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Sam Mayer’s Apology: A Surprising Twist in Kyle Larson’s Homestead-Miami Xfinity Series Upset

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 23, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Sam Mayer’s Apology: A Surprising Twist in Kyle Larson’s Homestead-Miami Xfinity Series Upset

Mar 22, 2025; Homestead, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Sam Mayer (41) races during the Hard Rock Bet 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

In a startling twist of events, Sam Mayer, the headstrong No. 41 Haas Factory Team driver known for his relentless on-track encounters, had a change of heart following an incident with Kyle Larson at the Homestead-Miami Xfinity Series race. Mayer, who has a history of clashing with rivals such as Parker Retzlaff and Riley Herbst, did something out of character – he expressed regret.

Mayer’s aggressive tactics have previously resulted in a few tense encounters, including a push against Retzlaff in the 2024 playoff race at Martinsville and a collision with Herbst at Iowa’s Speedway the following June. However, after a contentious incident with 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, Mayer deviated from his typical unapologetic demeanor.

Kyle Larson’s status in motorsports is beyond question. With an impressive track record that includes an attempt at the Double in 2024, 29 NASCAR Cup Series victories, 14 Xfinity race wins, and four Craftsman Truck wins, his name echoes in the halls of racing fame. Larson’s hope to add another victory to his impressive tally at the Homestead-Miami Speedway was dashed when Mayer obstructed his path. An exasperated Larson claimed, “The 41 just lagged back and slammed me.”

Despite a strong start to his triple-header aspirations, Larson’s day took a turn for the worse during the Xfinity race. After leading the first 132 laps, his run was interrupted by a caution caused by Taylor Gray with just 8 laps remaining. The restart saw Mayer’s No. 41 car collide with Larson’s No. 17 car, costing Larson the win as Justin Allgaier seized the opportunity to take the lead.

Contrary to his usual demeanor, Mayer was apologetic. He admitted to his desperate bid in the final stages and praised Larson’s race-winning efforts, accepting blame for thwarting them. Mayer confessed, “I just mistimed it unfortunately, so got him squirrelly, choked our entire lane up, let all those guys get going on the outside.”

It’s noteworthy that the caution from Taylor Gray eroded a 14-second lead that Larson held over the rest of the field, a lead that seemed certain to secure him the win. Mayer’s decision to take the inside lane on the restart ended up derailing the momentum of all the drivers there, including his own, while Allgaier tactically took the outside lane and retained his lead for the remainder of the race.

Mayer’s remorseful reaction post-race is a departure from his usual defiant attitude, and while it may surprise his regular critics, it’s not entirely unprecedented. There have been instances when Mayer has expressed regret for his actions, albeit not usually in context with his rivals.

For instance, during the 2024 RAPTOR King of Tough 250 race in Atlanta, Mayer found himself in a tricky situation at the end of stage 2, which resulted in his Chevrolet Camero catching fire after he scraped the back of his car against the wall. Mayer then apologized to his then-team, JR Motorsports, for his aggressive approach, “Sorry guys. I was trying to be aggressive; either it wasn’t good, or the No. 19 was being more aggressive. Call that on me, sorry.”

Highlighting his change in attitude, Mayer apologized to Larson, underscoring his contrite stance. However, it remains to be seen whether the seasoned Hendrick Motorsports veteran will accept Mayer’s admission of guilt. As the dust settles on this incident, fans and critics are watching closely for the next move in this high-octane drama.

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