Sam Mayer came painfully close to securing his first Xfinity Series win on Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway, leading in overtime before losing the top spot in a dramatic finish that saw Kyle Larson edge past on the outside. Despite Mayer’s efforts and determination, a combination of worn tires, earlier race damage, and a late bump from Taylor Gray ultimately left him with a fifth-place result, keeping his chase for a breakthrough victory alive.
The race was anything but routine for Sam Mayer, who continues pressing for his inaugural win with Haas Factory Team. After being caught in a crash earlier in the event, Mayer and his crew had to scramble to repair damage on the No. 41 car. Their work kept him on the lead lap, but left him at a disadvantage against rivals with fresher tires and better aerodynamics heading into overtime.
On the first overtime restart, Mayer showed his trademark resilience, taking command of the field. However, during a chaotic second restart, fatigue from older tires and the ongoing effects of earlier contact became clear, as Larson swept around him and other contenders closed in. After the race, Mayer shared his frustration, acknowledging the difficult circumstances he fought against throughout the afternoon.
He had better tires, better aero, because we were in that crappy wreck on the front,
Mayer told Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports.
So, I had everything against me and I still was able to at least be there and … I don’t want to say outperform because that sounds really, really bad, but be there and have a shot at it and put myself in position with that.
Despite not yet reaching victory lane this season, Sam Mayer’s consistency has kept him solidly in the hunt for the championship. Mayer remains third in Xfinity Series points, and his performance in Texas allowed him to close the gap to Justin Allgaier, especially after the defending champion crashed out early. Mayer has now logged more top-fives and top-10s than ever before at this point in the season, marking it as his most successful start to date—even if the wins column still reads zero.
Still, some observers note Mayer has led just 53 laps in his 12 starts this season, suggesting there is room for growth as he and his team continue to improve their racecraft and execution. Yet, as Sam Mayer’s perseverance at Texas demonstrated, he’s not far from turning his near-misses into a hard-earned victory.
With the series heading into a brief two-week pause before resuming at Charlotte, anticipation is mounting to see if Sam Mayer can capitalize on his momentum and finally secure his first Xfinity Series win. As the field prepares for the next challenge, all eyes remain firmly on Mayer, whose passion, competitiveness, and never-give-up attitude signal that his maiden victory may be closer than ever.
