Charlotte Motor Speedway
Monday, May 29, 2023
Race 12 of 33: Alsco Uniforms 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Track Specs: 1.5- mile quad-oval / 200 laps
Race Winner: Justin Allgaier
Mayer’s finish: 35th
Point’s position: 11th (-162)
Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet, fought hard inside the top 10 during the rain-delayed event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday night before an incident in the final stage set him to have trouble with the right front for the remaining of the night and relegated the young driver to a 35th-place finish.
Race Rundown
Mayer set the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevy to start the Alsco Uniforms 300 in the eighth position after a smooth qualifying run Friday afternoon. The rain delayed the start of the event to Monday morning which allowed a shuffle in the lineup for Mayer to move up to start sixth.
The 19-year-old reported that he had no rear stability and just felt as if he could not drive and be aggressive. A competition caution on lap 20 led the team to take four tires, fuel and a slight track bar adjustment. The rain started to flow and the red flag fell for a weather hold. After a few dances with the rain, the No. 1 finished Stage One in the 13th position as another red flag fell and the event was pushed until later Monday night.
The Franklin, Wis. native came down pit road under the rearranged and delayed stage break for four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment that led him to start Stage Two in the 11th position. Quickly breaking inside of the top-10, Mayer held strong finishing out the stage in seventh to earn four stage points. He reported he was starting to feel loose towards the end of the segment and crew chief Mardy Lindley made the call to pit under the break for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
In the green flag shuffle on the restart for the final stage, Mayer settled into the ninth position with 100 laps to go in the race. The driver of the No. 1 reported he was feeling a little bit free just when an incident took place in Turn 2, sending Mayer sliding across the track into the inside barrier. Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) pulled the No. 1 Chevy down pit road for repairs on the right front which ultimately gave the team issues for the remainder of the race.
The young driver fought to stay out and finish the race when a flat right front brought the Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevy back down pit road for four tires and some Sunoco fuel with 25 laps to go and ultimately settled for a 35th -place finish.
Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet team
“It just was not our weekend from the rain to this finish. The No. 1 team brought an awesome car that should have run better but we will pick our heads up and move on to Portland. Super happy for my teammate Justin Allgaier on the win and hopefully we can put one on the board soon for JR Motorsports and this team.”