Sam Mayer was heading into the unknown joining Haas Factory Team after three good years at JR Motorsports. With a track record of multiple wins with the No. 1 Chevy team, Mayer had his eyes set on the big leagues. “I had two years to develop and learn, and we saw that at the end of last year.” He wanted to compete in the Cup Series and was even linked with a move to Front Row Motorsports during the silly season.

But after jumping ships from JRM, he landed at the Haas Factory Team – a new race team that replaced outgoing Stewart Haas Racing. There were a lot of doubts about the program at HFT when compared to SHR’s recent glory years in the Xfinity Series. Well, a lot of those questions were answered after the season opener at Daytona after Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed finished in 2nd and 3rd position behind race winner Jesse Love.

And even though, Mayer couldn’t clinch the victory he was quite content with his best finish to start of the season.

Sam Mayer has full faith in the Haas Factory Team

The Wisconsin native hasn’t once been able to come close to winning an Xfinity Series win at Daytona International Speedway. P12 was his best result that came back in 2021 until he signed up for the Haas Factory Team in 2025 and joined the Ford camp. In his first-ever race driving the No. 41 Ford, he bagged a runner-up finish in a race that turned into a wreck fest as the checkered flag came closer and closer,

Reflecting on his performance with the new team, Mayer said, “Yeah, I mean I’d have to go back and watch it to really know. I was trying to get a good push from Sheldon at the end of the day. Obviously it didn’t work out cause they decided to wreck across the white flag line. Just lots of positivity going on at Haas Factory. We put ourselves in a really good spot, the #00 of Sheldon led and controlled a lot of the race up there in the front. The cars are fast, they can do it and obviously coming out with 2 podium finishes is really cool.” 

Not just Mayer but his teammate, Sheldon Creed was also in contention to win the race on Saturday. It all came down to the last lap carnage where Creed tried his best to thread the needle but Love was on his A-game and beat him to the start-finish line. But, this second and third-place finish was a statement of intent by HFT drivers that they mean business. Mayer even went on to make some bold predictions after the solid outing at Daytona.

“Me and Sheldon are for sure, going to talk and I’m going to learn a lot from it. We’re going to go to Atlanta and hopefully do the same things, a couple of spots better. This is my first finish at the track, other than a P12 so I’m just happy to walk out of here. So I’m super happy, the Haas Factory boys have really taken care of me so far, we’ll get some checkered flags for sure.” The driver added.

Well with seven Xfinity Series wins and a championship appearance back in 2023 Sam Mayer certainly knows he can contend for wins. Not everything turned out perfect for the Haas Factory Team drivers, especially Sheldon Creed.

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Connor Zilisch calls out Creed for ending his Daytona dream

Interestingly Zilisch is one of the new wave of talent who replaced the departing Mayer at JR Motorsports. Ex-JRM driver going against Dale Jr.’s prodigy notched the entertainment quotient late in the race. But, even before Zilisch could make his play on the last lap, he was caught in the inevitable Big One at Daytona.

The JRM driver was all set to finish inside of the top 5 in the United Rentals 250 but Sheldon Creed’s sketchy blocking tactics sent him slamming into the wall. Creed didn’t want to contest with 2 laps to go and he checked up in front of the #88 Chevy, igniting a big crash. Zilisch’s ride was done after being caught up in the melee and had to contend with a P27 finish.

Emotions were running high for Zilisch as he had a clear idea of what led to that crash. “You know, I want someone else to tell me before I look like a clown and blame it on someone… Yeah, I mean if you are gonna block, pick a lane. And he was trying to block both lanes. You know I get it. 2 to go. But it’s just tough to manage that one. You know I am on his left rear trying to get a run. I am getting a push behind and he is half-blocking… Kinda wished he’d picked in front of me or picked the top.”

The Xfinity Series opener at Daytona was a huge hit. Now it remains to be seen whether or not the Haas Factory Team will build on this momentum in the upcoming races.