Sam Mayer aims for Xfinity championship glory in his last season with Ford, hoping to secure a title in the No. 41 car before the Haas Factory Team moves to Chevrolet in 2026. Mayer, currently third in the points standings, heads into the playoffs with strong motivation at Bristol Motor Speedway, highlighting his commitment to both his team and Ford Racing.
Mayer Sets Sights on a Memorable Finale with Ford
Competing in his first season for the Haas Factory Team after three years with JR Motorsports, Sam Mayer is determined to finish strong before the organization’s imminent switch to Chevrolet. As the team prepares for its final postseason run with Ford, Mayer has been clear about wanting to reward Ford’s long-standing support by vying for the championship.
The Xfinity driver has enjoyed a consistent year, with only four finishes outside the top-25. He is currently ranked just behind JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch, the rookie sensation, and reigning series champion Justin Allgaier. Mayer discussed the close collaboration between the team and Ford Racing during an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio prior to the Bristol playoff opener.
“I can only speak for the Xfinity side between me and Sheldon and the Haas factory team but yeah, the information’s wide open. We are still a go. We want to win a championship as a Ford racing team and everyone at Ford and Ford Racing wants that as well,”
Sam Mayer said. —Sam Mayer, Xfinity driver
“So they’re giving us every ounce of information they can give us and we’re still in the simulator. I just got out of the simulator yesterday afternoon and we had a really good time at Bristol,”
he added. —Sam Mayer, Xfinity driver
This ongoing technical exchange has fueled their recent progress, including Mayer’s milestone victory at Iowa Speedway. That win ended Zilisch’s streak and delivered both Haas Factory Team and Ford their first win of the season.
Aiming for More Success in the Playoffs
Mayer has demonstrated a knack for rising to the occasion in the postseason. He reached the Championship 4 last year after securing playoff victories at Charlotte Roval and Homestead—the latter being a major highlight. He followed up with another win at the Roval, finishing last year 9th in the standings overall.
Now, as the Bristol Motor Speedway opens the Xfinity Series playoffs with the Food City 300, Mayer holds three top-10 results in five previous starts at the famed short track. In the spring event, he started sixth, captured the opening stage, and collected a valuable playoff point, though Kyle Larson would ultimately dominate that race by leading all but 23 laps.
Mayer’s Drive to Repay Ford’s Support
Mayer openly acknowledged his surprise at the team’s forthcoming manufacturer switch, adding extra motivation to his campaign for a championship at Phoenix—the final event for the organization under the Ford banner before aligning with Hendrick Motorsports in 2026. His gratitude toward Ford’s commitment has fueled his determination throughout the season.
“They’ve been a great partner of Cosfactory and a partner of mine, honestly, and they’ve treated me really well. So I want to repay that favor with hopefully racing for a championship here at the end of the year in Phoenix,”
Mayer said. —Sam Mayer, Xfinity driver
With the support of Ford Racing, key teammates, and open technical collaboration, Sam Mayer enters the Xfinity Series playoffs aiming to conclude Ford’s chapter with the Haas Factory Team on a championship note. The coming weeks will reveal whether Mayer’s efforts at tracks like Bristol and Phoenix can deliver a fitting end to Ford’s run before the switch to Chevrolet and new alliances take shape.
