An unusual incident occurred during the red flag phase of the NASCAR O'Reilly race at the San Diego street circuit. A fan wearing flip-flops climbed over two fences separating the track and approached Sheldon Creed, who was driving the #00 Haas Factory Team Ford, engaging in conversation with him. The conversation culminated in a fist bump; the fan then slapped the car's hood and, while attempting to climb back over the fence, left one of his flip-flops behind. The seriousness of the incident was heightened considering the race was held at a US military base; federal agents quickly apprehended and handcuffed the man.
During a red flag at a San Diego NASCAR race, a fan in flip-flops ran onto the track and fist-bumped Sheldon Creed — federal agents immediately took him into custody! #NASCAR #SanDiego #FrenYok pic.twitter.com/xWCbYrgv92
— Fren Yok (@frenyok46) June 21, 2026
“"We are not involved in this."”
Creed immediately relayed the following message over the team radio after the incident: 'I think he's drunk. I didn't even understand what he was saying. Please inform our officials that we have no connection with this man.' Speaking to Motorsport.com reporter Matt Weaver after the race, Creed recounted the details of that bizarre exchange. Taking advantage of his spotter asking him to assess the damage, Creed asked, 'How does my damage look?' to which the fan replied, 'Bad!' and then asked, 'Are you still racing?' While Creed tried to remove the man from the scene after being warned by the spotter, he watched in astonishment as the fan quickly climbed over the fence.
Major accident before red flag
The red flag that triggered the incident was linked to a massive chain of accidents at the restart. The collision, involving Sam Mayer, saw over 20 cars entangled, and the Turn 1 wall sustained significant damage. Experiences at the San Diego street race track, This incident once again highlighted the inherent dangers of the track. For drivers waiting alongside vehicles stopped during the red flag period, a fan running onto the track was an unexpected moment.
The second start of the NASCAR O'Reilly race was marked by a chain reaction accident. #NASCAR #OReilly #FrenYok pic.twitter.com/2lNl7sXrW2
— Fren Yok (@frenyok46) June 21, 2026
Such incidents are not entirely new in NASCAR history; in 2007, a spectator entered the track at Watkins Glen during a red flag period, approached Matt Kenseth's car, and asked for an autograph. In 2014, a fan sat on top of a fence at Richmond Raceway while the race was in progress. However, the San Diego incident, occurring within the grounds of a military base, could have far more serious legal consequences.