Sheldon Creed suffers yet another runner-up finish at Watkins Glen

Make that 95 races without a NASCAR Xfinity Series win for Sheldon Creed. 

The 26-year-old notched his 12th runner-up finish on Saturday at Watkins Glen, extending his own series record for the most second-place finishes without a victory.

As Connor Zilisch drove into the New York sunset to win in his Xfinity Series debut, Creed was in a dogfight for the runner-up spot with AJ Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen and Chandler Smith. As Zilisch — who was very low on fuel — pulled away, it was all Creed could do to watch as the caution flag came out on the final lap, ending the race. 

Creed had the best fuel situation of any driver in the top five on the race's final restart, but Saturday's results will just be another example of the Alpine, Calif., native wondering what could've been. 

Creed's 12 top-five finishes are the most of any Xfinity Series driver, and his 16 top-10s rank second behind defending champion Cole Custer. In terms of consistency, there's been nobody better than Creed in 2024, but that elusive first win continues to evade him. 

Eight races remain in Creed's tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing before he joins the Haas Factory Team in 2025, and with Creed officially locked into the playoffs after Watkins Glen, the seven-race postseason stretch will offer him the opportunity to earn his first win in a big moment. 

If history is any indication, however, Creed's wait for a win may be extended into 2025.