Sam Mayer Bio
Samuel Adam Mayer (born June 26, 2003) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 41 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Haas Factory Team. Standing 190 cm tall, Mayer has built his reputation as one of the top young talents in NASCAR, capturing multiple developmental championships before reaching the national ranks. He is recognized for his aggressive driving style, consistency on road courses, and ability to win in high-pressure situations.
Early Life and Background
Sam Mayer was born on June 26, 2003, in Franklin, Wisconsin, in the United States. He grew up in a family with deep roots in motorsports, as his father, Scott Mayer, competed as a driver in the IndyCar Series. Scott Mayer later founded QPS Employment Group and Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions, a large employment firm in the Midwest.
Sam began his racing career at the age of four, competing in go-kart events. Although his father had experience in open-wheel racing, Sam chose to focus on stock cars during his preteen years. He spent the summer of 2017 in Charlotte, where he won the Young Lions division of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Summer Shootout in a Legends car. He also raced in a Limited Late Model and won at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, becoming the track’s youngest winner. He returned to Wisconsin and won a Midwest Truck Series race at Dells Raceway Park in his first series start.
Path to NASCAR
Mayer connected with industry veteran Lorin Ranier in 2017, which led to a late model ride with JR Motorsports in the CARS Tour for 2018. That year he won a CARS Tour event at Wake County Speedway and was voted the series’ Most Popular Driver. Ranier also helped Mayer join MDM Motorsports for a limited slate in the ARCA Racing Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
On December 5, 2018, GMS Racing announced that Mayer would run a full K&N Pro Series East schedule in 2019, along with seven ARCA races and four NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series events. His Truck Series debut was set for Bristol Motor Speedway in August, once he turned sixteen. This multi-series plan laid the foundation for his rapid climb through the NASCAR ranks.
Sam Mayer Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Mayer’s first ARCA race in 2018 saw him finish inside the top ten after running as high as third. In the K&N Pro Series East, he was named the 2018 CARS Late Model Stock Tour Rookie of the Year. His strong developmental results earned him a full-time opportunity with GMS Racing in 2019, where he was paired with the organization’s driver development program.
In 2019, Mayer scored his first K&N East win at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 6, leading every lap. He nearly won an ARCA Menards Series race at Gateway in June but was moved up the track by Ty Gibbs in the final corners and finished third. In October, he clinched the 2019 K&N East championship at 16 years, 3 months, and 8 days old, becoming the youngest NASCAR champion in history. He ended the season with four wins and top-ten finishes in all but one race.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2021–2024)
On September 15, 2020, JR Motorsports announced Mayer would drive one of its NASCAR Xfinity Series cars part-time in late 2021 and full-time in 2022. On January 4, 2022, it was confirmed he would pilot the No. 1 car, replacing Michael Annett. At the Martinsville spring race, Mayer finished fifth after a bump-and-run on Ty Gibbs, which led to a fistfight on pit road. He finished seventh in the final 2022 points standings with a best result of second at Talladega.
Mayer returned for the 2023 season and scored his first career Xfinity win at Road America, followed by a second win at Watkins Glen. During the playoffs, he won at the Charlotte Roval and at Homestead-Miami Speedway, advancing to the Championship 4. He finished third in the final standings after placing fifth at Phoenix. In 2024, Mayer won at Texas over Ryan Sieg by 0.002 seconds in one of the closest Xfinity finishes in history. He added a second win at Iowa and another victory at the Charlotte Roval before a disqualification at Talladega for a post-race ride height violation.
Haas Factory Team Era (2025–Present)
On August 17, 2024, Mayer signed with Haas Factory Team to drive the No. 41 Ford starting in 2025. He opened the season with a second-place finish at Daytona and remained consistent through the year. His most notable result came at Iowa, where he won the race, earning Haas Factory Team’s first win and Ford’s first victory of the season. On October 28, 2025, NASCAR issued Mayer a one-race suspension for intentionally wrecking Jeb Burton during the post-race cooldown lap at Martinsville, with Ryan Sieg scheduled to replace him for the season finale at Phoenix.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mayer is known for an aggressive, confident style behind the wheel. He has shown particular strength on road courses and intermediate tracks, with consistent top-ten runs across the Xfinity Series. His willingness to make bold late-race moves has produced several signature victories, though it has also led to on-track confrontations with rivals. His composure in championship-contending scenarios has been a defining trait of his development.
Notable Races and Milestones
Mayer became the youngest NASCAR national champion in 2019 at the K&N East level. His first Xfinity Series win came at Road America in 2023, with additional victories at Watkins Glen, the Charlotte Roval, Homestead, Texas, Iowa, and the Charlotte Roval again in 2024. His 0.002-second win over Ryan Sieg at Texas ranks among the closest finishes in Xfinity Series history.
Sam Mayer Career Wins
Sam Mayer has accumulated victories across multiple NASCAR-sanctioned series, including the K&N Pro Series East, ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Xfinity Series. His developmental track record features two East Series championships and one ARCA Menards Series East title. He has continued to add wins at the national level with JR Motorsports and Haas Factory Team.
Xfinity Series Highlights
Mayer has scored multiple NASCAR Xfinity Series wins, beginning with his breakthrough at Road America in 2023. He won twice more that season, including at the Charlotte Roval, which clinched a Championship 4 berth. In 2024, he won at Texas, Iowa, and the Charlotte Roval. His most recent victory came in 2025 at Iowa with Haas Factory Team, marking the organization’s first career win.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the Xfinity Series, Mayer has won ARCA Menards Series races and the 2020 ARCA Menards Series East Championship. He also captured the inaugural ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown title in 2020. Earlier in his career, he won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race and earned a 2019 K&N Pro Series East title with four wins.
Sam Mayer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sam Mayer’s father, Scott Mayer, competed in the IndyCar Series before transitioning into business. Scott is the founder of QPS Employment Group and Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions, a major employment firm with 57 branches across eight states. The family-owned Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions serves as Sam’s primary sponsor in the Xfinity Series.
Personal Life
Sam Mayer is from Franklin, Wisconsin, and continues to be closely tied to his family’s business ventures. His primary sponsor, Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions, is headquartered in the Midwest and has been a key part of his racing operation. Public details about his personal relationships remain limited, as he has kept much of his private life away from media coverage.
2025 Season Performance
Sam Mayer’s 2025 season with Haas Factory Team has been defined by steady progress and a breakthrough win. After opening the year with a runner-up finish at Daytona, he built momentum with consistent top results on a variety of track types. His victory at Iowa delivered Haas Factory Team its first-ever win and gave Ford its first win of the season, a significant milestone for both organizations.
Late in the year, Mayer received a one-race suspension from NASCAR for intentionally wrecking Jeb Burton during the post-race cooldown lap at Martinsville. Ryan Sieg was named as his replacement for the season finale at Phoenix. Despite the setback, the 2025 campaign has established Mayer as a core part of Haas Factory Team’s competitive future and produced a key win for the organization.
