”It pisses me off”: Sam Mayer ‘very mad’ after continuously being looked over by Cup Series teams

Sam Mayer, a driver for JR Motorsports, has voiced his displeasure at being passed over by NASCAR Cup teams. The 20-year-old insists that he has proven his capability of competing with the best drivers in the top category.

Mayer recently clinched his second win of the season at Iowa Speedway, marking his sixth Xfinity career victory. His 2023 campaign included four wins and a third-place finish in the driver's championship.

Following his recent victory at Iowa, Sam Mayer was asked why his name isn't mentioned alongside other young drivers touted as future stars in the Cup Series, despite having similar stats. Mayer admitted that being looked over pisses him off, as he reckons he is working hard for the results.

"Yeah, it kind of pisses me off to be honest with you. I feel like we have proved ourselves a lot more. Like I'm dead serious. It makes me so mad that my name isn't in more hats for race teams. Hopefully today, kinda put my name in a couple of 'em." he said at the press conference. (via Joseph Srigley)

Mayer, who hails from Franklin, Wisconsin, explained that he and a few other drivers consistently deliver strong results but still need to take that extra step. Mayer reckons emerging on top of this bunch will earn him a promotion.

"We are working really hard. I wanna go Sunday racing obviously one day or soon I don't know. Me the #98 and all those guys, there's so many people up in the top 5, top 10 that have something to prove. And if you can be top dog in those guys, I feel like you deserve it."

While many seats are up for grabs in the Cup Series for the upcoming season, Sam Mayer is not linked to any seat. This, despite the fact that a few Xfinity and Truck Series talents are in contention for a Cup Series ride in 2025.

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Riley Herbst expresses frustration about Sam Mayer's driving style

Riley Herbst, the #98 Stewart Haas Racing driver, expressed his frustration with how Sam Mayer raced him midway through the race, when both were fighting for the seventh spot and lost positions.

Herbst and Mayer were reunited on the front row for the final overtime restart, as Mayer took the lead from the outside lane and went on to win the race. While Herbst was frustrated with the race winner, he admitted that he enjoyed racing with him.

"The guy who won absolutely brooms us in (turns) 1 and 2, that was frustrating. And for him to door me going down the front straightaway on the green-white-checkered, that was a little bit frustrating. But all in all, it was fun racing with him on the green-white-checkered." he told NBC Sports post race.

After 15 rounds in the Xfinity season, Riley Herbst occupies seventh place in the standings, three spots ahead of Mayer in 10th.