Mayer Secures Playoff Advancement with Overtime Victory
Sam Mayer emerged victorious in a dramatic overtime finish on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, propelling him forward in the Xfinity Series playoffs. The outcome was not without controversy, as a late-race caution disrupted the proceedings and altered the fate of Parker Kligerman, who had been on the brink of his first career Xfinity Series victory.
Controversial Caution Costs Kligerman Victory
Parker Kligerman, leading the race in its final moments, seemed poised to capture his long-awaited victory. Leland Honeyman collided into the tire barrier as he got closer to the white flag, which indicated the end of the race.. While NASCAR could have thrown the caution flag immediately due to the severity of the crash, the yellow flag was delayed until the instant before Kligerman was about to pass under the white flag. This ruling prevented the race from being declared official, forcing it into overtime and dashing Kligerman’s hopes of a win.
The decision left Kligerman’s team in disbelief as they prematurely celebrated on pit road, only to learn that the race was far from over. This marked the 14th overtime race of the Xfinity Series season, tying the all-time record.
Mayer Capitalizes in Overtime to Win
With the race extending into overtime, Sam Mayer, the defending champion of this event, capitalized on the opportunity. In a fierce two-lap sprint to the finish, Mayer overtook Kligerman for the lead. The two made contact during the decisive pass, causing damage to Kligerman’s car and relegating him to a sixth-place finish. Kligerman, competing in his final full-time season, expressed his heartbreak after the race, admitting how much the victory would have meant to him.
"I want to cry after the race, but I am not going to," Kligerman remarked. "I genuinely liked this and I genuinely wanted that." The world would have meant it."
Reactions to the Late Caution Decision
Kligerman appeared noticeably stunned while watching a video of how close he had been to winning before the warning was shouted. " he exclaimed in disbelief. As a television analyst for Cup Series races, Kligerman is no stranger to the emotional rollercoaster of NASCAR, but he expressed the devastation of losing out under such circumstances.
Allmendinger’s Perfect Roval Record Snapped
AJ Allmendinger, who had been undefeated on The Roval in the Xfinity Series with a perfect 4-for-4 record, finished in second place. He was followed by pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen, who, despite finishing third, was eliminated from the playoffs. Both Allmendinger and van Gisbergen were set to compete in Sunday’s Cup Series race, with van Gisbergen starting from the pole position.
Playoff Picture Shifts as Drivers Are Eliminated
Van Gisbergen’s elimination from the playoffs came at the hands of Jesse Love, who, despite finishing 19th, passed enough cars in the final laps to edge van Gisbergen out of playoff contention by just two points. Along with Kligerman and van Gisbergen, Sheldon Creed and Riley Herbst were also eliminated from the playoff field, having been involved in earlier accidents. They watched the final laps unfold from the garage, their playoff hopes dashed.
Playoff Drivers Dominate at Charlotte
With only Sammy Smith and Chandler Smith having secured their spots in the next playoff round prior to the race, the battle for the remaining six slots was fierce. Justin Allgaier, who started the race below the cutline, finished seventh and secured his advancement. With the points reset, Allgaier now leads the standings heading into the next playoff round, which begins next Saturday in Las Vegas.
The top seven finishers at Charlotte were all playoff contenders, underscoring the high stakes and intensity of the race as the Xfinity Series playoffs continue to unfold.
Xfinity Series Playoff Round of Eight Drivers
Sam Mayer
Sammy Smith
Chandler Smith
Justin Allgaier
Josh Berry
Cole Custer
John Hunter Nemechek
Daniel Hemric
Mayer’s victory at Charlotte not only secured his playoff advancement but also heightened the drama as the Xfinity Series playoffs move into the next round.
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