CONCORD, N.C. — Coming into the Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Roval, defending winner Sam Mayer was below the cut line most likely in need of a win to advance. He did just that in a finish that sparked discussion for hours following the checkered flag.
It started with nine laps to go when Parker Kligerman, who announced it would be his final full-time season in NASCAR, passed Shane van Gisbergen who had on older tires for the lead. Kligerman, who was in search of his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory, began pulling away from the field.
However, with two to go in the race, Leland Honeyman blew a left front tire, causing his No. 42 car to slam into a tire barrier and get stuck underneath it. There was no caution until the white flag was waving and Kligerman was just feet away from the line to take it.
NASCAR ruled that the caution came out before Kligerman crossed the start/finish line and the race went into overtime.
On the ensuing restart, Kligerman was unable to hold onto the lead and Mayer claimed the win.
“To do it (win) at home is something special,” Mayer said. “This (No.) 1 car was fast today but we certainly had to work for it.”
The win is the third of the year for Mayer and the first since Iowa in June. Mayer knew his opportunity to take the win was on the initial lap in overtime, saying Kligerman set him up as they approached the back straightaway portion of the course.
“We (He and Kligerman) were all crossed up getting up in there (Turn 7),” said Mayer. “I was loose getting into (Turn) 6, and I knew that was my only shot if I got a good angle into that corner. He blocked the bottom, which was good for me in that it gave me a better angle up off the corner and got this Chevrolet hooked up, and we were gone from there. Now, I get to celebrate.”
On the opposite side of the celebration for Mayer was the defeat of Kligerman, coming so close to the elusive first career win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
“I teared up when I thought we got it there at the white flag, then the caution comes out, and we had to re-focus,” said Kligerman. “I thought I cut off Turn 7 enough, but he (Mayer) somehow got below me, and then it was on from there.”
It was the second runner-up finish of the season for Kligerman, which came at Atlanta and he also finished a close third at Daytona. Kligerman also saw his final postseason run come to an end early as he needed a win to advance to the Round of 8.
“Now I want to cry,” Kligerman said. “I’m not going to cry, but I really love this game, and it would’ve meant the world.”
AJ Allmendinger finished in second place, his first time not winning at the Roval in his fifth start there in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The result plus a stage victory was good enough to advance on points to the Round of 8.
Justin Allgaier came home seventh, earning 48 total points and surviving a first-round elimination scare. With the points reset for the new round Allgaier is now back at the top of the points standings heading into Las Vegas.
The three other drivers eliminated along with Kligerman were van Gisbergen who finished in third place, Riley Herbst who finished in 32nd and Sheldon Creed who came home 35th. Both Herbst and Creed were involved in a pileup on Lap 34.
Points Standings (Race 3/3 in the Round of 12)
- Sammy Smith (ADVANCED)
- Sam Mayer (ADVANCED)
- Chandler Smith (ADVANCED)
- Cole Custer (ADVANCED)
- Austin Hill (ADVANCED)
- AJ Allmendinger (ADVANCED)
- Justin Allgaier (ADVANCED)
- Jesse Love (ADVANCED)
- Shane van Gisbergen (ELIMINATED)
- Parker Kligerman (ELIMINATED)
- Riley Herbst (ELIMINATED)
- Sheldon Creed (ELIMINATED)
Stage 1 Top 10 Results
- AJ Allmendinger
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Justin Allgaier
- Austin Hill
- Jesse Love
- Sheldon Creed
- Connor Mosack
- Riley Herbst
- Josh Bilicki
- Chandler Smith
Stage 2 Top 10 Results
- Justin Allgaier
- Connor Mosack
- Sam Mayer
- Aric Almirola
- Leland Honeyman
- AJ Allmendinger
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Chandler Smith
- Sage Karam
- Josh Bilicki
Drive for the Cure 250 at the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway Finishing Results
Finish | Start | Car No. | Driver | Sponsor/Make | Status |
1 | 2 | 1 | Sam Mayer (P) | QPS Employment Group Chevrolet | Running |
2 | 3 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger (P) | Campers Inn RV Chevrolet | Running |
3 | 1 | 97 | Shane van Gisbergen (R) (P) | WeatherTech Chevrolet | Running |
4 | 6 | 21 | Austin Hill (P) | Bennett Transportation Chevrolet | Running |
5 | 7 | 81 | Chandler Smith (P) | Wheelers Toyota | Running |
6 | 22 | 48 | Parker Kligerman (P) | Spiked Lite Coolers Chevrolet | Running |
7 | 9 | 7 | Justin Allgaier (P) | Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet | Running |
8 | 4 | 19 | Josh Bilicki | Insurance King Toyota | Running |
9 | 13 | 20 | Aric Almirola | Samaritan’s Purse Toyota | Running |
10 | 16 | 8 | Sammy Smith (P) | Pilot Flying J Chevrolet | Running |
11 | 15 | 9 | Brandon Jones | Menards/Delta Faucets Chevrolet | Running |
12 | 20 | 31 | Parker Retzlaff | Carolina Cowboys Chevrolet | Running |
13 | 14 | 00 | Cole Custer (P) | Andy’s Frozen Custard Ford | Running |
14 | 19 | 91 | Alex Labbe | DGM Racing Chevrolet | Running |
15 | 27 | 27 | Jeb Burton | BG Products Chevrolet | Running |
16 | 11 | 5 | Anthony Alfredo | Dude Wipes Chevrolet | Running |
17 | 25 | 28 | Ryan Sieg | Sci Apps Ford | Running |
18 | 10 | 88 | Connor Mosack (i) | Apollo Pex Chevrolet | Running |
19 | 8 | 2 | Jesse Love (R) (P) | Whelen Chevrolet | Running |
20 | 21 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet Chevrolet | Running |
21 | 29 | 50 | Preston Pardus | Chinchor Electric Co. Chevrolet | Running |
22 | 26 | 38 | Matt DiBenedetto | ReMA Ford | Running |
23 | 35 | 39 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing Ford | Running |
24 | 37 | 92 | Dawson Cram (R) | Trade with Pros Chevrolet | Running |
25 | 38 | 14 | Nathan Byrd | ASAP Commercial Doors Chevrolet | Running |
26 | 31 | 45 | Brad Perez | KSDT/Loose is Fast Podcast Chevrolet | Running |
27 | 33 | 15 | Dylan Lupton | Lupton Excavation Ford | Running |
28 | 36 | 42 | Leland Honeyman (R) | DPR Construction Chevrolet | Accident |
29 | 33 | 07 | Sage Karam | Kellum Law Firm Chevrolet | Brakes |
30 | 28 | 32 | Austin Green | 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet | Engine |
31 | 30 | 43 | Ryan Ellis | Classic Collision Chevrolet | Running |
32 | 12 | 98 | Riley Herbst (P) | Monster Energy Ford | Driveshaft |
33 | 34 | 29 | Blaine Perkins | To The POINT Ford | Running |
34 | 32 | 35 | Thomas Annunziata | NFPA Toyota | Accident |
35 | 5 | 18 | Sheldon Creed (P) | Friends on Jaclyn Foundation Toyota | Accident |
36 | 23 | 11 | Josh Williams | Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet | Accident |
37 | 18 | 26 | Ed Jones | Toyota Racing Development Toyota | Accident |
38 | 24 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Macc Door Systems Chevrolet | Accident |