JR Motorsports Race Report
Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023
Race 23 of 33: Shriner’s Children’s 200 at Watkins Glen International
Track Specs: 2.45-mile road course/ 82 laps
Race Winner: Sam Mayer Point’s position: 5th (-151)
Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet, rallied to his second NASCAR Xfinity series victory on Saturday afternoon at Watkins Glen International, following a hard battle in NASCAR’s version of overtime. The young driver raced through the top 10 for the majority of the day after qualifying fifth before making moves on the last lap to take the lead across the finish line. Today’s win sets Mayer fifth in the NXS championship standings, 151 markers behind the leader.
Race Rundown
Mayer set the No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet to line up in the fifth position after a solid qualifying run Saturday morning. A quiet first stage allowed the young driver to remain steady in the top five and hold out for a third-place Stage One finish. Mayer reported he was a little free through the carousel but otherwise, the car felt great.
The track stayed green as there were no stage breaks to start Stage Two. A caution came out shortly after the end of the first stage and Mayer was called down pit road for four tires, fuel and a slight adjustment to help tighten up the car. The Franklin, Wis. native restarted ninth in line and cruised until a part of his brake hose flew off. The No. 1 Chevrolet held steady and raced its way to a sixth-place Stage Two finish at the green-white-checkered.
The driver of the No. 1 reported he was now a tad bit tight heading into the esses at the start of the final stage. A lap-47 caution allowed crew chief Mardy Lindley the opportunity to call the young driver down pit road for four fresh tires and some Sunoco fuel. Mayer was held up in traffic on the restart and was shuffled back to eighth.
With 25 laps to go, Mayer had recorded the fastest laps on the track. An on-track incident in Turn 7 pushed the young driver up to third as he drove off. The pit cycle started to flow and Mayer took the top spot to lead the final laps at the 2.45-mile road course. The yellow flags started to fall which led the pack into the NXS’s version of overtime.
Lindley made the decision to stay out and risk the fuel shortage. Mayer saved all the fuel he could and a pass on the closing laps for the top spot led the Franklin, Wis. native to his second NXS victory.
Sam Mayer, driver No. 1 Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions Chevrolet team
“What an awesome day and such an awesome racecar that this No. 1 Accelerate Pros JR Motorsports team put together for me today. I cannot thank everyone enough for all the hard work and effort they out in each and every week to help me achieve these moments. We are on such a high roll and there is no way I am letting that up any time soon! Looking forward to Daytona.”
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