The NASCAR Xfinity Series saw a new rivalry begin at the Focused Health 250 held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
During the race, a confrontation erupted between Sheldon Creed and Jesse Love. These two drivers, both driving for Richard Childress Racing, made it an exciting race with their headbutting.
In fact, it became the day’s highlight, overshadowing even Connor Zilisch’s race win.
With Jesse Love nudging Creed’s car, this pushed the Californian driver to retaliate by pushing Love into the gravel trap. Now, with this rivalry starting towards the beginning of the season, I wouldn’t be surprised if this will turn into a talking point we come back to several times throughout the year.
Sheldon Creed #00 driver of the Friends of Jaclyn Ford enters his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 21, 2025 in Hampton,… Sheldon Creed #00 driver of the Friends of Jaclyn Ford enters his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 21, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia.
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
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Circuit of the Americas is a challenging track known for its demanding layout and elevation changes, making it a tough battle ground for the grid. As part of the third race in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series, this event has already fired up the season. Both drivers have been relatively calm in the past, but that composure seemed to unravel today.
The season so far has set an interesting context leading up to the COTA race. Richard Childress Racing had a successful run with wins in the first two races, with rookie Jesse Love winning the Daytona opener and Austin Hill clinching the victory at Atlanta.
Love, driving the No. 2 car, is fresh out of his teens and in his rookie season, already having started strong with his Daytona win. On the other hand, Creed is a seasoned campaigner in the Xfinity Series but is still chasing his first win. His frustration boiled over at COTA, clearly visible in his reaction on social media soon after the race.
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“You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes,” he posted, clearly disappointed and angry after finding himself pushed down to 12th place following the mix up. Even though Love finished the race in a better position at sixth, the two weren’t happy.
Love simply responded to Creed’s social media barb with a short and blunt reply: “Score board, buddy.”
There are several layers to this rivalry, not just for the drivers involved but for the whole 2025 season. For one, the dynamics within Richard Childress Racing will be something to watch closely. Having two of its drivers in such a heated rivalry could lead to more exciting races but might also pose challenges in maintaining the relationships within the team. Papaya rules, anybody?
And to top it off, with Sheldon Creed currently sitting fourth in the playoff grid and Jesse Love having already secured a spot by winning the series opener, the pressure is on the former to maintain this level of performance.
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