Xfinity Series: Sam Mayer finally takes first win for Haas in Iowa

Written by Sean McKean

Credit: Patrick Vallely / NASCAR Digital Media

Despite domination from others, it was Sam Mayer who hung on to take his first win of 2025 in Iowa. It was Mayer’s first win for his new Haas Factory Team.

As it unfolded

From pole, Jesse Love led from William Sawalich and retained the lead initially, but Connor Zilisch got to Love’s inside to take the lead at the end of the lap.

Upon completion of the first lap, Austin Hill’s stand-in – Austin Dillon – spun around in the back after contact with Ryan Sieg. Both drivers drove away without damage.

Zilisch led the way on the Lap 9 restart.

The JR Motorsports driver hung on to take the first stage win decisively. Love and Ross Chastain followed behind.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

2. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

3. No. 9 - Ross Chastain (JR Motorsports)

4. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

5. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)

6. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

7. No. 11 - Carson Hocevar (Kaulig Racing)

8. No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing)

9. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing)

10. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

Everyone took tyres and fuel during the stage break. Love came out first ahead of Zilisch and Chastain. However, Zilisch had to come back down pit road for a loose wheel – relegating him to the rear of the field. 

Love led the way on the Lap 71 restart over Chastain. Although Chastain faced pressure from Justin Bosignore behind, he managed to remain in second.

Ross Chastain took the lead for the first time of the day on Lap 83 after a lengthy battle with Love ahead.

On Lap 90, the second caution for cause came out. In Turn 3, Anthony Alfredo and Ryan Ellis came into contact, sending them both into a spin. Neither driver came out with damage.

A few drivers took to the pits, notably Sammy Smith and Dean Thompson.

Chastain led the way on Lap 97 and led the remaining 24 laps to take second stage victory. Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray followed suit.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 9 - Ross Chastain (JR Motorsports)

2. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

3. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

5. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)

6. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)

7. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

8. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing)

9. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

10. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

Sammy Smith led the way on Lap 130, having pitted during the Lap 90 caution. Whilst battling Smith, Chastain lost the lead to Taylor Gray.

Lap 138 saw the next caution come out. On entry to Turn 3, Corey Day drove it in too deep, spinning out Dean Thompson in the process. Thompson drove away without damage.

Chastain managed to snatch the lead from Gray on the Lap 145 restart. He led the next 50 laps mostly uncontested whilst the Joe Gibbs driver followed behind.

A race-changing caution came out on Lap 202, when Daniel Dye lost a front-right tyre in Turn 4 and slammed the outside wall. He retired from the race.

Every driver came down for tyres. By taking two tyres, both Brandon Jones and Justin Allgaier came out first and second. Chastain came out third.

Jones led on the next restart whilst Allgaier’s tyres failed to fire off. In the ensuing stack-up, Allgaier was spun around by teammate Connor Zilisch in Turn 1, which relegated Allgaier to the back and brought out another caution. Sam Mayer moved into second during this melee whilst Love took the lead back.

On the next restart, Love got the jump on Mayer on Lap 221., but before Mayer could make a charge, the caution came back out. This was for Matt DiBenedetto sustaining major damage to his car further in the back, which leaked oil onto the race track.

17 laps remained when Love led the way again, but Mayer quickly cleared him to take the lead. Meanwhile, Harrison Burton made it three-wide to move into second. 

Sam Mayer hung on to take his first victory of the season and first for Haas Factory Team.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

2. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

3. No. 9 - Ross Chastain (JR Motorsports) [FL]

4. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

5. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing)

6. No. 11 - Carson Hocevar (Kaulig Racing)

7. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)

8. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

9. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

10. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

11. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)

12. No. 19 - Justin Bosignore (Joe Gibbs Racing)

13. No. 4 - Parker Retzlaff (Alpha Prime Racing)

14. No. 21 - Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)

15. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

16. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

17. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing)

18. No. 28 - Kyle Sieg (RSS Racing)

19. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)

20. No. 44 - Brennan Poole (Alpha Prime Racing)

21. No. 91 - Josh Bilicki (DGM Racing)

22. No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)

23. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

24. No. 17 - Corey Day (Hendrick Motorsports) +1 lap

25. No. 71 - Ryan Ellis (DGM Racing) +1 lap

26. No. 42 - Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports) +1 lap

27. No. 53 - Joey Gase (Joey Gase Motorsports) +1 lap

28. No. 31 - Blaine Perkins (Jordan Anderson Racing) +1 lap

29. No. 27 - Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing) +1 lap

30. No. 07 - Patrick Emerling (SS Greenlight Racing) +1 lap

31. No. 26 - Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing) +2 laps

32. No. 70 - Thomas Annunziata (Cope Family Racing) +2 laps

33. No. 14 - Garrett Smithley (SS Greenlight Racing) +3 laps

34. No. 35 - Tyler Tomassi (Joey Gase Motorsports) +10 laps

35. No. 99 - Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports) [DNF]

36. No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

37. No. 45 - Mason Massey (Alpha Prime Racing) [DNF]

No. 74 - Dawson Cram (Mike Harmon Racing) [DNF]