In a nail-biting finish at the Hy-Vee Perks 250, Sam Mayer of JR Motorsports claimed victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ much-anticipated return to Iowa Speedway after a four-year absence. The race, characterized by intense tire management and high emotions, saw Mayer narrowly defeat Riley Herbst of Stewart-Haas Racing in an overtime thriller.

Mayer’s No. 1 Chevrolet crossed the finish line just 0.146 seconds ahead of Herbst’s No. 98 Ford, marking Mayer’s second win of the season and his sixth career victory. The young driver’s success is particularly impressive, with all six wins coming within his last 29 races in the series.

Despite starting fifth due to a rain-cancelled qualifying session, Mayer and his team demonstrated remarkable adaptability. “We struggled in practice, but the team went to work,” Mayer said post-race. “We did pretty good overnight, making different changes on this race car.”

The race extended beyond its scheduled 250 laps after a dramatic incident on Lap 245. John Hunter Nemechek, racing closely with Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Sheldon Creed, hit the outside wall in Turn 4 with a deflated left front tire, prompting the ninth caution of the day.

In the ensuing overtime, Mayer and Herbst battled side-by-side before Mayer pulled ahead coming out of Turn 2, maintaining his lead to the checkered flag. While celebrating his victory, Mayer playfully remarked, “I feel really good. I could do another 100 laps — with a race car like this, it would be a lot of fun.”

The race was not without controversy, as runner-up Herbst expressed frustration with Mayer’s aggressive driving style. “I like racing Sam, but he just absolutely brooms me,” Herbst said, referencing earlier incidents in the race. Despite his complaints, Herbst acknowledged the thrill of the competition, saying, “It’s just frustrating the way he wants to do that, but all in all, it was fun.”

Corey Heim finished a career-best third, with Sammy Smith and Sheldon Creed rounding out the top five. The race saw its share of disappointments, notably for Chandler Smith, who led a race-high 131 laps and swept the first two stages but struggled with short-run speed in the final stage, ultimately finishing eighth.

Austin Hill, another strong contender, saw his hopes dashed when a cut left front tire sent him into the wall on Lap 218, relegating him to a 29th-place finish. The incident also impacted the series standings, with Hill dropping to third, 41 points behind current leader and defending champion Cole Custer.

As the dust settles on this electrifying race, the NASCAR Xfinity Series continues to deliver high-octane entertainment, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next showdown on the calendar.