Sam Mayer secured the pole position for the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at EchoPark Speedway on Saturday, February 21, marking a rare feat where a car outside the Richard Childress Racing network led qualifying at a drafting track. Mayer, behind the wheel of the No. 41 Audibel Chevrolet for the Haas Factory Team, posted the fastest time during both qualifying rounds, clocking in at 31.804 seconds, or 174.318 mph.
This achievement not only gave Mayer his fourth pole in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series but also ended the long-standing streak held by Richard Childress Racing at major drafting tracks, including Daytona and Talladega.
Haas Factory Team’s Growing Presence on NASCAR Drafting Circuits
Mayer’s pole marks the third for Haas Factory Team following its separation from Stewart-Haas Racing after the 2024 season. Additionally, this is the fifth pole for team owner Gene Haas in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, signaling the team’s rising influence in NASCAR’s second-tier division.
Reflecting on the team’s performance balance, Mayer shared,
“We’re showing up pretty similar to what we have in the last year with this Haas Factory Team,”
and added,
“I feel like it’s going to be pretty good. We were in the race, top-five, top-10 all day, finished third [referring to last year], so I feel pretty good about what we have.”
– Sam Mayer, Driver
Strong Contenders Line Up Behind Mayer, Highlighting Competitive Field
Joining Mayer on the front row is Carson Kvapil, who matched his career-best starting position by qualifying second. Kvapil’s previous top starting spots include performances at Martinsville Speedway last season.
Taylor Gray earned the third starting spot in his pursuit of a solid sophomore season, while Sheldon Creed, Mayer’s Haas Factory Team teammate, qualified fourth. William Sawalich completed the top five starters, with Rajah Caruth, driving the No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, grabbing sixth place.
Other notable qualifiers within the top ten are Gio Ruggiero from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and drivers Sammy Smith, Corey Day, and Jesse Love.
Notable Qualifying Surprises and Mid-Pack Starting Positions
Defending Daytona O’Reilly Auto Parts Series winner Austin Hill experienced a setback by qualifying 20th in his No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro, deviating from his prior success on drafting tracks. Additional key drivers such as Justin Allgaier, Ryan Sieg, Brandon Jones, and Ross Chastain also posted qualifying positions outside the top 15, with Chastain starting 30th.
The event attracted 39 entries, but only Dawson Cram, driving the No. 74 Chevrolet for Mike Harmon Racing, failed to qualify for the race.
Upcoming Race Details and Broadcast Information
The Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 will begin at 5:30 PM Eastern Time at EchoPark Speedway, with live coverage available on The CW. This race marks the second leg of a weekend double-header at EchoPark, offering important points and momentum early in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.
Sam Mayer’s unexpected pole position highlights the increasing competitiveness and evolving dynamics at drafting events this year, with the Haas Factory Team positioned as a strong contender to challenge traditional leaders like Richard Childress Racing. Observers will watch closely to see if Mayer and his team can convert this qualifying success into race day victory.
.@sam_mayer_ wins the pole for tomorrow's race at Atlanta! pic.twitter.com/A7w3LOdcph
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) February 20, 2026
