The six-time Xfinity race winner, Sam Mayer, is facing quite a rocky road for the NASCAR Cup Series upgrade. Mayer has been a prolific racer ever since his CARS debut in 2018, winning a race the same year. His racing career began with a bang, marking significant results, but he slipped back from his potential in the years that followed. But now, it is time for him to tighten his belt.

Mayer, who is currently racing full-time in Xfinity for JR Motorsports in his #1 Chevy, secured his latest win in June 2024 at the Iowa Speedway, marking his second win of the season. The other one was his victory in April at Texas Motor Speedway. Per his judgment, JRM is picking up the pace that was absent for a while. And, to him, it feels like the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series might bring good news.

Sam Mayer JRM has recovered from its slow season

JR Motorsport’s 2024 Xfinity season saw a dud start. None of the four drivers could bring home any race wins. But the cars eventually picked up pace, and Sam Mayer put an end to Xfinity misery for JRM at the Texas Motor Speedway. As Mayer got the much-needed win midway through the season, he expressed his excitement and hopes for the team.

Sam spoke to Mike Bagley on the 131 Episode of NASCAR Live Wide Open, “So, our cars are as fast as Xfinity internet. You’ve just got to finish the race and be there at the end of the show for it.” He understands that finishing the race in the top 10 or 15 places is better than getting a DNF even on the worst days. Once that goal is consistently achieved, then progressing for victory lanes will become easier.

When asked how JRM was battling the ‘behind the scenes’ as the entire has had troubles kicking off the season, Sam responded by saying, “Just in raw speed out of our race car, I think that Mardy is making really good choices and Adam Wall is making really good choices.” He was referring to the strategy calls made by Mardy Lindley, Sam’s crew chief for the #1 Chevy, and Adam Wall, the crew chief for the #8 Chevy featuring Sammy Smith, during the Pocono race.

Sam Mayer further went on to appreciate his team by adding, “Speaking for the No. 1 team, I think that we have been probably the best each week.” He knows that he is giving his best and improving week in and week out to register more race wins. He has an aim to prove himself worthy of the Cup Series so that he gets picked by the Top Series owners.

Something that has been hindering his performance this season is the crashes, which he is determined to overcome to get the desired results. He affirmed this, saying, “The ins and outs of what we’ve got in the race car, obviously, I’d finish the race on the leading lap and I would not crash or get crashed to show the speed but we’ve had speed in every week and I’m super happy with what we have as a team.”

The other thing that has led him to slip through positions is his inefficiency on the superspeedways. JRM is the perfect platform for him to craft his sport and progress his career. He needs to make the most of this opportunity to gather more wins as he races through his third Xfinity season.

What is the possibility of Sam Mayer moving to the Cup Series in 2025?

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The JRM Xfinity star is still at a very young age to worry much about his NASCAR promotion. However, many of Sam Mayer’s peers have seen the upward movement ahead of him. He might wonder about his time to take the leap and the opportunities that can help him for the jump.

While Xfinity is built to train and scout talent for the top series, the latest trend observed in NASCAR reflects otherwise. Many of the rookie drivers for the Cup Series are being selected from the Truck Series due to the similarities between the trucks and the Next-Gen Cup cars.

Another aspect indicating Mayer’s bleak chances for the 2025 Cup Series is that his veteran counterpart, Justin Allgaier, was chosen to substitute Kyle Larson in Charlotte. There could be more thoughtful reasons at play for the choice of substitute driver. However, these choices are sometimes suggestive of the underlying reasons.

Whether or not Sam Mayer gets picked for the Cup Series is speculative for now. Do you think he deserves a seat in the top series?