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Sam Mayer Fights Fuel Pressure Problems in GMS Racing’s Return to ARCA Menards Series

www.arcaracing.com April 1, 2019

After a four-year absence from the ARCA Menards Series, GMS Racing returned at Five Flags Speedway with Franklin, Wisconsin teenager Sam Mayer (No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet) behind the wheel. GMS was the championship-winning organization in 2015 with Grant Enfinger behind the wheel and has since moved on to become a championship-winning team in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series as well.

Mayer, a protégé of NASCAR driver development specialist Lorin Rainier, made two starts last season for MDM Motorsports and finished in the top ten in both. He was also part of JR Motorsports’ late model program, something which will continue in 2019 as GMS and JR Motorsports have formed a joint driver development program.

Mayer started 14th, and stayed there as the field settled in. By lap ten he had started making his was forward through the field and by lap 23 he had cracked the top ten. Mayer’s car only got better as the race continued under green and by lap 80 he had cracked the top five. Under the first caution of the day, Mayer came to the pits and gave up three positions on the tricky and tight Five Flags pit road, but quickly regained two of those positions when the race went back to green. But it was then Mayer started fighting a fuel pressure problem that slowed his progress and would eventually send him to the sidelines 32 laps early.

“Our Chevy Accessories SS was hauling the mail once the race got going,” Mayer said. “We were really good in race trim during practice and we definitely had a great car until we started having fuel pressure problems. It’s unfortunate when something like that ruins your chance to win. But what we can take from Pensacola is huge. We have so much speed in the car and I feel confident in myself too. Me and the team are looking forward to Salem to show what we can really do.”

Mayer and GMS Racing will return to ARCA Menards Series action at Salem Speedway on April 13 and 14. Practice is slated for 11 am ET on Saturday April 13 followed by General Tire Pole Qualifying at 3:30 pm ET. The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 is set for a 2 pm ET start on Sunday April 14 and will be televised live on MAVTV. ARCA for Me members can access free live timing & scoring, live track updates, and live chat at ARCARacing.com. New members can register for free by providing a valid email address at ARCARacing.com/login.