Sam Mayer, currently driving the No. 41 Audibel Ford for the Haas Factory Team, faces a possible NASCAR penalty following a dramatic incident after the IAA and Ritchie Bros. 250 at Martinsville Speedway on October 25, 2025. The Sam Mayer Martinsville incident unfolded when Mayer intentionally hit Jeb Burton’s car post-race, escalating ongoing tensions and drawing swift attention from NASCAR officials considering disciplinary action.
Tensions Erupt After Close Finish at Martinsville
During the closing laps at Martinsville, Mayer engaged in a fierce contest with Jeb Burton, with the two racing aggressively for position. Mayer ultimately finished seventh, while Burton claimed sixth. The conclusion of the race did little to diffuse the rivalry; instead, it intensified. Shortly after the checkered flag, Mayer drove into the back of Burton’s No. 27 Chevrolet in Turn 1, spinning it into the outside wall in a visibly violent collision.
NASCAR officials arrived swiftly, expressing displeasure at the escalation, and signaled that an announcement regarding any penalty could come as early as October 28. The dramatic nature of the incident underscored the depth of animosity between the two drivers that has persisted throughout the season.
History of Bad Blood Between Mayer and Burton
The animosity between Sam Mayer and Jeb Burton has steadily increased over the current season. Early in the Martinsville race, they clashed during a Stage 1 restart, with Mayer forcefully pushing Burton up the track. Later, with just laps remaining, Burton nudged Mayer aside to take sixth place—seen by Mayer as a retaliatory act.
This rivalry is rooted deeper, stemming from a significant pileup at Talladega earlier in the season, an event where Mayer blamed Burton for his own elimination from playoff contention. The frustration has grown more severe since then, fueled by Mayer’s known bursts of temper when results slip away. Mayer’s on-track emotions have led to headlines before, notably when he and Ty Gibbs confronted each other on pit road after a similarly fraught Martinsville race in 2022. Following the latest clash, Burton, now racing for Jordan Anderson Racing, expressed his feelings bluntly, referring to Mayer as a “punk.”
NASCAR Reviews the Incident and Considers Penalties
The aftermath of the Sam Mayer Martinsville incident prompted a stern response from NASCAR leadership. On October 28, Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition, spoke about the organization’s approach on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
“Having that type of incident after the checkered flag, it’s just not something we’re going to tolerate,”
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition.
“We’ll get with our team today, discuss it, and see what the next steps are.”
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition.
Sawyer outlined NASCAR’s internal review process for post-race incidents.
“I’ll let our series director (in the Xfinity Series), Eric Peterson, run point,”
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition.
“He’ll talk to both drivers, in this case, Jeb and Sam, and get their side of the story. We’ll go back and look at all the replays. We’ll look at the race as an entirety to see what unfolded early on, and then we take all of that, sit down, and look at prior similar situations, and we’ll make a decision on how we move forward.”
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition. NASCAR places particular emphasis on discouraging deliberate vehicle contact after a race concludes.
“When we start using vehicles to run into each other, that rises to a different level, and we’ll respond accordingly.”
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition.
Jordan Bianchi, a NASCAR insider, noted that a one-race suspension is a strong possibility due to the perceived intentional nature of Mayer’s move. Others in the community consider lesser penalties, like a monetary fine or docked points, referencing the $5,000 fine previously levied against Burton earlier this year at Martinsville. Officially, NASCAR rarely takes these cases lightly, emphasizing the risk posed when cars are used as instruments of retaliation, jeopardizing the safety of drivers and pit crews alike.
This NASCAR Season Marked by High Emotions
The Sam Mayer Martinsville incident comes amid an emotionally charged Xfinity Series season, marked by heated rivalries, outbursts, and a level of competition that has tested NASCAR’s disciplinary guidelines. Mayer, a former ARCA East champion seen as one of the rising stars in the sport, now finds his future clouded by uncertainty as officials weigh a possible penalty that could impact both his points total and burgeoning career.
For both Mayer and Jeb Burton, and indeed for the rest of the field, the next statement from NASCAR will set a precedent for how the sport manages fiery competition and emotional outbursts going forward. With the Phoenix finale approaching, the outcome of this review carries implications for the entire Xfinity Series and could alter the standards for driver behavior in high-pressure situations. As anticipation grows, all teams and fans are waiting to see how the sport responds and what message it sends to competitors about conduct after the checkered flag.
