Sam Mayer saves Xfinity title hopes with dramatic Roval win

Sam Mayer, who was put on this place after being disqualified at Talladega, gained in additional time at Charlotte to salvage his 2024 title hopes. The driving force of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet is now a back-to-back winner on the Charlotte Roval in NASCAR Xfinity competitors.

Nevertheless, it was not with out some controversy. Parker Kligerman was accountable for the race and as he took the white flag, the warning flag few for a automotive buried in a tire pack on the different finish of the observe.

Whereas the starter briefly flew the white flag, the timing loop confirmed the yellow mild simply earlier than Kligerman reached the road. In second of confusion, NASCAR reviewed the footage and confirmed that the race was not but over as a result of the warning had come out a fraction of a second earlier than automobiles crossed the road. It was a matter of inches that pushed the race into additional time.

On the following restart, Mayer was capable of get round Kligerman and snatch the victory away. The win saved Mayer from playoff elimination, leaving Kligerman to dwell on what may have been.

“To come back out right here to the Charlotte Motor Speedway, go back-to-back with a quick automotive — to do it at house is one thing particular. We definitely needed to work for it although,” mentioned Mayer. 

Talking on the successful cross, he added: “We had been all crossed up getting in there. I used to be free into (Flip) 6. I do know that it was my solely shot if I received a superb angle into that nook. He blocked the underside, which was good for me. It gave me a greater angle up off the nook. This Chevrolet was connected and we had been going from there.”

Watch: Sam Mayer: ‘One thing particular’ after Roval victory

Within the battle across the playoff bubble, Shane van Gisbergen was in a good battle with Jesse Love. SVG held the ultimate switch spot on the white flag, however Love managed to cross simply sufficient automobiles to maneuver ahead within the championship battle. Van Gisbergen completed third and was eradicated by simply two factors. Riley Herbst and Sheldon Creed had been additionally eradicated after being collected in a mid-race pileup exiting the ultimate chicane. After which there’s Kligerman, who went from considering he gained the race to being knocked out of the playoffs.

The race began with Mayer really getting penalized for leaping the preliminary begin. He was capable of shortly rebound as A.J. Allmendinger gained the opening stage and Justin Allgaier gained Stage 2. Each drivers collected sufficient factors to safe their development into the Spherical of 8. 

The race was slowed by seven cautions, together with the Lap 32 pileup that ended the title hopes of Herbst and Creed. The Spherical of 8 opens at Las Vegas Motor Speedway subsequent weekend.