NASCAR
Sheldon Creed Seeking NASCAR Xfinity Series Home; Justin Allgaier Tops Drivers’ Championship Odds
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.
Get to know Jeff Hawkins betterPublished05 Mar 2025
From the start, Sheldon Creed felt at home, posting a P3 during the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway.
In his first outing, Creed piloted the Haas Factory Team’s No. 00 Ford into a late-race duel that included new teammate Sam Mayer, Taylor Gray and eventual winner Jesse Love. A multi-car crash eliminated Creed’s chances at a checkered flag, but his debut helped confirm that he did win the bet he placed on himself during his one-year run with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“I had a lot of fun, probably the funnest I’ve had on a speedway,” Creed told NASCAR.com.
With JGR, Creed posted 16 top-five finishes and 23 top-10s and jumped at the opportunity to join HFT, the rebranded Stewart-Haas Racing organization, during the offseason. After driving for three garages in a 15-month period, he’s seeking to find his NASCAR home. Has he found it?
Entering Saturday’s GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway, Creed, the 2020 Truck Series champion, remains winless in 106 Xfinity starts but has the backing of his new organization.
“I think there’s an edge about him,” HFT President Joe Custer said. “He’s a laid-back guy, but make no mistake, it gnaws at him (that Creed has yet to win), and that’s what I look for in a driver. Not somebody that is just out there riding, but somebody that is frustrated in a good way. We need to put him in a situation where he has the confidence that the car is there.”
Creed (+850) was listed with the sixth-best sports-betting odds to earn the drivers’ championship, according to BetOnline Sportsbook. Reigning titleholder Justin Allgaier (+350) remained the favorite, followed by rookie Connor Zilisch (+400).
You play stupid games you win stupid prizes @jesselovejr1 😄 https://t.co/k8btmJFvP3
— Sheldon Creed (@sheldoncreed) March 1, 2025
2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Odds
Here is an early look at the drivers’ odds for capturing the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship, according to BetOnline Sportsbook:
| Driver | 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Odds |
|---|---|
| Justin Allgaier | +350 |
| Connor Zilisch | +400 |
| Austin Hill | +625 |
| Jesse Love | +775 |
| Sam Mayer | +800 |
| Sheldon Creed | +850 |
| Sammy Smith | +1200 |
| Taylor Gray | +1400 |
| Nicholas Sanchez | +1400 |
| William Sawalich | +1600 |
| Carson Kvapil | +1800 |
| Brandon Jones | +1800 |
| Christian Eckes | +2200 |
| Harrison Burton | +3300 |
| Ryan Sieg | +5000 |
| Jeb Burton | +10000 |
| Matt DiBenedetto | +10000 |
| Dean Thompson | +10000 |
| Parker Retzlaff | +12500 |
| Josh Williams | +12500 |
| Daniel Dye | +12500 |
| Jeremy Clements | +12500 |
| Kyle Weatherman | +12500 |
| Jeremy Clements | +15000 |
| Blaine Perkins | +15000 |
| Ryan Ellis | +15000 |
| Kyle Sieg | +30000 |
| Leland Honeyman Jr. | +50000 |
| Kris Wright | +50000 |
| Garrett Smithley | +50000 |
| Brennan Poole | +50000 |
*-Odds current at time of publication
