Sam Mayer wins Xfinity Series pole for Drive For The Cure 250 at the Roval

Despite a much slower Group B session, Sam Mayer won the pole for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Roval. Mayer was able to steal the pole award from Justin Allgaier, his teammate. Only two drivers in Group B made it in the top-5 overall in qualifying.

There was no final round of qualifying due to an extended fluid cleanup. Boris Said in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 17 had mechanical issues in practice. Then, in qualifying for Group A he spilled fluid all over the track that had to be cleared up.

It looked like Justin Allgaier would run away with the pole, then Sam Mayer stepped up and took it. He’s in a must-win situation right now and this might be his way into the next round. A third road course win coming for Mayer?

.@sam_mayer_ will lead the field to green for the #DriveForTheCure250! @CLTMotorSpdwy | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/LgJu7nbxoX

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) October 7, 2023

This is the second career pole award for Sam Mayer. He earned his first in 2022 at Charlotte on the oval configuration. Mayer finds himself in 12th place and he’s more than 30 points from Daniel Hemric on the cutline entering the Roval race.

So, the goal is to win. Starting on the pole is a pretty great way of doing that. With two wins on road courses already this year, Road America and Watkins Glen, this is his chance to make the Round of 8.

Are things turning around for Sam Mayer?

Speaking of those wins, that was about the peak for Sam Mayer this season. And that isn’t a bad thing! He’s had a lot of bad luck in the playoffs. Between Portland and Watkins Glen, Mayer had six top-5s, a top-10, and two wins.

Since that win at The Glen, he has finishes of P19, P11, P37, P35, and P38. DNFs have bitten him in the last few races. He’s an aggressive driver at times, perhaps more so now that he has won a couple of races, one with aggression.

Then again, not all of it has been his fault. Sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. At Texas, he tried to go up the track on the first lap to make a pass and found himself in the wall. That was more or less on him.

He’s gotten himself into a must-win position, so Sam Mayer will have to get himself out of it. Winning the pole at the Roval is huge. Now, he just has to go out and complete it with a checkered flag later today.