CLERMONT, Ind. – If things go according to plan, Sam Mayer will head into Saturday night’s Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway as a champion.

Mayer will make his eighth appearance of the ARCA Menards Series season at the .686-mile oval located about 10 minutes to the west of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mayer will be racing at Lucas Oil Raceway the day after he hopes to lock up his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship on the demanding one-mile Dover Int’l Speedway.

Mayer has three victories in eleven K&N Pro Series East starts this season, and has a comfortable 30-point lead heading into the season finale. Once the checkered flag waves on Friday afternoon in Delaware, Mayer will make the trek to Indianapolis and attempt to earn his first career ARCA Menards Series victory.

The 16-year-old Franklin, Wis., native has been close on several occasions in 2019, finishing second to points leader Michael Self at Salem Speedway in April and leading on the last lap while battling Ty Gibbs for the win at World Wide Technology Raceway before settling for third.

A win at Lucas Oil Raceway would be a great way for Mayer to close the season.

“We have had so much success this year, but always came short from a win in the ARCA Menards Series,” Mayer said. “I hope that the momentum we have now, and hopefully after Dover that can rocket us into victory lane Saturday. Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) and I have been working really hard to get better and better and we both are confident in what we will bring to the racetrack to close out our ARCA season.”

Mayer’s performances in the ARCA Menards Series have been strong from the start. In seven previous starts, he’s finished in the top five six times. In fact, the only time he’s failed to finish in the top five was in his first start of the season which was cut short due to mechanical failure.

Despite his youth, which is only surprassed by his even more youthful looks, Mayer has been a constant threat in any race he’s been in throughout 2019.

He’d like to carry that momentum on as he makes his second visit to Lucas Oil Raceway, where he finished seventh last year. Mayer adapted quickly to the tricky layout that has the racing groove next to the outside wall. Going back to a track he has previous experience gives him even more confidence.

“Coming back to a place I’ve been to always helps me as a driver,” Mayer said. “I don’t have to go through an entire learning curve at the track again. The team and I tested at Lucas Oil Raceway a few weeks ago and had a really solid Chevy Accessories Chevrolet. I feel like we have an amazing shot to go get a win.”