By David Morgan, Associate Editor
One race remains in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, but for Sam Mayer, his season came to a close on Saturday night at Martinsville Speedway after his post-race actions forced a one-race suspension from NASCAR.
Mayer came into the penultimate race of the season needing a win to be able to make it through to Phoenix, but finished the race in seventh place and would be eliminated.
The story of his race, however, quickly shifted from his Playoff elimination to post-race theatrics that occurred between himself and Jeb Burton after the two had a couple of run-ins on track during the race and Mayer took it upon himself to seek out and spin Burton’s Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet after the checkered flag flew.
The antics from Mayer landed him in hot water with the sanctioning body and he would be found in violation of Section 4.4.B of the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct and as such would be suspended from the season finale.
.@sam_mayer_ was not happy with @JebBurtonRacing after the race. pic.twitter.com/PIrQHCTTY9
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) October 26, 2025
Mayer didn’t hold back in his post-race interview after spinning Burton as he verbally lashed out at the way Burton had raced him both on Saturday at Martinsville and last weekend at Talladega.
“I was just giving it all I had right there. The 27 [Burton] did us no favors,” said Mayer.
“Last week, he caused a demolition derby and a parking lot on the front straightaway at the fastest race track we go to. And now he decides to just be an absolute dumbass this go around and race a guy with a purple spoiler, like, just awful. It was awful to be around him all day.
“He’s just fast enough to be really, really annoying, but not fast enough to do anything else worth a damn. It sucks to be in that spot around him…everyone that’s behind me and in my circle, it makes me very pleased to be a part of this group. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
After Mayer climbed from his car, Anderson marched down to express his displeasure with the post-race incident and additional damage to one of his cars.
Something Mayer admitted he felt bad about with how everything had transpired with him and Burton.
“I honestly hate it for Jordan,” said Mayer. “Jordan is one of the coolest guys in the garage. He’s worked his tail off to get to this point and I definitely regret wrecking one of his race cars after the competition is over.
“But Jeb needs a wake-up call, that brother, he does not have the it factor, he has the different factor.”
For his side of the story, Burton took to social media after the race to explain how thing went down from his point-of-view.
“The incident with the 41 [Mayer], at the beginning of the race, he was acting like a child and shipped me into the corner because he was I guess mad about the accident that happened last week,” said Burton.
“So, at the end of the race when I caught him, it was time to race him like he raced me. And I moved him, I didn’t wreck him and he didn’t like it. Then after the race, he wrecked us.
“I thought that was pretty funny, so I’m sure he’s going to be in trouble for that. I’m sure he’s just disappointed that he didn’t make the Playoffs and was acting like a child. It is what it is.”
Haas Factory Team announced shortly after the penalty news dropped that they would not be appealing it and Mayer would in fact be on the sidelines for the weekend ahead in the Arizona desert.
“Although we are disappointed with the results, Haas Factory Team will not appeal the penalty NASCAR issued to Sam Mayer and the No. 41 team following last weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway,” the team said in a statement.
The team added that Ryan Sieg would take Mayer’s place behind the wheel at Phoenix.
“We remain focused on finishing the season out strong at Phoenix Raceway and look forward to contending for a race win with Ryan Sieg at the wheel.”
