Sam
Birthdate: June 26, 2003 | Hometown: Franklin, Wisconsin
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Sam Mayer returns for the 2024 season as driver of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, fresh off his first appearance in the Championship 4. The 20-year-old Mayer capped his second full-time season with JRM in 2023 with a career-best four victories, 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes on the way to a third-place finish in the final standings, thanks to a fifth-place finish in the winner-take-all finale at Phoenix Raceway. The 2023 season marked Mayer’s second straight as a NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff participant.
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In his second full-time season in the series – he ran a partial schedule in 2021 – Mayer reunited with crew chief Mardy Lindley, who led the young Wisconsin native to more than 15 victories together and earned championships in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series (2019) and the ARCA Menards Series (2020). The duo meshed quickly and Mayer began the season with a bang, finishing second in the second race of the season at California Speedway and adding a seventh-place result at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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Long noted as a road-course ace, Mayer was a force on the twisty tracks in 2023. He captured his first career NXS victory at Road America, not far from his hometown of Franklin, Wis. Mayer battled near the front all day and survived a wild ending sequence, taking the lead for the final time off the last corner and out-dragging Parker Kligerman to the checkered flag.
Road-course success continued for the young driver, as he won again at Watkins Glen later in the season, finished second on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and clinched his spot in the Championship 4 with a must-win triumph on the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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In eight road-course starts, Mayer logged three of his four victories—the other came at Homestead-Miami Speedway late in the season to earn his berth in the Championship 4—a second-place run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, a third at Portland International Raceway, seventh at Circuit of the Americas and 10th at Sonoma Raceway. He finished 18th in the rain-drenched street race through the streets of downtown Chicago. The results gave Mayer an average finish of 5.4 in those eight races.
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Mayer flashed talent on the ovals as well, logging the win at HMS and adding eight top-five and 12 top-10 finishes. Runner-up finishes at California and Pocono went along with a third-place run at Nashville Superspeedway to boot.
Career Highlights
2023
FIRST NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WIN
Sam scored his first Xfinity Series win at Road America in July of 2023, then followed that up with another victory at Watkins Glen on Aug. 19, 2023.
SAM SECURES HIS SECOND STRAIGHT PLAYOFF APPEARANCE
With the win at Road America, Sam secured his second straight post season berth.
2022
SAM FINISHES SEVENTH IN FIRST FULL-TIME XFINITY SERIES SEASON
After a season of consistently running up front, Sam was able to finish seventh in the points for his first full year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Wins the Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash
Sam won the 2022 Xfinity Dash 4 Cash. After an impressive performance at Richmond Raceway, Mayer took home the $100,000 prize.
First NASCAR Xfinity Series Pole Award
Sam scored his first career pole in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the spring of 2022.
2021
SAM FINISHES FOURTH IN FIRST MARTINSVILLE XFINITY SERIES RACE
Sam came from two laps down to finish fourth in his Martinsville Speedway debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The three drivers in front of him went on to the Championship round in Phoenix.
Made NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in Pocono
A day after his 18th birthday, Sam made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut driving the No. 8 Tire Pros Chevrolet at Pocono Raceway. Sam started 20th based on NASCAR's weighted system and finished 18th.
SCORED THREE WINS IN TRANS-AM SERIES
Sam won three times racing Trans-Ams in 2021, first at Charlotte, and Sonoma, before taking the win in the Trans-Am TA2 race at his home track at Road America in July.
2020
WON FIRST RACE OF THE SEASON
Sam took first place on the first race of the ARCA Menards East series on February 10 at New Smyrna Raceway
Sam Mayer reunites with JR Motorsports for Xfinity Series debut in 2021
17-year-old Mayer will join a drive a JRM Chevrolet in the second half of the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series
season before taking the reins full time in 2022.
WON FIRST CAREER RACE IN THE NASCAR GANDER RV & OUTDOOR TRUCK SERIES RACE
Sam took first place in the UNOH 200 in Bristol, TN on September 17, 2020.
2019
YOUNGEST DRIVER TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP IN ANY NASCAR SERIES
Won the 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series Championship becoming the youngest driver to win a championship in any NASCAR series. Sam earned four wins, 11 top-five and 11 top-ten finishes.
ENROLLED IN DRIVERS EDGE DEVELOPMENT
JR Motorsports and GMS Racing have developed Drivers Edge Development, a program presented by Chevrolet, to groom the next generation of racers. Sam is one of six racers currently enrolled in the program.
FIRST WIN IN THE NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST
Won the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway, breaking the current track record, and led 150 of 150 laps of his first win in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
2018
JOINED GMS RACING
GMS Racing officially added Sam to the team for the 2019 season, allowing them to expand into ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
HIGHEST FINISHING ROOKIE OF 2018
Sam Mayer was the highest finishing rookie in the 2018 CARS Response Energy Tour late model championship standings, finishing fifth behind his teammate, veteran Josh Berry, and just in front of fellow rookie Layne Riggs.
FIRST WAKE COUNTY SPEEDWAY WIN
As a rookie, Sam won the Solid Rock Carriers 123 for his first run at Wake County Speedway. Sam started P8 but was able to quickly move to the lead and keep it the rest of the way, marking his first CARS Tour victory.
FIRST PLACE RUN AT HICKORY MOTOR SPEEDWAY
Mayer dominated the first of two 40-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model features, marking first win with JR Motorsports. Mayer started from the pole and led every one of the 40 laps.
WINS SECOND SUMMER SHOOTOUT CHAMPIONSHIP
Sam won four races throughout the series and maintained top-3 finishes throughout the Summer Shootout series, leading to him taking home the championship for the second year in a row.
2017
IMPRESSIVE FIFTH PLACE FINISH AT MYRTLE BEACH 400
During his first run at the prestigious Myrtle Beach 400, Sam finished with an impress fifth-place finish in the 250-lap feature against more than 60 of the best Late Model drivers.
HISTORIC GREENVILLE PICKENS SPEEDWAY WIN
First time racing a Limited Late Model Car the youngest driver to ever win a Late Model race at historic Greenville Pickens Speedway.
SWEEPS U.S. LEGENDS WINTER HEAT SERIES
The breakout 2017 season for Mayer featured a full slate of US Legend Car Series events, including first place in the U.S. Legend Car Winter Heat Championship, where he took a pole at each race.
