Mayer Comes Up Short, but Energized In NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Bid
Credit: AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 02: Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Championship Media Day at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Sure, there was disappointment at not being able to win NASCAR’s Xfinity Series championship Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway. But a career best finish at Phoenix, and third in the final series standings, left Wisconsin’s Sam Mayer energized about next year and beyond.
Following a crazy, four-wide dash to the checkered flag in overtime, the 20-year-old Franklin native took pride in being able to battle cleanly for the win with race and title-winning Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek.
“Yeah. That was a lot of fun. That was probably the most fun I've had in a race car in a long time.
“Obviously we came up a little bit short, but it wasn't a lack of effort. Our Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet guys put together an amazing piece today. They've done a great job this entire year. They gave me the opportunity to have a breakout year and even make it to this point.
“It's hectic out there. Like obviously that first restart before overtime we were going to finish fourth, and the good Lord above gave us another shot at it. We came up a little bit short, but it was a really cool opportunity to be able to put on a show like that for one, and to even say that I had a shot at the championship is cool.
“I'm going to come back next year, be even better because that was 100 percent right there for me. I'm going to come back and I'm going to raise my ceiling a little bit more and be better and do the thing.”
“I’m going to come back next year, be even better because that was 100 percent right there for me. I’m going to come back and I’m going to raise my ceiling a little bit more and be better and do the thing.”
Just knowing that he rose to the moment gave the JR Motorsports driver the confidence to be even better in the future.
“Yeah, being in the Championship 4, it's like that extra level of just intensity. You have to rise to the occasion to do that. It just makes you perform better. I think it kind of opened my eyes and gave me another 'a-ha' moment to where I can do this every week.
“The car was really good, obviously. All four of the Champ cars were really fast. That's why we were all up front. I was like, man, I'm running fourth right now and I'm still losing.
“Being fifth obviously at a track like this with my history with it, I'm stoked because it's my best finish here so far.
“It's still a little bit short, obviously, because all the cars are really good. I've got to get myself a little bit better. This was the best I've been, but I plan on being even better next year.”
Credit: ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN - JULY 29: Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Road America 180 at Road America on July 29, 2023 in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Mayer’s road to the Championship 4 began in summer at Elkhart Lake’s Road America where he scored his first career win and locked himself into the playoffs. Three more wins followed, putting him into the championship final.
“Yeah, we figured it out -- like I figured it out, I guess. Even the cars last year I drove with JRM, they were always really good. I just always was kind of like the weak link - not in a bad way - just to where I was still learning and developing.
“These cars are hard to drive. I finally figured it out, got that first win, and the floodgates kind of just opened. I always told myself that was going to happen, and to have it happen feels good because I was almost gas-lighting myself until it happened.
“It feels good to finally get that going. Obviously to make the Champ 4 in general is huge. That's a feat in itself.
“I'm happy to be here. It put a smile on my face all week because you only have one first time here in the Champ 4, so I'm looking forward to having another one and doing even better.”
Credit: AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 04: Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, stands onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 04, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
According to Mayer, something clicked for him in the second half of the season. But what that was, he claims he isn’t exactly sure.
“The competition level this year was so high. You kind of just have to try to keep up the best you can. Throughout the whole year I was just trying to figure it out and figure it out. I had good runs, but I was just inconsistent. Finally, when we got to the summer it was like something clicked, and I finally had speed each and every week, was contending with these guys and doing something right. I didn't know what I was doing different but I was, and I kind of just got used to that feeling.
“Obviously getting those wins just takes pressure off your shoulders, like when is it going to happen, when is it going to happen. It finally happened. And like I said, the floodgates kind of opened from there and I finally found success in the series.
“There's not really a big difference in me. It's just a difference in my performance level.”
As far as what he’ll take from this season heading into next year, Mayer knows what he needs to do.
“I've got to raise my ceiling a little bit next year to be even better, because like I said, the competition level is just so high.
“I've just got to be better, and I plan on doing that.”