Sam Mayer Triumphs at Drive for the Cure 250, Eliminating Parker Kligerman from Playoff Contention

Posted : 14 October 2024

As Sam Mayer celebrated his dramatic victory in the Drive for the Cure 250 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Parker Kligerman reflected on the narrow circumstances that led to his exit from the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs. In the overtime finish, Mayer passed Kligerman in Turn 7 of the challenging 2.280-mile circuit, securing a win that advanced him to the Round of 8 in the playoffs.

The outcome, however, was heartbreaking for Kligerman, who has yet to secure a victory in the Xfinity Series. He had been leading the race when NASCAR called a caution due to Leland Honeyman's spin in Turn 3, just as the white flag waved.

Kligerman was poised for what would have been his first career win under caution had the call come a fraction later. Instead, the overtime restart gave Mayer another opportunity to race, and he seized the moment in his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, which had been performing exceptionally throughout the event.

Mayer described the moment of the winning pass, stating, "I was loose getting into (Turn) 6, and I knew that was my only shot." He strategically positioned himself to take advantage of Kligerman’s defensive maneuver, allowing him to pull ahead and ultimately secure the victory.

Both drivers were in desperate need of a win to advance in the playoffs, but it was Mayer who triumphed with his third victory of the season, finishing 1.474 seconds ahead of runner-up A.J. Allmendinger.

Mayer's win marked his second consecutive victory at the Roval and brought his career total to seven. With this win, he joins his JR Motorsports teammates Sammy Smith and Justin Allgaier in the Round of 8, along with other contenders such as Chandler Smith and Austin Hill, while Kligerman found himself in 12th place in the standings, 24 points short of advancing.

Kligerman, who balances his racing career with broadcasting, expressed the emotional toll of the close finish, stating, "I teared up when I thought we got it there at the white flag." He acknowledged the intense racing that took place in the closing laps, noting that Mayer's move was part of hard racing, albeit with high stakes.

Meanwhile, Mayer's journey to victory was not without challenges; he had to overcome a pass-through penalty early in the race and struggled with gear issues late in the competition. Despite these hurdles, he persevered, securing his place in the playoffs while Kligerman, along with Riley Herbst and Sheldon Creed, exited the series after a tough battle on the track.

Sam Mayer Triumphs at Drive for the Cure 250, Eliminating Parker Kligerman from Playoff Contention

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