{"id":53778,"date":"2025-08-02T19:48:44","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T00:48:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=53778"},"modified":"2025-08-07T13:56:43","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T18:56:43","slug":"late-surge-lifts-sam-mayer-to-repeat-nascar-xfinity-victory-at-iowa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/02\/late-surge-lifts-sam-mayer-to-repeat-nascar-xfinity-victory-at-iowa\/","title":{"rendered":"Late surge lifts Sam Mayer to repeat NASCAR Xfinity victory at Iowa"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Audibel Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

NEWTON, Iowa \u2014 Sam Mayer took control of Saturday\u2019s Hy-Vee Perks 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway after a Lap 221 restart and maintained it the rest of the way to record the first victory for the Haas Factory team and the first in the series for Ford this season.<\/p>\n

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Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Audibel Ford, takes the checkered flag under caution to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Mayer won at Iowa for the second straight year, having triumphed in a JR Motorsports Chevrolet last season. The eighth victory of his career ended Sunoco rookie Connor Zilisch\u2019s three-race winning streak.<\/p>\n

Driving the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford, Mayer edged ahead of pole winner and runner-up Jesse Love on Lap 223 before Brandon Jones spun in oil from Matt DiBenedetto\u2019s Chevrolet to cause the eighth caution of the afternoon.<\/p>\n

On the subsequent restart on Lap 234, Mayer streaked away and left Love and other pursuers in his wake. After taking the white flag, Mayer was cruising to the victory when Garrett Smithley\u2019s spin caused the ninth and final caution and froze the field, with Mayer in the winning position.<\/p>\n

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Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Audibel Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThis one\u2019s everything right here,\u201d Mayer said. \u201cFirst win for Haas Factory Team \u2014 that\u2019s awesome. This car was fast all day long. I tried to botch it on pit road, but we didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe it. This is one of the most special wins I have. These guys (Mayer\u2019s team), they love me to death, I love them to death, and we\u2019re just some good ol\u2019 boys trying to go racing.\u201d<\/p>\n

After finishing fourth in the first stage, Mayer overshot his No.1 pit stall, which sits at a difficult angle around a curve near the exit from pit road. Mayer restarted 16th on Lap 71 but worked his way back through the field and regained the fourth spot by the end of Stage 2.<\/p>\n

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Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Audibel Ford, and William Sawalich, driver of the #18 Starkey Toyota, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI missed my pit box, but the car was so good it didn\u2019t even matter,\u201d Mayer said. \u201cWe ran up through there\u2014no problem. It was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ross Chastain finished third behind Mayer and Love, with Zilisch running fourth and Harrison Burton fifth.<\/p>\n

For practical purposes, Zilisch\u2019s bid for a fourth straight Xfinity Series ran into immediate trouble during the first stage break. After winning Stage 1, Zilisch brought his No. 88 Chevrolet to pit road for service, but the front tire changer failed to get all lugs tight on the left front wheel.<\/p>\n

Zilisch restarted 25th on Lap 71 and initially made rapid progress through the field. As the second stage progressed, Zilisch stalled out in traffic, with his Camaro getting increasingly loose behind other cars.<\/p>\n

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Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Audibel Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The 19-year-old phenom finished the stage in 17th-place and restarted the final stage in the same position on Lap 130. He climbed as high as third in the running order but couldn\u2019t find a way to prevail during a succession of late restarts.<\/p>\n

In fact, Zilisch\u2019s car broke loose in a three-wide scenario with teammates Chastain and reigning series champion Justin Allgaier on Lap 214. Contact from Zilisch\u2019s car knocked Chastain sideways into Allgaier\u2019s Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

With Allgaier finishing 16th, he and Zilisch\u2019s are now tied for the series lead with four races left in the regular season.<\/p>\n

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Sam Mayer, driver of the #41 Audibel Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway on August 02, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Meg Oliphant\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Burton took a major step toward the Playoffs with his second top-five finish of the season. He\u2019s now 11th on the current Playoff grid, 17 points ahead of 12th-place Ryan Sieg and 19 points ahead of cousin Jeb Burton, the first driver below the elimination line.<\/p>\n

Jeb Burton finished 29th Saturday after dealing with a cracked track bar and suffering through the afternoon with an ill-handling car.<\/p>\n

Driving the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet after the abrupt release of Josh Williams from the ride, Carson Hocevar finished sixth, followed by Sheldon Creed, Ryan Sieg, Carson Kvapil and Christian Eckes.<\/p>\n

Interview:<\/h3>\n

NXS Race Winner Sam Mayer (No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford) – <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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NASCAR Xfinity Series Race – Hy-Vee Perks 250<\/b><\/p>\n

Iowa Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Newton, Iowa<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, August 2, 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

                1. (5)  Sam Mayer, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                2. (1)  Jesse Love, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                3. (11)  Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                4. (4)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                5. (17)  Harrison Burton, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                6. (3)  Carson Hocevar(i), Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                7. (14)  Sheldon Creed, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                8. (7)  Ryan Sieg, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                9. (8)  Carson Kvapil #, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                10. (25)  Christian Eckes #, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                11. (2)  William Sawalich #, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                12. (16)  Justin Bonsignore, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                13. (28)  Parker Retzlaff, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                14. (6)  Austin Dillon(i), Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                15. (9)  Sammy Smith, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                16. (15)  Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                17. (36)  Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                18. (24)  Kyle Sieg, Ford, 250.<\/p>\n

                19. (26)  Nick Sanchez #, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                20. (22)  Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                21. (29)  Josh Bilicki, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                22. (27)  Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 250.<\/p>\n

                23. (12)  Brandon Jones, Toyota, 250.<\/p>\n

                24. (18)  Corey Day, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                25. (34)  Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                26. (19)  Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                27. (33)  Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                28. (21)  Blaine Perkins, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                29. (32)  Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                30. (35)  Patrick Emerling(i), Chevrolet, 249.<\/p>\n

                31. (20)  Dean Thompson #, Toyota, 248.<\/p>\n

                32. (23)  Thomas Annunziata, Chevrolet, 248.<\/p>\n

                33. (30)  Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 247.<\/p>\n

                34. (37)  Tyler Tomassi, Ford, 240.<\/p>\n

                35. (13)  Matt DiBenedetto, Chevrolet, Accident, 221.<\/p>\n

                36. (10)  Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, Accident, 200.<\/p>\n

                37. (31)  Mason Massey, Chevrolet, Suspension, 172.<\/p>\n

                38. (38)  Dawson Cram, Chevrolet, Vibration, 93.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  87.832 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  2 Hrs, 29 Mins, 26 Secs. Margin of Victory:  Under Caution Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  9 for 61 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  13 among 8 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   J. Love 1;C. Zilisch # 2-7;J. Love 8;C. Zilisch # 9-64;J. Love 65-83;R. Chastain(i) 84-124;T. Gray # 125;S. Smith 126-128;R. Chastain(i) 129-207;T. Gray # 208;B. Jones 209-211;J. Allgaier 212;J. Love 213-222;S. Mayer 223-250.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Ross Chastain(i) 2 times for 120 laps; Connor Zilisch # 2 times for 62 laps; Jesse Love 4 times for 31 laps; Sam Mayer 1 time for 28 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 3 laps; Sammy Smith 1 time for 3 laps; Taylor Gray # 2 times for 2 laps; Justin Allgaier 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 88,2,9,41,18,1,11,10,25,7<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 9,20,54,41,18,00,2,25,1,39<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service NEWTON, Iowa \u2014 Sam Mayer took control of Saturday\u2019s Hy-Vee Perks 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway after a Lap 221 restart and maintained it the rest of the way to record the first victory for the Haas Factory team and the first in the series […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":53773,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[456,16,181,789],"class_list":["post-53778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-iowa-speedway","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-xfinity-series","tag-sam-mayer"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2228250158-1-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-dZo","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53778"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53783,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53778\/revisions\/53783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}