Sam Mayer may have sweated in the sun, but he kept a steady wheel in a car with No. 1. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
FORT WORTH, Texas – Throughout an intense and frantic Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway, Sam Mayer fought tenaciously for a strong result.
Certainly, most of his competitors’ cars looked like they saw the battle scars of competing at Martinsville. Similarly, Mayer’s No. 1 Accelerate Pros Chevy Camaro had some left front damage from one of Saturday afternoon’s multi-car accidents.
With only 21 cars left on the track a myriad of wrecks that depleted the field, Mayer kept himself in the fight in the late going.
Despite placing 27th in Stage 1, Mayer rocketed his way to a 10th place finish in Stage 2.
Once the field settled down in Stage 3, Mayer brought his No. 1 ride to a workmanlike eighth, a finish that was more than a respectable points paying finish to kick off this year’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.
Beyond the attrition and usual thoughts with Texas, a track linked with the PJ1 Trackbite application, Mayer and his peers had to contend with the unseasonable heat and humidity for late September weather in “The Lone Star State.”
Still, Mayer, perhaps as a result of his youthfulness and a fast car off the truck, was more than up to the task.
Mayer kept on digging when the going got tough at Texas. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
“Yeah. it was hot to begin with,” Mayer said following the race. “And all the damage, I think, had a crush panel in so I really didn’t feel that great after the Stage 2 break. I was really hurting, but I felt good enough.
“I told Taylor (Moyer, crew chief), he told me there were 70 laps to go. I told him I can do 79 if need be. So, we made it to the end. But really, physically I’m definitely hurting but not feeling good. At least we’re above the cutoff.”
Additionally, Mayer has more than just some breathing room on his side. The 19-year-old Franklin, Wisconsin native is paired with the talented Moyer.
Some of his advice paid dividends in an action packed race that did not have a dull moment right from the onset.
“Just being smart,” Mayer said. “That didn’t really show too much today, but we did pretty much everything right. In the initial start, the 11 (Daniel Hemric) about jumped the 19 (Brandon Jones) and the entire field. And I was just trying to stay safe and I could fall back to 17th and rally back up to eight in that in that first segment.
“So, all things considered, we had so much speed and we have a lot of momentum. Even though it didn’t look great today, we feel great.”
Outside of a 33rd at Michigan and crash resulting 34th at Daytona, Mayer’s turning up the wick with finishes of sixth at Watkins Glen, 11th at Darlington, ninth at Kansas and fourth at Bristol.
While an eighth may seem like another run of the mill result, such a result in a crash marred race at Texas showcased plentiful positives for Mayer and JR Motorsports.
Moreover, Mayer expressed genuine confidence that he could have great times like teammate Noah Gragson if recent track performances hold true.
Mayer likes his chances in the Round of 12. (Photo: Dylan Nadwodny | The Podium Finish)
“Yeah, it just helps me knowing that there’s speed in the organization and in the shop,” he observed. “Hats off to Noah. He’s kicking butt this year. They couldn’t really be much better right now. But I mean, two wild car races are ahead of us.
“(At) Talladega, we were hauling the mail in the spring and got wrecked with two to go, when we should have probably won that race. And then ROVAL, last year, I was P2 coming to the white (flag) and then ran out of gas on the last lap. So probably could have won that one too.”
Although most of the field may have their reservations about Talladega and the Charlotte ROVAL, Mayer’s licking his chops about his chances, even if he encounters more risky business.
“All things considered, I’m pumped up for this round,” he shared. “If I’m going to have adversity in the Playoffs. I’d rather have it right now in this round than anything else.”
