Sam Mayer appeared positioned to challenge for the victory in Saturday's The Progress Group 250 at Talladega Superspeedway before an unsuccessful final-lap move cost him several positions. The Haas Factory Team driver started third and finished 13th after remaining among the leaders throughout much of the afternoon.
Mayer initially demonstrated impressive speed, running near the front as JR Motorsports controlled the leading drafting lanes. His No. 41 Chevrolet remained competitive during the middle portion of the race, although changing pit strategies occasionally cost him track position.
Mayer became particularly strong during the final stage, using the outside lane to remain with the leading contenders. As the race approached its conclusion,
he found himself positioned directly behind Carson Kvapil and Sammy Smith. However, Mayer's attempt to move out of line on the final lap failed when he could not clear Smith.
The maneuver disrupted his momentum and allowed several competitors to move ahead. Mayer ultimately finished 13th, earning 24 points. The disappointing finish cost him ground in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series championship standings. He remains sixth with 2,305 points, trailing leader Jesse Love by 96 markers.
With two races remaining, Mayer faces a difficult challenge but remains mathematically eligible for the championship.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Sam Mayer needs to gain ground at Martinsville to prevent elimination
