Sam Mayer gears up for a homecoming race at the 4.048-mile Road America. (Photo: Logan Skidan | The Podium Finish)
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. – While most NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers can relate to Willie Nelson’s 1980 hit tune “On the Road Again,” Sam Mayer is back home again.
Mayer does not call Indiana home like the song vocalized prior to the Indianapolis 500 by Jim Cornelius and the late Jim Nabors. Instead, Mayer calls Franklin, Wisconsin his hometown, just 70 miles due south of the 4.048-mile Road America road course.
Heading into Saturday’s Henry 180, Mayer ranks ninth in the championship standings. Momentum may be on his side after a runner-up result at Pocono Raceway, persevering through a rough and tumble Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 that ravaged many racecars, including his No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro.
Over the past two years, Mayer has sharpened his knives as he learns to harness his aggression and slick driving skills on the track. At age 20, the JR Motorsports racer seems to be on the verge of breaking through to Victory Lane in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
Saturday’s 48-lap race may be the next, best opportunity for the young gun driver. For starters, he will have some motivation in familiar supporters at the track.
Mayer navigates his way around the recently repaved Road America. (Photo: Maddie Skidan | The Podium Finish)
“Going back to your home track is always a fun time,” Mayer said in a team press release. “I am excited to see some family and hopefully grab a good run at Road America.”
A good, competitive run may be in the offing for the hard charger. After posting the 15th fastest time in Friday’s extended practice session, he cranked out the fifth fastest time in qualifying, matching his starting spot from last year.
In the past two years, Mayer’s homecoming race weekend have been arduous and contentious. Namely, in his first start at the famed road course in 2021, he started 23rd and wrecked after 12 laps, relegating himself to a 35th place DNF. Last year, he started fifth, placed seventh in Stage 1 but fell back to a 20th place result.
Certainly, Mayer know how to get to the winner’s circle at the renowned Wisconsin speed palace. Two years ago, he took the checkered flag in a Big Machine Spiked Coolers TA2 race.
This time, he hopes for a much better outcome in the series’ second and only other standalone event of the 2023 season. Despite the tough outcomes in Mayer’s first two trips to Road America, he is not flummoxed.
With a TA2 win at Road America in 2021, perhaps Mayer can return the No. 1 car back to Victory Lane. (Photo: Mike Moore | The Podium Finish)
Patience and poise seem to be prevalent with Mayer’s MO in recent weeks. If JR Motorsports looks to strengthen its numbers for the Playoffs, a good, clean effort by Mayer at Road America may just be in the offing.
If anything, Mayer is ready for the task at hand on Saturday afternoon. Alongside Mardy Lindley, his crew chief, the driver of the No. 1 Accelerate Pro Talents Chevrolet believes he can finally nab a solid result and be in the mix for the victory.
“I have not had the best luck there in the past,” he said. “But my No. 1 team has been putting together some really fast cars and I am excited to see what we can do this weekend, especially after coming off of a hot run in Pocono.”
