HFT Weekend Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
By Haas Factory Team
Saturday O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Action:
Date: Saturday, October 10th at 4 p.m. ET
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC
Race Distance: 167 laps / 250.5 miles
Broadcast: CW | PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Sunday Cup Series Action:
Date: Sunday, October 11th at 3 p.m. ET
Track: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC
Race Distance: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Broadcast: USA | PRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
On-Track Activity:
Saturday:
10:30 a.m. ET – O’Reilly Practice
CW App | PRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
11:35 a.m. ET – O’Reilly Qualifying
CW App | PRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
1 p.m. ET – Cup Practice
TruTV | PRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
2:05 p.m. ET – Cup Qualifying
TruTV | PRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
4 p.m. ET – O’Reilly Race
CW | PRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Sunday:
3 p.m. ET – Cup Race
USA | PRN & SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Race Weekend Quick Hits:
- NASCAR returns to the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval in the fall for the first time since 2017 as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series hosts the fifth race of the Chase.
- Sheldon Creed extended his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points lead to 19 points over Carson Kvapil after finishing 13th at Las Vegas last weekend, with five races remaining in the Chase.
- Through 28 races, Creed has put together a breakout campaign, leading the series in average finish (9.6) and top-10 finishes (19), while ranking second in wins (3) and top-five finishes (12).
- Creed has posted a 4.3 average finish through the first four Chase races, including three top-two finishes and a pair of victories.
- Sam Mayer fell one spot to sixth in the NOAPS Chase standings despite gaining 26 points on the points leader, earning a sixth-place finish at Las Vegas for his fourth consecutive top-10 to begin the Chase.
- Mayer’s No. 41 CARDIACS Sports & Memorabilia Chevrolet will feature a special throwback scheme this weekend honoring NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt.
Cup Driver Lineup:
No. 41 Driver: Cole Custer
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, CA
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: Sysco / Carolina Ale House
Custer’s Charlotte Cup Series History:
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —
Key Numbers:
- Custer will make his seventh Cup Series start at Charlotte this weekend, where he owns an 18.2 average finish and a track-best 12th-place result from 2020. He finished 16th in this year’s Coca-Cola 600.
- Custer has one top-10 starting position at Charlotte, qualifying ninth in 2020, and carries a 22.0 average starting position.
- Across eight O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts, Custer has six top-10 results and led 54 laps.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Driver Lineup:
No. 00 Driver: Sheldon Creed
Hometown: Alpine, CA
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Ollie’s
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase Standings: 1st, +19 points
Creed’s Charlotte O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History:
Starts: 5
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —
Key Numbers:
- Creed makes his fifth O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Charlotte on Saturday, where he has recorded two top-10 finishes. His best result came in 2022, when he finished eighth after starting 18th, followed by a 10th-place finish last fall.
- Creed’s best starting position at Charlotte is seventh, which he earned in both 2023 and 2024, and he carries a 10.4 average starting position at the track.
- In three Truck Series starts, he has led 33 laps and recorded one top-five finish.
No. 41 Driver: Sam Mayer
Hometown: Franklin, WI
Crew Chief: Jason Trinchere
Partner: CARDIACS Sports & Memorabilia
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase Standings: 6th, -52 points
Mayer’s Charlotte O’Reilly Auto Parts Series History:
Starts: 5
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: 1 (2022)
Key Numbers:
- Mayer is in line to make his sixth O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Charlotte this weekend, where he finished 11th last fall. He owns two career top-five finishes at the track and a 17.8 average finish.
- Mayer has started inside the top 10 three times at Charlotte, including a pole in 2022, and carries a 7.2 average starting position.
HFT Las Vegas Recap:
- Sheldon Creed extended his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series points lead to 19 points with a 13th-place finish at Las Vegas, while Sam Mayer earned his fourth consecutive top-10 result to open the Chase with a sixth-place run.
- Cole Custer battled a tight-handling car throughout Sunday night’s Cup Series race but showed speed and ultimately finished 27th.