NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Sheldon Creed (18) during the Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NASCAR drivers trade blows on social media after run-in at COTA

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Mar 1, 2025 6:14 PM ET

Following Saturday's Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas, two NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers took to social media to air their displeasure with each other.

During Saturday's race, 2020 NASCAR Truck Series champion Sheldon Creed and Daytona Xfinity Series winner Jesse Love made contact. After Love nudged Creed out of the way, Creed got revenge by pushing Love's No. 2 into the gravel trap.

Love came across the line with a sixth-place finish, while Creed faded late in the race and ended up in 12th.

In a post-race post on X, Creed aired his frustration, telling Love, "You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes."

You play stupid games you win stupid prizes @jesselovejr1 https://t.co/k8btmJFvP3
— Sheldon Creed (@sheldoncreed) March 1, 2025

Love's response was simple: "Score board, buddy."

Score board buddy https://t.co/YISy5MnUm1
— jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1) March 1, 2025

Love's win at Daytona on Feb. 15 was the second of his Xfinity Series career, while Creed is still searching for his first Xfinity Series victory after 106 starts. Love is locked into the 2025 Xfinity Series playoffs, while Creed sits fourth on the playoff grid following COTA, 40 points above the playoff cut line.

Love and Creed have traditionally been relatively mellow competitors, and haven't had any major run-ins with each other to this point. A potential rivalry between Love and Creed could be a storyline to follow early in the Xfinity Series season.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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