Talladega Superspeedway
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Race 9 of 33: AG-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway Track Specs: 2.66- mile oval / 113 laps Race Winner: Jeb Burton Mayer’s finish: 29th Point’s position: 12th (-91)
Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 1 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet, fought through a wild chain of events in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Talladega Superspeedway. From getting sent to the rear for the start of the race, to being collected in an unfortunate multi-car incident, it was a series of highs and lows. However, the damage sustained from the multi-car incident ultimately ended Mayer’s day shy of the finish. After tonight’s NXS event, Mayer currently sits 12th in the Championship points standings.
Race Rundown
In Friday afternoon’s qualifying session, the young driver put the No. 1 Chevrolet 16th on the board to start the race. Due to an unapproved adjustment, the team was sent to the rear for the green flag start of Stage One. Mayer quickly raced through the pack, gaining 20 spots within the first eight laps.
With 10 laps to go in Stage One, the young driver broke the top 10 as he was quiet on the radio in full focus. On the final lap of the stage, Mayer teamed up with teammate Justin Allgaier to push to a third-place finish in Stage One. Under the stage break, crew chief Mardy Lindley called the No. 1 Chevrolet down pit road for four tires, fuel and an adjustment to send him off pit road 12th.
Restarting Stage Two just outside the top 10 for Stage Two, Mayer cruised up to the seventh position by lap 35 and just a few laps later the yellow flag fell for a lap-37 caution. With eight to go in the stage, the driver of the First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet lined up in the draft with teammates Brandon Jones and Allgaier. A caution with three laps to go in the stage set the field at a red-flag stop before bringing a close to the second stage. After pit road finally opened and the cars started to roll, Mayer came in for four tires and fuel.
The Franklin, Wis. native restarted the final stage in the 13th position. Another yellow flag fell as a caution came out on lap 63. Lindley called Mayer in for fresh left side tires only and some Sunoco fuel. After coming down pit road a second time to top off, Mayer settled in the 19th position for the green-flag restart.
Shortly after the restart, Mayer slid down into the grass in Turn One to avoid a wreck. The 19-year-old pulled the No. 1 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet down pit road for four tires, fuel and a little clean up after flying through the grass. Mayer restarted in the back of the pack and raced his way up to the 15th spot just as another caution arrived.
As more caution flags fell in the closing laps, Mayer was involved in an unfortunate multi-car incident that ended his day and led the young driver to a 29th -place finish at Talladega.
Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet team
“Really unfortunate ending to our day for us. Our No. 1 First Bank of Alabama Chevrolet was so fast all day and the car felt really good. Unfortunately, this is Talladega and it’s just superspeedway racing. I really hate it for our guys two weeks in a row but looking forward to getting back to it for Dover next.”