Sam Mayer wins at Homestead; punches ticket to Championship 4 race at Phoenix: Sam Mayer claimed his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series oval-race victory in the second half of a NASCAR double-header at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday in the Contender Boats 300 after holding off last week’s race winner Riley Herbst by a mere .227-second.(Read more)(10-21-2023)
In a close finish, #1-Sam Mayer won the Contender Boats 300 Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It’s his fourth win of the season and his first career victory on an oval. Mayer is the first driver to be locked into the championship battle at Phoenix.
#98-Riley Herbst followed up his dominant Las Vegas performance with a runner-up finish at Homestead, coming up just shy of the victory. #20-John Hunter Nemechek finished third while battling a cold. #21-Austin Hill placed fourth with #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounding out the top five in his second and final start of the season.
#10-Daniel Hemric finished sixth, with #48-Parker Kligerman, #9-Brandon Jones, #18-Sammy Smith and #19-Joe Graf Jr. rounding out the top 10.
#00-Cole Custer led a race-high 114 laps and won the opening stage, but had a flat tire late in the race and dropped to 13th in the finishing order. #11-Derek Kraus won his first career stage in Stage 2, and finished 11th.
Additional playoff drivers finishing outside the top 10 were #7-Justin Allgaier (15th), who had a loose wheel and was trapped off the lead lap. #2-Sheldon Creed finished 26th and #16-Chandler Smith finished 34th with an engine expiring.
There were 13 lead changes among six drivers and six cautions for 33 yellow flag laps.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Homestead Paint Schemes
Race Fast Facts – Homestead-Miami:
Sam Mayer (P) won the Contender Boats 300, his fourth victory in 82 Xfinity Series races.
This is his fourth victory and 18th top-10 finish in 2023.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in two races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Riley Herbst (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in five races at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It is his 15th top-10 finish in 2023.
John Hunter Nemechek (P) (third) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Sammy Smith (P) (ninth) was the highest finishing rookie.
Sam Mayer clinches a spot in the Championship 4.
Xfinity Series Standings after Homestead-Miami (Race 31 of 33):
1)#1-Sam Mayer — Advanced to Championship 4
2)#20-John Hunter Nemechek 3,154, +44
3)#00-Cole Custer 3,113, +3
4)#21-Austin Hill 3,113, +3
Currently below elimination line
5)#7-Justin Allgaier 3,110, -3
6)#18-Sammy Smith 3,064, -49
7)#16-Chandler Smith 3,059, -54
8)#2-Sheldon Creed 3,048, -65
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #35-Patrick Emerling, #43-Ryan Ellis (unapproved adjustments)
Pit Stall Selections
#00-Cole Custer backed up his practice time, winning the pole for Saturday’s Contender Boats 300 Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Custer’s speed of 165.604 mph was nearly two-tenths of a second ahead of second place.
#20-John Hunter Nemechek made his first qualifying attempt since Texas and will start from the front row in second (164.704 mph). #7-Justin Allgaier will start a career-best third at Homestead (164.194 mph), with #21-Austin Hill (163.934 mph) and #18-Sammy Smith (163.934 mph) rounding out the top five.
In sixth, #25-Brett Moffitt earned his best starting position since March. #98-Riley Herbst, #8-Josh Berry, #2-Sheldon Creed and #48-Parker Kligerman complete the top 10.
Two playoff drivers missed the top 10 in qualifying: Chandler Smith (12th) and #1-Sam Mayer (13th).
Did Not Qualify: #4-JJ Yeley, #07-Natalie Decker, #53-Matt Mills
See the complete Homestead Starting Lineup.
Qualifying Fast Facts — Homestead-Miami
Cole Custer (P) won the Pole Award for the Contender Boats 300 with a lap of 32.608 seconds, 165.604 mph.
This is his 18th pole in 141 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his sixth pole and 26th top-10 start in 2023.
This is his second pole in five races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
John Hunter Nemechek (P) (second) posted his 25th top-10 start of 2023 and his third in three races at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Justin Allgaier (P) (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It is his 24th in 31 races this season.
Sammy Smith (P) (fifth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Qualifying Order
Practice for the Contender Boats 300 Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway is complete. After 20 minutes, the top five, slowest, news and notes:
#00-Cole Custer 163.815 mph
#20-John Hunter Nemechek 162.352 mph
#48-Parker Kligerman 161.740 mph
#21-Austin Hill 161.401 mph
#9-Brandon Jones 161.319 mph
Slowest: #07-Natalie Decker 148.961 mph
Most laps run: #20-Nemechek and #18-Sammy Smith, 31
There were no issues in the session.
See full Homestead Practice Results
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
There are 40 drivers/teams on the entry list for the Contender Boats 300 Xfinity Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Two cars will miss the race.
Notables: #4-JJ Yeley, #07-Natalie Decker, #08-Mason Massey, #11-Derek Kraus, #19-Joe Graf Jr., #24-Connor Mosack, #28-Mason Maggio, #29-CJ McLaughlin, #38-Kyle Sieg, #44-Jeffrey Earnhardt, #45-Leland Honeyman, #53-Matt Mills, #66-Ryan Newman, #74-Dawson Cram, #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., #91-Kyle Weatherman.
See the full entry list on the Homestead Entry List page.
Homestead At-Track Schedule
