TALLADEGA AL. – It appeared in the final moments of Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Sparks 300 race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Sam Mayer would accomplish what he’s been after all season – a trip to Victory Lane.
But a last second move by AJ Allmendinger as the Xfinity Series cars came screaming to the checkered flag just the Kaulig Racing driver edge the JR Motorsports driver by 0.015 seconds – or three feet to deny the Franklin, Wisc. the opportunity to score what would have been the biggest win of his life.
Climbing from his Taylor Moyer-led car, Mayer wasn’t sure if there was anything he would have been able to do different that would have stopped Allmendinger from stealing the win.
“I don’t know,” said Mayer when asked if he could have done anything different. “This is my first time getting really getting to the end of a speedway race coming to the checkered. It was a good first experience, I guess. I’ll take a top-five at a place like this any day.”
Without question Mayer drove one of his best races of the year on Saturday, mistake free and a contender for 113-laps. Knowing how unpredictable Talladega can often be, Mayer and his No. 1 JR Motorsports were just hoping to earn some coveted stage points and survive the race.
They did more than that though on Saturday, Mayer showcased the ability to have a flawless race which likely will pay huge dividends the deeper he remains in the Xfinity Series Playoffs.
“Going into today, we were just like get some stage points and hopefully survive to the end,” Mayer explained. “Obviously, we survived at the end and we did everything right, we were just three feet shy.”
With one race remaining in the opening Round of 12 for the Xfinity Series driver, Mayer sits above the cutoff line in seventh with a semi-comfortable 13-point cushion over reigning Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric who is currently on the outside looking in.
And while the final road course race of the season at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL has often mirrored a similar wildcard race feeling for the teams and competitors, Mayer is embracing his return to the track knowing he’ll have an opportunity to hopefully contend for the win.
“The ROVAL next weekend is one of my better tracks,” explained Mayer. “We preformed really well last year when I probably wasn’t at my best and yeah, I mean I’m looking forward to it. I know what we have to do.
“I think it’s going to be a good points day for us no matter how you cut it. I’m looking forward to it, just happy to get through this one, but our Accelerate Chevrolet Camaro should probably be in Victory Lane right now.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
