What is Sam Mayer’s Route to the Cup Series?
What’s Happening? Sam Mayer is in his fourth full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series, and fans are wondering what his next step will…
We have reached the first real benchmark of the 2025 NASCAR racing season. We are six races or 1/6th of the way through the season, so what drivers who swapped seats during the offseason are shining early on this season?
Perhaps the most shocking move during this past silly season, and the first real move to happen during last year’s cycle, was the announcement that Front Row Motorsports’ long-time cornerstone driver Michael McDowell would depart the team with Crew Chief Travis Peterson for a long-term deal with Spire Motorsports.
During his time at FRM, McDowell won two races, including a Daytona 500, and led the circuit in Pole wins last season. This speed has translated over to the No. 71 early this season, as the veteran has already won a pole, the first in Spire’s history, and currently sits 15th in points. While they have yet to win, this signing looks like a good move for both team and driver early on.
Not only did Stewart-Haas Racing become the Haas Factory Team, but the Xfinity Series team swapped the No. 98 for the No. 41 and swapped out both of their promoted drivers for fresh faces. These faces were former Toyota driver Sheldon Creed and Chevrolet driver Sam Mayer.
Creed was coming off his best season yet, despite the lack of a win, while Mayer was coming off a three-win season that saw a dip in his overall statistics at JRM. Yet, six diverse races in, Mayer looks to be the highlight of these signings, though Creed is having a solid year as well.
The driver of the No. 41 currently has five top-tens and four top-fives through six races and has the best average finish of all full-time drivers in the No. 41. Though most expected Creed’s performance, Mayer is making an immediate impact at Ford.
What’s Happening? Sam Mayer is in his fourth full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series, and fans are wondering what his next step will…
Ryan Preece was a major question mark entering the late season. Fans knew that Stewart-Haas Racing was closing; however, Preece’s 2025 destination was not as clear. That was until rumors and confirmation in November that RFK Racing would sign sponsor Kroger, lease a Charter to expand to three cars, and sign Preece.
In his previous five full-time NASCAR Cup Series seasons with JTG-Daughtery racing and SHR, fans were unsure of Preece’s true skill behind the wheel. Most wondered if he was an overachiever in bad cars or if he was part of a team of underachievers in good cars. In his best statistical season, 2024, Preece had one top-five and five top-tens; this season, Preece already has one top-five and two top-tens and is on pace for a career-best average finish.
Despite the flip at Daytona, no, not that one, the one from this year, the new team at RFK is off to a quiet yet solid start. Right now, the new No. 60 sits 16th in points, still a way down the ladder but a far improvement on past starts to the season. Martinsville will be the veteran short-track racer’s first real test. If he shows speed at a familiar track, one he has performed well on in the past, Preece can prove the doubters wrong.
Who else was it going to be? One of the first 2024 SHR drivers to find a ride for 2025 is currently the best free agent signing of this past offseason. For Berry, a 34-year-old, this season looked like a make-or-break opportunity; however, the real question at hand was how good his equipment was.
Throughout the past few seasons, Wood Brothers Racing struggled with driver Harrison Burton, with the only highlight being a picturesque win at Daytona last summer. When the team announced that Berry would take over for Burton, most fans felt the veteran would prove just how good the No. 21 really was.
With Penske baking, something WBR has had for almost a decade now, the No. 21 is fast this year. That includes a win at Las Vegas, a 13.3 average starting sport, and the 12 position in points. Whether this momentum will hold on for the combo is unknown; for now, it looks like WBR may have won the SHR free-agent lottery.
Let us know your thoughts on this! Join the discussion on Discord or X, and remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.
