chevrolet, Accident, 80.<\/p>\n

               37. (40)  Norm Benning, Chevrolet, Too Slow, 61.<\/p>\n

               38. (25)  Codie Rohrbaugh, Chevrolet, Accident, 26.<\/p>\n

               39. (30)  Kris Wright #, Chevrolet, Accident, 25.<\/p>\n

               40. (29)  Cory Roper, Ford, Accident, 13.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  81.041 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 28 Mins, 40 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Under Caution Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  12 for 66 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  20 among 12 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   J. Nemechek 1-6;A. Hill 7-17;R. Truex 18-21;B. Rhodes 22-32;T. Gilliland 33-48;A. Ogata<\/p>\n

49;S. Friesen 50-51;T. Gilliland 52;J. Nemechek 53-85;T. Gray 86-87;T. Hill 88;J. Nemechek 89-94;C.<\/p>\n

Hocevar # 95;J. Nemechek 96-105;C. Heim 106;J. Nemechek 107-116;C. Heim 117;B. Rhodes 118-139;S. Creed<\/p>\n

140-144;B. Rhodes 145;S. Creed 146-147.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  John Hunter Nemechek 5 times for 65 laps; Ben Rhodes 3<\/p>\n

times for 34 laps; Todd Gilliland 2 times for 17 laps; Austin Hill 1 time for 11 laps; Sheldon Creed 2<\/p>\n

times for 7 laps; Ryan Truex 1 time for 4 laps; Corey Heim 2 times for 2 laps; Stewart Friesen 1 time for<\/p>\n

2 laps; Tanner Gray 1 time for 2 laps; Akinori Ogata 1 time for 1 lap; Timmy Hill 1 time for 1 lap; Carson<\/p>\n

Hocevar # 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 38,4,21,16,2,88,18,51,98,26<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 4,51,42,18,52,56,38,2,16,25<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service After a 17-truck wreck effectively ended Kyle Busch Motorsports\u2019 stranglehold on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Sheldon Creed outdueled Ben Rhodes on the final two restarts to win Friday night\u2019s LiftKits4Less.com 200 at Darlington Raceway. Driving a No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet whose paint scheme was an homage to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":33830,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[651,16,160,268,706],"class_list":["post-33825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-darlington-raceway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-camping-world-truck-series","tag-ncwts","tag-sheldon-creed"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1316882865-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1760&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-8Nz","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33825"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33845,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33825\/revisions\/33845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}