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Sam Mayer Makes a Statement with Haas Factory Team: A Thrilling Daytona Runner-Up Finish

Publisher by Publisher
February 17, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Sam Mayer Makes a Statement with Haas Factory Team: A Thrilling Daytona Runner-Up Finish

Nov 9, 2024; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Sam Mayer (1) during the Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Sam Mayer took a leap into the unknown when he signed with the Haas Factory Team (HFT) after three solid years at JR Motorsports. The young Wisconsin native had already proven his worth with multiple Xfinity Series wins, but now, switching from Chevrolet to Ford and joining a brand-new team, the stakes were higher than ever.

Would HFT—formed from the ashes of Stewart-Haas Racing—be able to deliver a competitive car? Would Mayer’s move pay off?

After the Daytona season opener, the answer was a resounding YES.


A near-perfect start: Mayer lands a P2 finish at Daytona

Mayer, piloting the No. 41 Ford, pulled off his best-ever finish at Daytona, taking second place behind race winner Jesse Love. Even though he didn’t clinch the victory, the runner-up finish was a monumental result for both him and his new team.

“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,” Mayer said post-race.

Mayer had never finished higher than 12th at Daytona before, and yet, in his first-ever race for HFT, he delivered a podium in a wild, wreck-filled race.


Haas Factory Team proves the doubters wrong

When HFT replaced Stewart-Haas Racing, skeptics questioned whether the team could replicate SHR’s former dominance in the Xfinity Series. But after Daytona, those doubts are already fading fast.

Not only did Mayer secure second place, but his teammate, Sheldon Creed, finished third—marking an explosive debut for the team.

“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 two podium finishes is really cool,” Mayer said.

For a brand-new operation, this result was a massive statement.


Mayer’s bold prediction: “We’ll get some checkered flags for sure”

If Daytona was a test, Mayer and HFT passed with flying colors. But the young driver isn’t satisfied just yet—he believes wins are coming soon.

“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.”

With seven Xfinity Series wins and a Championship 4 appearance in 2023, Mayer knows what it takes to win. Now, with HFT showing immediate speed, the rest of the field has been put on notice.

Daytona may have just been the beginning—but Sam Mayer and Haas Factory Team have arrived.

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