Sam Mayer overcame several challenges to record an impressive top-five finish in the Daytona Xfinity race Friday night, maintaining his strong position in the playoff standings as the regular season nears its end. The Sam Mayer Daytona Xfinity race results saw Mayer leading twice for a total of 16 laps before ultimately battling back for fifth, a testament to his determination and composure on the high-speed Florida track.
Mayer Leads Early, Faces Mid-Race Hurdles
At the start, Mayer lined up on the outside of the front row and immediately engaged in a hard-fought duel with Sammy Smith for the lead. The Audibel Ford showed significant pace, with Mayer holding the front spot from lap nine and fending off Smith’s advances until the first caution slowed the intense action on the field. The race was then paused by a lengthy red flag for rain, but Mayer maintained his advantage up front when the event resumed. As the pack charged in the closing laps of Stage One, Mayer continued to lead until a late surge from competitors dropped him to second, still marking a strong opening segment for the young driver.
The second stage brought greater adversity. Mayer pitted as the stage break opened but managed to emerge first from pit road, although two competitors who stayed out relegated him to third for the restart. He worked the outside lane behind Jesse Love, but shifting track dynamics and draft moves soon sent him back through the field. Just as he was working to recover, another caution interrupted his run. When Stage Two concluded under yellow, Mayer found himself deep in the pack, ultimately classified 30th for the segment.
Overcoming Pit Road Penalties and Late Race Incidents
The final run to the checkered flag posed even more trials for Mayer. He was assessed a penalty early in the stage for removing equipment and suffered a punctured tire that required attention. Faced with a second penalty for pitting while pit road was closed, Mayer was forced to restart at the rear of the field. Demonstrating focus and resilience, he methodically picked up positions, breaking into the top 20 and soon thereafter, the top 15. With six laps remaining, after narrowly missing a multi-car crash and enduring contact that threatened another tire issue, Mayer rejoined the lead group for a green-white-checkered finish. From eighth position, he pushed through the frantic final laps to secure his hard-fought fifth-place result.
“The intensity definitely picked up there at the end of this crazy race. I’m really proud of these Haas Factory boys. This Audibel Ford Mustang was amazing,”
—Sam Mayer, Driver
Reflecting on the importance of playoff points as the season narrows toward its climax, Mayer added,
“It’s great to be consistent and all, but you want to win because when it comes to the playoffs, the bonus points you get are the only thing that matters. We’re gonna keep working on that. We have two more shots at it, and I think we’ll be good at both of those races, so it’s just a matter of getting the job done. The W is the only thing on the mind right now.”
—Sam Mayer, Driver
Creed’s Rollercoaster Night Ends in Disappointment
Sheldon Creed, another key figure in Friday’s event, began his Daytona effort from the 27th starting spot but quickly advanced through the pack in Stage One. Driving the Ollie’s Ford, Creed reached the top 20 by lap six and kept climbing despite a rain delay, ultimately closing the segment in 15th with what he described as a “solid” car, even as conditions remained tricky.
Creed intensified his charge during Stage Two, capitalizing on three-wide packs to move into the top ten and eventually up to second place while drafting with Jesse Love and resisting Austin Hill’s efforts from behind. A late caution forced the stage to end under yellow, awarding Creed a hard-earned fifth for the segment.
The concluding stage provided Creed a shot at his first Xfinity Series victory, as he quickly surged into the lead after a pit stop shuffle. He mixed it up with Ryan Sieg and stayed in contention as tensions escalated on the track. Multiple restarts and a frenetic closing phase created plenty of drama, with positioning critical in the closing laps. Creed was shuffled back and, after one final chaotic restart from 21st in overtime, was caught in a multi-car crash on the last lap, finishing 17th despite a night spent at the front.
“A good day overall for not being able to qualify and just slowly made ourselves up to the front. We got good stage points there in stage two and was able to lead some laps,”
—Sheldon Creed, Driver
“I kind of new coming from the back on a green-white-checkered that we were gonna probably drive into a crash, knowing how this place works, and that’s kind of exactly what happened. Overall, our Ford Mustang was really fast. I’m thankful for Ollies and Ford and Roush Yates Engines. I felt like we were really good all night.”
—Sheldon Creed, Driver
Racing Ahead: Next Xfinity and Cup Series Events
Looking forward, the Xfinity series is set to resume on Saturday, August 30 at Portland International Raceway, with the action broadcast on the CW Network. Meanwhile, the NASCAR Cup Series will head to Darlington Raceway the following weekend, with race coverage planned for 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 31, 2025, via USA Network. The outcomes of these upcoming rounds will be crucial for drivers like Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed, who continue to chase both victories and valuable playoff points as the season approaches its final stretch at iconic circuits like Portland and Darlington.
