JR Motorsports Race Report
Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023
Race 22 of 33: Pennzoil 150 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
Track Specs: 2.439-mile road course/ 62 laps
Race Winner: Ty Gibbs
Mayer’s finish: 2nd Point’s position: 6th (-167)
Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet, rallied to his fourth consecutive top-five finish in the NASCAR Xfinity series, taking the checkered flag in the second position on Saturday evening at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. From the drop of the green flag, Mayer quickly battled his way into the top 10 after taking the green in 15th. With tonight’s effort, the young driver sits sixth in the NXS point standings at 167 markers behind the leader.
Race Rundown
Mayer set the No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet to start the Pennzoil 150 15th in line in Saturday morning’s qualifying event at the 2.439-mile road course. Mayer gained two spots in the first five laps of the race until rain drops started to fall and the event was put on a weather hold on lap six.
Once the weather cleared up, car covers came off and the field was ready to roll to the green flag. Crew chief Mardy Lindley made the call to pit as soon as pit road opened up to switch from rain tires to slicks and grab some Sunoco fuel. Mayer raced his way up to ninth with five laps to go in the stage but he did not stop there. Within the last five laps, the young driver made up 12 seconds and raced his way to a second-place Stage One finish.
With no stage-break cautions, Mayer continued on into the Second Stage and settled into second. The yellow flag fell shortly after the start of the Second Stage and Lindley made the call to stay out and fight for the stage win and bonus playoff point. The Franklin, Wis. native restarted in the top spot and fought off AJ Allmendinger as long as he could until a pass with seven laps to go in the stage sent Mayer back to second and he finished Stage Two in third.
A quiet start to the final stage sent Mayer into full focus. A green-flag pit stop occurred for the No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet on lap 41 where the young driver took four fresh Goodyear tires and fuel. With 19 laps to go in the event, a caution allowed the pit cycle to roll through and Mayer caught back up to the third position.
After a hard-fought battle in the closing laps, the young driver made a pass on the final lap to close the event in a second-place finish.
Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet team
“I cannot express how thankful I am for this No. 1 Huck’s Market Chevrolet team and the cars they have built me each and every week to put me in contentions for wins. It feels great to keep this top five streak alive and I’m pumped to head to another road course next week and see what we can bring to Watkins Glen.”
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