Sheldon Creed scores final O’Reilly pole of 2026 at Homestead

Sheldon Creed secured the final NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ pole position of the 2026 season at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 7.

The event’s starting lineup was determined through an on-track qualifying session that consisted of a single-car, single-lap qualifying format. During the session, each of the 38 competitors vying for 38 starting spots cycled around Homestead once to post the fastest lap amongst one another. The competitor who posted the fastest lap earned pole position.

During the session, Creed, who was the fourth-fastest competitor during practice that occurred on Friday, November 6, utilized his one-lap session to post a lap at 160.820 mph in 33.578 seconds. Creed’s lap was enough for the Alpine, California, native to claim the top-starting spot for a second time in 2026 and for the series’ Championship Race in Homestead, Florida.

With the pole, Creed achieved his sixth career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole position, his first since Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July and his first at Homestead. Creed, who is making his final start at Haas Factory Team for Saturday’s finale at Homestead, is one of five Chase contenders who are mathematically in contention for this year’s championship battle as he is 42 points behind points leader Justin Allgaier. Creed will attempt to contend for his first series’ title and cap off his two-year campaign at Haas Factory Team on a high note before he transitions to Sam Hunt Racing for the 2027 season.

Creed will share the front row with Austin Hill, the latter of whom is making his final full-time O’Reilly start before he graduates to the Cup Series division with Richard Childress Racing in 2027. Carson Kvapil and Jesse Love, the latter two of whom are competing for the title, qualified third and fourth, respectively. Kvapil, who qualified the third fastest at 160.561 mph in 33.632 seconds, trails teammate Allgaier by 31 points while Love, the reigning O’Reilly champion who qualified the fourth fastest at 160.480 mph in 33.649 seconds, trails in the runner-up spot in the Chase standings by 22 points. While Kvapil will remain in the O’Reilly division and with JR Motorsports next season, Love is making the final full-time start in the O’Reilly division and with Richard Childress Racing before he moves up to the Cup Series to drive for Wood Brothers Racing.

Rookie Brent Crews and Parker Retzlaff will start fifth and sixth, respectively, followed by Corey Day, who posted his lap at 160.081 mph in 33.733 seconds and trails the points lead by 23 points while still being eligible for the championship. Brandon Jones, William Sawalich and Nick Sanchez complete the top-10 starting grid, respectively, while points leader Justin Allgaier will start in 11th place with a lap of 159.697 mph in 33.814 seconds. Allgaier, who leads the standings by 22 points, starts the deepest of the five Chase contenders still in contention for this year’s title as he attempts to win his second in three seasons following Saturday’s finale.

With eight of 12 Chase contenders (Creed, Hill, Kvapil, Love, Retzlaff, Day, Jones and Allgaier) qualifying in the top-11 mark, the remaining Chasers that include Sam Mayer, Rajah Caruth, Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray will start 12th through 15th, respectively.

With 38 competitors vying for 38 starting spots, all made the main event.

Homestead – Starting Lineup:

1. Sheldon Creed, 160.820 mph, 33.578 seconds
2. Austin Hill, 160.633 mph, 33.617 seconds
3. Carson Kvapil, 160.561 mph, 33.632 seconds
4. Jesse Love, 160.480 mph, 33.649 seconds
5. Brent Crews, 160.442 mph, 33.657 seconds
6. Parker Retzlaff, 160.299 mph, 33.687 seconds
7. Corey Day, 160.081 mph, 33.733 seconds
8. Brandon Jones, 159.986 mph, 33.753 seconds
9. William Sawalich, 159.830 mph, 33.786 seconds
10. Nick Sanchez, 159.825 mph, 33.787 seconds
11. Justin Allgaier, 159.697 mph, 33.814 seconds
12. Sam Mayer, 159.579 mph, 33.839 seconds
13. Rajah Caruth, 159.358 mph, 33.886 seconds
14. Sammy Smith, 159.259 mph, 33.907 seconds
15. Taylor Gray, 159.266 mph mph, 33.914 seconds
16. Ryan Sieg, 159.128 mph, 33.935 seconds
17. Harrison Burton, 159.001 mph, 33.962 seconds
18. Patrick Staropoli, 158.763 mph, 34.013 seconds
19. Dean Thompson, 158.753 mph, 34.015 seconds
20. Anthony Alfredo, 158.469 mph, 34.076 seconds
21. Jeb Burton, 158.353 mph, 34.101 seconds
22. Jeremy Clements, 158.056 mph, 34.165 seconds
23. Andrew Patterson, 157.932 mph, 34.192 seconds
24. Will Rodgers, 157.692 mph, 34.244 seconds
25. Brennan Poole, 157.448 mph, 34.297 seconds
26. JJ Yeley, 157.228 mph, 34.345 seconds
27. Brad Perez, 157.150 mph, 34.362 seconds
28. Blaine Perkins, 157.022 mph, 34.390 seconds
29. Lavar Scott, 157.004 mph, 34.394 seconds
30. Mason Maggio, 156.972 mph, 34.401 seconds
31. Kyle Sieg, 156.722 mph, 34.456 seconds
32. Ryan Ellis, 156.681 mph, 34.456 seconds
33. Preston Pardus, 155.611 mph, 34.702 seconds
34. Josh Williams, 155.351 mph, 34.760 seconds
35. Joey Gase, 155.284 mph, 34.775 seconds
36. Josh Bilicki, 155.030 mph, 34.832 seconds
37. Garrett Smithley, 154.896 mph, 34.862 seconds
38. Dawson Cram, 154.657 mph, 34.916 seconds

*Bold indicates Chase contenders

The 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway is scheduled to ocur on Saturday, November 7, at 5 p.m. ET on the CW Network, MRN Radio and SiriusXM.