By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
In his first double-duty weekend in NASCAR competition, Sam Mayer left Watkins Glen International with top-10 finishes in both the Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series.
Saturday started with Mayer starting last in the No. 32 Camping World Chevrolet Silverado for Bret Holmes Racing. Like Parker Kligerman and Paul Menard, he surged forward in the United Rentals 176 at The Glen with ease. Mayer was also on the same strategy as his two competitors, pitting before the end of both Stages. He still finished the second Stage in 10th.
Mayer briefly battled with Zane Smith and Austin Hill for the lead before the caution waved with 18 laps to go in the scheduled distance. Four laps after that caution another for lightning forced NASCAR Camping World Truck Series officials to red flag the race. It was ultimately called 11 laps early, relegating Mayer to a ninth-place finish.
The ninth-place finish marked Mayer’s third top-10 finish in three Truck Series races this season. It was also his fifth career top-10 finish in 13 starts.
To the moon pic.twitter.com/RwlSlirmXG
— Sam Mayer (@sam_mayer_) August 7, 2021
The Xfinity Series saw Mayer start closer to mid-pack with JR Motorsports. He moved forward in the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro SS, finishing Stage 1 of the Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey 200 in 10th. Mayer continued his forward momentum, ending the second Stage in seventh. Multiple late-race cautions and strategy calls left the 18-year-old 10th when the checkered flag waved.
Mayer took to Twitter to express his emotions post-race.
“Long (ass) day,” Mayer joked. “Pair of top-10’s to cap off the weekend here at Watkins Glen International! Super hard fought.”
Long az day 😂 Pair of top 10’s to cap off the weekend here @WGI! Super hard fought 💪 #NASCAR
— Sam Mayer (@sam_mayer_) August 7, 2021
The 10th-place finish marks the second career top-10 for Mayer in the Xfinity Series in just his fifth career start. It is also his best finish on a road course in the series. The Franklin, WI native has seven top-10 finishes in a combined 18 Truck Series and Xfinity Series starts.
Although Mayer is not competing full-time due to not being of age at the start of the season, the No. 8 Chevrolet is in the Xfinity Series Owner’s Playoffs by virtue of Josh Berry’s win at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season. The No. 8 remains 17th in the owner’s standings, 435 behind Team Penske’s No. 22.
Mayer also competed in the ARCA Menards Series Clean Harbors 100 at Watkins Glen. Brake issues and a pit road speeding penalty relegated him to a 14th-place finish.
Featured Photo Credit: Photo by NKP / NKP Photo.