Sam Mayer had a heckuva homecoming last weekend at Road America. (Photo: Mike Moore | The Podium Finish)
BROOKLYN, Mich. – It was only a matter of time before Sam Mayer finally broke through to NASCAR XFINITY Series victory lane.
The fast, aggressive racer from Franklin, Wisconsin scored his first win in grand fashion at his home state Road America road course. Despite tearing up his race winning No. 1 Accelerate Pro Talents Chevrolet Camaro, the JR Motorsports racer was jubilant in the winner’s circle.
Before clambering into his ride, Mayer had a good feeling about his chances at the 4.048-mile FIA Grade 2 venue. Such positive thinking and a fast car played crucial roles with the young racer’s winning performance.
Mayer joined the likes of the late Dick Trickle, Matt Kenseth and Johnny Sauter as some of the most prominent Wisconsinites to win in the NASCAR XFINTY Series. As wonderful as Road America victory was for Mayer, like a skillful baseball slugger who hit a grand slam, it is on to the next at-bat.
In this case, Mayer and his team turn their attention to Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway. This 2-mile superspeedway may be a historically decent track for his organization, but it has not been too kind to the young racer.
Despite the back-to-back 33rd place results in the past two years, Mayer feels optimistic about his chances.
After all, there is nothing like a little momentum to brighten up one’s prospects against a formidable challenge.
Mayer hopes to drive his No. 1 car to the number one spot again in consecutive weeks. (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
“Michigan has been a tough track for me in the past,” Mayer said in a team press release. “I am looking forward to getting back up there this weekend especially coming off the thrill of my first career win.”
That thrill should not come to anybody’s surprise considering his strong streak in the past 11 races with five top fives and eight top 10 results. Moving up from 11th to sixth in the championship standings, Mayer locked his Playoffs spot ahead of next month’s regular season finale at Kansas Speedway.
Throughout his budding stock career, Mayer has been seen as a diamond in the rough. At times, he can push the envelope, compromising himself and his team with a shot to win the race.
Lately, the two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion has showcased a more polished form of his aggressive approach. Like Kevin Harvick in his second full-time XFINITY Series season, Mayer has been learning to methodically choose the battles to fight or dismiss.
On Friday afternoon, Mayer posted the 17th fastest time in practice and the 14th fastest 10-lap average. With some heads up teamwork by crew chief Mardy Lindley and the No. 1 team, Mayer rocketed to the fourth starting position ahead of Saturday’s 125-lap race.
More importantly, Mayer should have some confidence with taking on the mammoth Michigan asphalt arena. At Fontana, Michigan’s former 2-mile sister counterpart in Southern California, the hot shoe finished sixth and second.
It took 71 starts before Mayer celebrated his first career XFINITY Series win. Now, he hopes it only takes one start to snag his second career win to build more momentum before the Round of 12 kicks off with next month’s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
“Road America was a dream come true,” he said. “Now that we finally got that first one out of the way, I am looking to keep this hot streak going and see what we can do in Michigan.”
