Sam Mayer earns Haas Factory Team its first Xfinity win

Some chaotic restarts and fluid on track helped Sam Mayer to fight his way into the race lead and earn his first victory of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity season.

It was also the first win for team owner Gene Haas since Stewart-Haas Racing shut down and was reorganized into the Haas Factory Team. Mayer has eight career wins now, including back-to-back victories at Iowa Speedway … with two different race teams.

“First win for Haas Factory Team,” said Mayer. “That’s awesome. I tried to botch it on pit road, but we didn’t. I can’t believe it. This is one of the most special wins I have. These guys, they love me to death, and I love them to death. This one feels great.”

Watch: Mayer on Iowa triumph: ‘This is one of the most special wins I have’

Jesse Love finished second while Ross Chastain ended up third after leading the most laps. Connor Zilisch finished fourth and Harrison Burton earned a strong fifth-place finish in his fight to make the playoffs. 

Carson Hocevar, Sheldon Creed, Ryan Sieg, Carson Kvapil, and Christian Eckes filled out the remainder of the top ten.

Stages 1 and 2

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images

Very early in the race, Austin Dillon and Ryan Sieg spun after Sieg got loose on the bottom. Dillon was driving the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet while Austin Hill serves his one-week suspension.

Beyond that, the first stage was fairly clean, and Zilisch claimed the stage win over Love and Chastain. After starting 11th, Chastain charged forward to third in the opening run of the race.

During the stage break, Love beat Zilisch off pit road for the lead, but a loose wheel forced Zilisch to return to pit road anyway.

Love’s time out front did not last, as Chastain passed him from the inside. Ryan Ellis and Anthony Alfredo spun after contact, triggering the next yellow. Dillon took advantage of the caution to get back on the lead lap via the free pass.

Chastain remained in control for the rest of the stage, earning his first stage win in the Xfinity Series since October, 2020.

Stage 3

Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, Taylor Gray, Toyota

Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images

Jones won the race off pit road, but a replay showed him passing Chastain. Unsurprisingly, he was caught speeding and sent to the rear of the field.

Sammy Smith was the leader for the restart as he chose to stay out, but Chastain quickly snatched it back. The next yellow flag flew for a half-spin by Dean Thompson, who got moved by Corey Day.

While still a little bit outside of the fuel window, some drivers opted to get a full load of fuel. This included Allgaier, Jones, and Hocevar, who replaced Josh Williams at Kaulig Racing after he was let go from the team.

Chastain remained out front, but Gray never let him get too far away. Zilisch marched all the way back to third, but he was a few seconds back of the race leaders.

As for the final round of pit stops, Smith was the first to pit with 66 laps to go, due to the alternate strategy he was on.

But with 49 laps to go, all of the fuel games got thrown out the window as Daniel Dye wrecked. A slow stop for Taylor Gray took him out of contention, while both Brandon Jones and Justin Allgaier jumped out front with a two-tire call.

A hectic restart followed as Love took control of the race, but a trio of JR Motorsports teammates collided behind him. Zilisch got into Chastain and Allgaier, sending Allgaier spinning.

The next caution was one that left many scratching their heads. Matt DiBenedetto sustained nose damage, appearing to spill oil onto the track. However, race control didn’t seem to be aware of that as the caution never flew. When the field got back to that corner, Love lost the lead as he slid up the track. Chastain nearly wrecked, and Jones actually spun, finally forcing a caution flag.

The race went green the rest of the way with Mayer getting a very good restart that kept anyone else from challenging him. 

Photos from IOWA – Race

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