Sam Mayer drives race of his life to win at Charlotte, advance in Xfinity Series playoffs

By the time Lap 4 of Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Roval rolled around, Sam Mayer's chances of winning and advancing in the 2024 Xfinity Series playoffs seemed very slim.

A penalty dealt to Mayer for jumping the start forced him to do a pass-through penalty, and while he had a fast car beneath him, he would have to carve through the field in order to find the front.

He did just that as the race went on, but found himself in second place when the white flag flew, far enough back of race leader Parker Kligerman that he would be unable to make even a desperation move for the checkered flag.

Suddenly, Mayer was gifted a yellow cloth from the heavens, as a caution flag was thrown seconds before Kligerman took the white flag. With NASCAR overtime on deck, Mayer had one more shot to win the race and keep his season going.

Just as he did at the Roval in 2023, Mayer came up clutch when he needed to, getting around Kligerman with two laps to go and holding on to score his third victory of the 2024 season.

"To do it at home is something special," Mayer told NBC Sports. "This No. 1 car was fast today. We certainly had to work for it there."

Mayer then discussed the overtime restart and his thought process during the chaotic closing laps.

"We were all crossed up," Mayer said.

"I got loose getting into (turn) 6, that was my only shot if I got a good angle going into that corner. He blocked the bottom, which was good for me. He gave me a better angle off the corner and this Chevrolet hooked up and we were gone from there."

The win catapults Mayer and the No. 1 team into the Round of 8, where they will chase a second consecutive Championship Four appearance.

AJ Allmendinger finished second, with Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Hill and Chandler Smith completing the top five. Kligerman, Justin Allgaier, Josh Bilicki, Aric Almirola and Sammy Smith rounded out the top 10.

Other notable finishers include Cole Custer in 13th, Connor Mosack in 18th, Jesse Love in 19th, Riley Herbst in 32nd and Sheldon Creed in 35th.

The Xfinity Series will begin their Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 19.