Yahoo Autos Sam Mayer's Car Catches Fire After Contact in NASCAR Xfinity Race
Heading into the end of the second stage of the RAPTOR King of Tough 250, Mayer had just advanced to the seventh position in front of Taylor Gray when he was called clear and attempted to move up the track; he was not clear and made contact with Gray sent the Xfinity championship hopeful into the wall.
Mayer entered Atlanta, locked into the playoffs with his two wins. The next three races remaining in the Xfinity Series regular-season are a chance for Mayer to improve his starting position in the playoffs; sadly, he'll take a hit with a DNF at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
After scrubbing the wall, the backend of Mayer's Chevrolet Camero was engulfed in flames, causing the driver to exit the vehicle quickly.
Over the radio, Mayer took responsibility for the crash, saying he was being too aggressive.
"Sorry guys," Mayer said. "I was trying to be aggressive; either it wasn’t good, or the No. 19 was being more aggressive. Call that on me, sorry."
Mayer's spotter, Kevin Hamlin, was also heard on the radio by the NBC broadcast saying that the wreck was his mistake for calling Mayer clear.
After being released from the infield care center, Mayer talked with the media, including Fox Sports's Bob Pockrass, saying that even with his run cut short, he enjoyed this race at Atlanta over any in the past.
You’re always trying to push it to the limit to make moves like that, especially with 15 to go in the stage; you’re pushing it all you've got," Mayer said on his aggression level. "I’ve got to tell you this is some of the most fun I’ve had at this racetrack, especially this style of racing. It was a blast. I was having a lot of fun making moves out there, rolling the bottom. It certainly helps when your car is probably the best one in the field.
This is Mayer's last year racing with JR Motorsports and the No. 1 team; next year, he'll make the move to the newly reworked Haas Factory team.
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