JR Motorsports Race Report
Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022
Race 22 of 33: Sunoco Go Rewards 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International
Track Specs: 2.45-mile road course / 82 laps
Race Winner: Kyle Larson
Mayer’s finish: 6th
Points position: 9th (-278)
Sam Mayer finished sixth in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International. After an uneventful opening stage in the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet, Mayer ran into trouble at the bus stop in both of the remaining stages. He battled back after both incidents, however, to pick up his 12th top 10 of the season.
Race Rundown
Mayer started the 82-lap event in seventh following Saturday morning’s qualifying session. During Stage One, the Wisconsin native worked his way up to the fifth position before the second caution of the day came out on lap 16. Crew chief Taylor Moyer called the young driver to pit road for four tires and fuel.
Mayer returned to the track in the 25th position as the green flag was displayed with only two laps remaining in the stage. During a hectic final lap, Mayer skipped the bus stop in order to avoid a wreck just ahead of him. After serving the stop-and-go penalty for missing the chicane, Mayer ended Stage One in 28th.
After keep the Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet on track during the stage break, Mayer began Stage Two in 19th. He worked his way back into the top 10 prior the caution coming out on lap 28 for Alex Labbe.
Running 10th in Stage Two, Mayer once again ran into trouble in the bus stop as he went off course on lap 34. By the time he got going again, Mayer was scored in the 30th position. With focus he was able to start working his way back through the field before the stage ended and finished it out in 22nd.
Mayer continued his march through the field as the final stage began, driving up to 14th before green-flag pit stops got underway. Moyer called the No. 1 to pit road on lap 52 for fuel only as they attempted to gain track position. Mayer was scored seventh after a lap-60 caution cycled the remainder of the field.
Despite running the remainder of the race on older tires, Mayer battled hard and crossed the line in the sixth position as the checkered flag was displayed. His finish marks his 12th top-10 finish of the year.
Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet team
“I’m really proud of our Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions team for picking up yet another top 10. We ran into some trouble in the middle portion of the race, but were able to get some track position back and get a better finish. We’ve continued to show resiliency all season when things aren’t going well and it’s a testament to everyone’s hard work on this No. 1 team.”