Controversy Rocks The Roval as Sam Mayer Advances in Xfinity Series Playoffs
A dramatic and contentious finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s The Roval saw Sam Mayer emerge victorious, securing his spot in the next round of the Xfinity Series playoffs. However, the win came at the expense of Parker Kligerman, who was denied his first career Xfinity Series victory due to a disputed NASCAR scoring call.
A Caution Call that Changed Everything
Kligerman was leading as the white flag approached, signaling the final lap of the race. But when Leland Honeyman crashed into the tire barrier, NASCAR hesitated before throwing the caution flag. The delay proved crucial, as Kligerman was about to cross under the white flag, which would have made the race official. Instead, the yellow flag flashed, and the race went into overtime.
Mayer Capitalizes on Second Chance
The two-lap sprint to the finish gave Mayer an opportunity to catch Kligerman. The two drivers made contact on Mayer’s winning pass, causing damage to Kligerman’s car and relegating him to a sixth-place finish. Mayer’s win marked a record-tying 14th overtime race of the Xfinity Series this season.
Emotional Aftermath
Kligerman was visibly shaken by the outcome, fighting back tears as he reflected on what could have been. “I want to cry,” he said, “but I’m not gonna. I really love this, and I really, really wanted that. It would have meant the world.” When shown the replay of the incident, Kligerman was incredulous, drawing on his experience as a television analyst to express his frustration.
Playoff Implications
AJ Allmendinger finished second, followed by pole sitter Shane van Gisbergen, who was eliminated from the playoffs despite a third-place finish. Van Gisbergen was knocked out by Jesse Love, who passed enough cars on the final two laps to secure his spot. Kligerman, Van Gisbergen, Sheldon Creed, and Riley Herbst were all eliminated from the playoffs.
Looking Ahead
Justin Allgaier, who began the race below the cutline, finished seventh and advanced to the next round. With the points reset, Allgaier now leads the standings heading into the opening race of the next round in Las Vegas. The top seven finishers at Charlotte were all playoff drivers, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the Xfinity Series season.
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