Sam Mayer on track during NASCAR Xfinity Series practice. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish).
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — There is no better feeling to start the season off than with a good run at Daytona International Speedway and Sam Mayer did just that, finishing second in the United Rentals 300.
Mayer, driving in his first race for the newly branded Haas Factory Team, started eighth after qualifying was rained out. He stayed out of trouble throughout the race and was in contention at the end.
Coming to one lap to go, he found himself leading the bottom lane chasing down Jesse Love when a multi-car wreck involving defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier and others brought out the caution just as the leaders took the white flag, handing Love the victory.
Finishing top five to start the season is always a great momentum starter, but Mayer wanted to have a shot at the win on the final lap.
“There’s a lot of positivity going on right now, especially going into Atlanta (Motor Speedway),” he said post-race. “Definitely P2- which is my first top five so I’m not going to complain too much, but P2 definitely stinks.”
Sam Mayer (No. 41) battling for position during the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish).
Despite not getting the win, Mayer acknowledged the second-place run gets his No. 41 team started out going the right direction leaving Daytona International Speedway, something he struggled with the past few seasons while driving for JR Motorsports.
“I can unfortunately say this is the first time I walked out of Daytona with at least a half-decent points day, so it means a lot,” he told reporters following the race. “Now we can go into the next couple of weeks with some momentum and I’m really looking forward to it where as in years past there was always just a little bit of something.”
Mayer worked well all night after game planning with new Haas Factory Team teammate Sheldon Creed, who is entering his fourth full-time season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
“We put ourselves in a really good spot, the (No.) 00, Sheldon (Creed) led and controlled a lot of the race,” he said. “The cars are fast, they can do it and coming out with two podium finishes is really cool.”
Even with the plan before the race, the two Haas Factory Team Fords were unable to keep one of the Richard Childress Racing cars out of Victory Lane and have now won four season openers in a row.
Sam Mayer (No. 41) battling with Haas Factory Team teammate Sheldon Creed (No. 00), Harrison Burton (Np. 25) and Taylor Gray (No. 54) during the United Rentals 300. (Photo: Donald Jenney | The Podium Finish)
“You can plan all you want, be prepared all you want but these guys are racers and this is one of the top levels of motorsports,” he said. “Everyone’s going to bring their A-game every single week.”
Heading to another superspeedway-style track next week at Atlanta, Mayer will look to finish one spot better and get to Victory Lane for the first time in 2025.
“Me and Sheldon (Creed) are for sure going to talk and I’m going to learn a lot from it and we’re going to go to Atlanta and hopefully do the same thing, just a couple of spots better.”
