Richard Childress Racing will need to refresh the team’s dynamics. With the situation between the tip of the spear, Austin Hill, and partner Sheldon Creed worsening through the season, the race at Martinsville was the final straw. As Hill went door-by-door against the Joe Gibbs Racing-bound #2 driver, it not only frustrated the regular season champion but also the ones watching it from afar.
The incident left a wave of uneasiness. The team’s vice president of competition was also apparently among the people who felt discontent with Sheldon Creed’s decision-making. This conundrum was the perfect taste of action the fans needed on the penultimate race weekend of the season. Yet, the outrage over the infighting has spilled over to the management as Richard Childress and the team’s VP for competition pounced on Creed for his decisions.
Team owner Richard Childress shows no mercy to the Troublemaker
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Richard Childress is known for fielding some legendary names on the field. From Dale Earnhardt to Kyle Busch, the team has carried on its legacy through its drivers. However, the distance between two drivers on the same team has never been this far. Following a great display in the regular season, JGR’s No. 21 driver, Austin Hill got a chance to continue his dream run in Phoenix. But in a shocking turn of events, the one standing between him and the championship race was none other than his teammate, Sheldon Creed.
While the opportunity also presented the 26-year-old Sheldon Creed with an opportunity to beat the competition and move to Phoenix, his upcoming move to Joe Gibbs Racing undermined his cause’s strength. Yet, looks like for the RCR team owner, it was a clear choice between his two drivers. Richard Childress evidently lashed out at the #2 Chevy driver, as the 78-year-old stated, “I’ve had drivers drive for me before but nobody as stupid as Sheldon Creed.”
“I’ve had drivers drive for me before but nobody as stupid as Sheldon Creed…You don’t do that as a team player. What else do you want me to tell you?” – Richard Childress
Oh my…😭 https://t.co/sd6r9wGIPQ
— Austin Konenski (@AustinKonenski) October 29, 2023
The statement shows clear intent about how the team’s management wanted Creed to go about the issue. Richard Childress found the behavior hard to understand and added, “You don’t do that as a team player. What else do you want me to tell you?” Meanwhile, JR Motorsports star Justin Allgaier was the driver to take advantage of the situation as he sped through the debris-filled track to edge Sheldon Creed to the finish line.
Sheldon Creed will now find himself in the crosshairs of Richard Childress Racing, and even more so after denying their superstar a place in Phoenix. He, however, had his own take on the melee. And RCR’s vice president for competition, Andy Petree, getting angry in his face right after the incident, did not help matters either.
RCR VP couldn’t hold back his frustration with Sheldon Creed
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Creed’s position on the track was a difficult one. Unfortunately, the intent behind his move turned out to be so strong that Austin Hill ended up in a wreck that collected multiple cars with the #21.
Following the harsh conclusion to the race, VP Competition, Andy Petree went straight onto the track to Sheldon Creed and was seen yelling at the 26-year-old. On being asked about the unforgiving reaction to his actions, he said, “(Andy Petree) was just mad at how I raced to 21, but, roles reversed, they don’t say anything,”
“Probably part of the reason that I’m leaving. Obviously, they’re going to be mad. I felt like I got him up off the bottom and I gave him a chance to finish second or third, and they all just drive into him at the end, the 20 got him,” he went on to say.
RCR’s Andy Petree was not happy with Sheldon Creed after that finish. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ev9FZ1s3aL
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) October 28, 2023
“Is it dirty or is it fair? Yeah, but here I’m watching the replay here. We’re side by side in the three. I drive up the hill. He gets me really hard in the center and then the 20 spins him there. I can’t control the 20 spinning him. He is going to be in if the 20 does not spin him out there,“ added Sheldon Creed, describing the course of events that transpired.
Austin Hill has expressed his desire to get his teammate changed as soon as possible. A reaction tad reasonable considering the high stakes of the race. The 29-year-old could have had a chance at having a clean sweep of the regular season and the playoffs, all until the late restart that changed it all.
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Sheldon Creed: That's probably part of the reason I'm leaving.
This was after a conversation with RCR's Andy Petree
Creed says, roles reversed, Petrie wouldn't have said anything to Austin pic.twitter.com/DJMaDKbt0v
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 28, 2023
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Drivers going against their teammates is not a rare sight in a sport that has always been about defending one’s lead and going all out to cut the distance. However, sometimes it can work against one, as it clearly has in this case.
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