O’Reilly Series: Creed takes Homestead Pole

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Sheldon Creed takes the first step towards a potential NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship with the pole at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

This is his second pole of the season and the sixth of his career.

This is exactly how Creed wants the weekend to begin. Creed enters Homestead still alive in the championship but fifth in points with a 42-point deficit.

The polesitter needs to put together a near-perfect weekend and starting on the front row gives him the best odds to do just that.

From there, Austin Hill joins Creed on the front row from second place in his final series race with Richard Childress Racing before he joins them in the NASCAR Cup series.

Two drivers still eligible for the title occupy the second row. Last weeks winner Carson Kvapil will start from third with the defending series champion Jesse Love in fourth.

Brent Crews qualifies fifth in his first outing at the South Florida track. Then, Parker Retzlaff joins the highest qualified Toyota on the third row from sixth.

Corey Day enters Homestead with a 23-point deficit to Chase leader Justin Allgaier and starts ahead of him in seventh. Brandon Jones joins him on the fourth row from eighth later today.

Finally William Sawalich and last night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series polesitter Nick Sanchez rounds out the top ten.

Notable Entrants

Chase leader Justin Allgaier enters with a 22-point advantage over second place Jesse Love. Allgaier will hold out hope for a better long run car to achieve his second series title as he will start outside the top ten from 11th.

Will Rodgers makes his final start of 2026 with his Big Machine Racing prepared No. 53 entry in 24th. Rodgers was just announced to drive their No. 48 entry full-time in 2027 replacing Patrick Staropoli.

Finally, JJ Yeley will run double-duty this weekend in the O’Reilly and Cup Series. He will start 26th as he prepares for his 400th Cup Series start tomorrow.

38 entrants entered the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series 300 and all of them will make the race.

Below is the full starting lineup for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ ninth and final Chase race of the season.

Starting Lineup

1. Sheldon Creed: 33.578
2. Austin Hill: 33.617
3. Carson Kvapil: 33.632
4. Jesse Love: 33.647
5. Brent Crews: 33.657
6. Parker Retzlaff: 33.687
7. Corey Day: 33.733
8. Brandon Jones: 33.753
9. William Sawalich: 33.786
10. Nick Sanchez(i): 33.787
11. Justin Allgaier: 33.814
12. Sam Mayer: 33.839
13. Rajah Caruth: 33.886
14. Sammy Smith: 33.917
15. Taylor Gray: 33.914
16. Ryan Sieg: 33.935
17. Harrison Burton: 33.962
18. Patrick Staropoli: 34.013
19. Dean Thompson: 34.015
20. Anthony Alfredo: 34.076
21. Jeb Burton: 34.101
22. Jeremey Clements: 34.165
23. Andrew Patterson: 34.192
24. Will Rodgers: 34.244
25. Brennan Poole: 34.297
26. JJ Yeley: 34.345
27. Brad Perez: 34.362
28. Blaine Perkins: 34.390
29. Lavar Scott: 34.394
30. Mason Maggio: 34.401
31. Kyle Sieg: 34.456
32. Ryan Ellis: 34.465
33. Preston Pardus: 34.702
34. Josh Williams: 34.760
35. Joey Gase: 34.775
36. Josh Bilicki: 34.832
37. Garrett Smithley: 34.862
38. Dawson Cram: 34.916