Mayer is the 2019 and 2020East Series champion. He drove for GMS Racing (the other Drivers Edge Development team) both of those years in their No. 21 car and also won the inaugural championship of the ARCA Menards SeriesSioux Chief Showdown in 2020. Mayer started his NASCAR career driving for Jefferson Pitts Racing and MDM Motorsports in 2018 before joining GMS, JRM, and Chevrolet as a development driver in 2019.
Racing career
Mayer in victory lane at his first Midwest Truck Series start
Mayer got off to an early start in racing, competing in go-kart events at the age of four.[3] Although his father, Scott Mayer, was an open-wheel racer, Sam chose in his preteen years to focus on stock car racing.[4] Over the course of the 2017 summer, during which Mayer turned fourteen, he spent the summer in Charlotte to race Legends cars; he won the Young Lions division of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Summer Shootout.[5] He also raced in a Limited Late Model and won at Greenville-Pickens Speedway to become the track's youngest winner.[6] He came back to Wisconsin and won a September Midwest Truck Series race at Dells Raceway Park in his first series start.[6]
In 2017, Mayer came in touch with industry veteran Lorin Ranier, who eventually landed Mayer a late model ride with JR Motorsports in the CARS Tour for 2018. Mayer's late model racing also brought him to the World Series of Asphalt, where he finished second to Stephen Nasse.[4] Ranier also led Mayer to MDM Motorsports for a limited slate in the ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in the back half of 2018, with age restrictions being a factor in which races Mayer could run, as both series only let 15-year-old competitors race on certain tracks.[4] In his first ARCA race, Mayer ran as high as third and finished inside the top-ten.[7] After the CARS Tour season was over, Mayer was voted the series' Most Popular Driver for 2018. The CARS Tour season included one victory, at Wake County Speedway.[8]
Mayer's K&N East car on pit road at Dover International Speedway in 2018
Mayer scored his first K&N East win at Bristol on April 6, 2019, leading every lap.[9] He nearly scored his first ARCA Menards Series win at Gateway in June after a late pit gamble, but was moved up the track by Ty Gibbs in the final set of corners and was relegated to third.[10] In October, he won the 2019 K&N East championship to become the youngest NASCAR champion at 16 years, 3 months, and 8 days; the previous record was 16 years and 5 months by Todd Gilliland in 2016. Mayer ended the 2019 season with four wins and top tens in all but one race.[11]
While racing in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East in 2020, Mayer made a TA2 Trans-Am start at Road America and suffered a hairline fracture in his wrist during a race-ending crash.[12] The injury forced Colin Braun to sub in for Mayer midway through the AMS race at the Daytona International Speedway road course.[13] Mayer later won ARCA's first trip to Lebanon I-44 Speedway.[14]
On September 15, 2020, Mayer and JR Motorsports announced an agreement to have him drive one of the organization's NASCAR Xfinity Series cars part-time in the latter portion of 2021 and full-time in the 2022 season.[15] Two days later, Mayer swept the night at Bristol, winning both the Truck Series and ARCA race.[16] He overcame a pit miscue to claim the checkered flag in the ARCA event.[17] Mayer won the East finale at Five Flags Speedway to capture the series championship with an average finish of 1.2 on the season.[18]
On January 14, 2021, defending ARCA champion Bret Holmes announced he would begin fielding a part-time Truck Series team, the No. 32, for himself and Mayer for the upcoming season. In addition, Mayer would also drive select races in Bret Holmes Racing's No. 23 car in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East.[19] Three days later on January 17, it was also announced that Mayer would run seven races in the No. 75 for Henderson Motorsports in the Truck Series, beginning at the Daytona Road Course, which would end up being his only start with Henderson Motorsports.[20]
On January 4, 2022, it was confirmed that Sam Mayer would drive the JR Motorsports No. 1 in 2022, replacing Michael Annett. At the Martinsville spring race on April 8, Mayer finished fifth after doing a bump and run on Ty Gibbs on the final lap. After the race, Gibbs attempted to spin Mayer out during the cool-down laps before both drivers engaged in a fistfight on pit road.[21] Mayer would go on to finish seventh in the final points standings with a best result of second at Talladega.
On August 9, 2022, it was announced that Mayer would return for the 2023 season.[22] He started the 2023 season with a 27th place finish at Daytona, where he flipped down the backstretch on the final lap. Mayer scored his first career win at Road America.[23] He followed it up with his second win at Watkins Glen.[24] During the playoffs, Mayer won at the Charlotte Roval and at Homestead to make the Championship 4.[25][26] Mayer finished fifth at Phoenix and third in the points standings.[27]
Mayer started the 2024 season with a 36th place DNF at Daytona. At Texas, he scored a narrow victory over Ryan Sieg at Texas by 0.002 seconds,[28] making it part of a three way tie for the second closest finish in Xfinity Series history.[29] Mayer scored his second win of the season at Iowa.[30] During the playoffs, he was disqualified at Talladega after his car failed the post-race ride height requirement.[31] A week later, Mayer won at the Charlotte Roval.[32]
Mayer's father Scott Mayer is the founder of QPS Employment Group and Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions, Mayer's primary sponsor in the Xfinity Series. As of 2023, the company has 57 branches across 8 states and employs thousands of associate employees, one of the largest employment firms in the midwest.[34][dead link]
(key) (Bold– Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics– Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. *– Most laps led. **– All laps led.)
Brandon Alexander Phillip Jones is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. He has also competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series, and ARCA Menards Series East in the past.
Dylan Jarin Lupton is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang for AM Racing, part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado for Young's Motorsports, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series driving the No. 30 Mustang for Rette Jones Racing. He has also competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, what is now the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West in the past.
Josh Berry is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Wood Brothers Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang for AM Racing. Berry is noted for getting his start as a standout in Late Model Stock Cars with JR Motorsports from 2010–2023 where he became the all-time winningest driver in CARS Tour history.
Kaz Grala is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 36 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports and the No. 15 Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing. He has also previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Pinty's Series as well as what is now the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West.
Chase David Wayne Briscoe is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing. He also owns a World of Outlaws sprint car racing team, Chase Briscoe Racing. He won the 2016 ARCA Racing Series championship.
Mason A. Diaz is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed for Ferrier-McClure Racing, driving their No. 44 Toyota part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series.
Zane Michael Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in an alliance with Trackhouse Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. He won the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship driving for Front Row Motorsports.
Chandler Michael Smith Sr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 81 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was a member of Toyota Racing Development's TD2 driver development system from 2018 until the end of 2022 but rejoined the program starting in 2024.
Gus H. Dean is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving the No. 15 Ford Mustang for AM Racing and in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 55 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. He previously drove in the series for Win-Tron Racing full-time in 2017 and 2018 and part-time in 2016, 2019 and 2020. Dean also drove for Mason Mitchell Motorsports part-time in ARCA in 2016, winning the race at Talladega that year. Dean also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series full-time in 2019 for Young's Motorsports, and part-time in 2020 and 2021 for Hill Motorsports.
Carson Scott Hocevar is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports. He is a former member of the Drivers Edge Development driver development system.
Corey David Heim is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage. He also serves as a reserve driver for 23XI Racing and Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series, East Series, and West Series.
Jesshill Michael Gregory Love is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
Kristofer Cole Wright is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro for Our Motorsports. He has also previously competed in sports car racing, open-wheel racing, the Euroformula Open Championship, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. Wright is also the 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge LMP3 class champion.
Nicholas Anthony Sanchez is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro for Big Machine Racing. He is the 2022 ARCA Menards Series champion.
Samuel L. Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports.
Dean Kenneth Thompson is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 5 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West.
Charles Connor Mosack is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 81 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
Parker Edward Retzlaff is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He also drives part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for MBM Motorsports and the No. 62 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Beard Motorsports.
Kaden Wade Honeycutt is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado for Niece Motorsports. He also competes part-time in various 602 Crate Dirt Late Model series, driving the No. 10 Longhorn Chassis for Kaden Honeycutt Racing.
Carson Wade Kvapil is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports. He is also part of the Drivers Edge Development program and is the son of 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil and older brother of Super Late Model driver Caden Kvapil.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
