In an electrifying display of skill and strategy, Sam Mayer pulled off a stunning last-lap overtaking move to secure a victory by a razor-thin margin over Ryan Sieg at the Texas Motor Speedway this Saturday. This remarkable finish, with a final gap of just .002 seconds, ties for the second narrowest in the history of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Mayer, who found himself trailing by over a second at one stage of the race, made a spectacular comeback, ultimately capturing the lead only in the most crucial lap.
"It's unbelievable. There was a moment when I was significantly behind, and to bridge that gap in such a short time feels almost surreal," Mayer remarked.
He acknowledged that while his team did not dominate the race, their relentless effort paved the way for this spectacular win.
Ryan Sieg, who had surged from tenth to first place in just four laps following the final race caution, led for 17 consecutive laps until the penultimate moment of the race. Sieg managed to reclaim the inside track in the final stretch but fell short of securing his maiden victory in his 342nd career start for the RSS Racing team. Reflecting on the outcome,
Sieg shared, "Initially, I felt a huge disappointment. We were so close; I tried everything from tweaking the brakes to switching lines. In those final moments, my only thought was to do whatever it took to win, even if it meant pushing to the very edge."
Mayer's triumph at Texas marks his fifth career win and his first of the current season, despite leading for only five laps throughout the race. Justin Allgaier, who had led a dominant 117 laps, finished third, followed by AJ Allmendinger and Cole Custer rounding out the top five.
This race added to the history books, closely matching the record of the tightest finish ever at Daytona in 2018, where Tyler Reddick edged past Elliott Sadler by just 0.0004 seconds in a memorable fifth overtime victory.
Meanwhile, Allgaier's consistent performance ensured his place in the top 10 for the 266th time, equating Kyle Busch's record for the most top-10 finishes in the Xfinity Series. As he made his 446th start, Allgaier's career achievements continue to impress, highlighted by 23 wins.
