JR Motorsports Race Report: Phoenix Raceway
Saturday, March 11, 2023
Race 4 of 33: United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway Track Specs: 1- mile oval / 200 laps Race Winner: Sammy Smith Mayer’s finish: 11th Point’s position: 7th (-67)
Sam Mayer, driver of the No.1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet, had a hard-fought run in Saturday’s United Rentals 200 at Phoenix Raceway, resulting in an 11th-place finish. After a quiet Stage One and Stage Two, the final stage shook up the field and ultimately guided the young driver to a track-best finish at Phoenix that sits him now seventh in the standings.
Race Rundown
Mayer started out Saturday’s main event in the 13th position after a steady qualifying round Saturday morning.
The first yellow flag of the day dropped on lap 30 after debris from the No. 45 detached and slid across the track. Under the caution, the driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet reported that he was really good on entry but did not have a whole lot of stability.
Mayer was called down pit road after the second caution was shown just 10 short laps later. Crew chief Mardy Lindley called for four tires and fuel, settling Mayer in 19th for the restart. The Franklin, Wis. native cruised into the top 10 from there and finished Stage One in eighth.
The No. 1 Chevrolet stayed out under the stage break which led him to restart the field in the top spot. With a caution on the restarting lap, Mayer remained in first on the restart once again, but dropped two spots in the green- flag shuffle.
On lap 85 the sixth caution on the day came out and Lindley called Mayer down pit road for four tires and fuel. The young driver fell 11th in line for the restart and ultimately finished Stage Two in the eighth position.
Mayer and the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet stayed out under the stage-ending caution and lined up fifth to start the third and final stage.
Through the majority of the stage, Mayer was quiet on the radio as he maintained position in the top five. Spotter Kevin Hamlin came over the radio and reported to Mayer “keep up the pace, don’t overdo it, done change a thing”.
The yellow flag fell yet again on lap 140 for the eighth time. Mayer cruised down pit road for his last set of fresh Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel. The young driver reported “balance is pretty good, snug in the center but pretty free on the throttle” as he restarted in the sixth spot.
Mayer shuffled in the top 15 as the laps passed and rallied to 11th as the checkered flag fell.
Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Accelerate Talent Group Chevrolet team
“Our No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet was really fast today and I am happy to score a track-best finish at Phoenix Raceway. We had so much speed and momentum but just ended up falling a little short today. Staying consistent is key but we have some work to do to get back up to the top five. We will pick our heads up and move on to Atlanta.”
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