MOORESVILLE, N.C. – JR Motorsports announced Tuesday that Sam Mayer, who previously raced for the team’s late model program, will join the team to compete part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season.

Mayer, 17, will compete for JR Motorsports during the second half of the 2021 season before transitioning to a full-time role with the team in 2022.

A native of Franklin, Wis., Mayer is the son of former Indy car and road racing star Scott Mayer. Following a successful stint with the JR Motorsports late model team in 2018-19, which included a victory in the Bobby Isaac Memorial, Mayer transitioned to K&N Pro Series competition, winning four races in 2019 en route to a championship that crowned him the youngest champion in any NASCAR series at the age of 16 years, three months and eight days.

This year Mayer has continued his success, winning eight times across 16 starts in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA East and ARCA West divisions.

“When Sam first came to run the late model a couple of years ago, he was adamant he would be racing an Xfinity car for us someday,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JRM general manager. “I admired his initiative then, and now we’re happy to help make his dream a reality. It will be quite a step up, but it’s one he’s ready to make. He’s shown he has the skills to be successful at a very high level.”

Currently, Mayer leads the ARCA Menards East and ARCA Showdown championship standings. Mayer has also made six starts to date in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, earning a best finish of fourth at World Wide Technology Raceway earlier this season.

“Having the opportunity to return to JR Motorsports after racing late models with them in 2018 is definitely very special to me,” Mayer said. “Being able to share this news makes me very excited for the coming year. I hope I can learn as much as I can in the second half of next season and to be ready to go race full-time for the NXS championship in 2022.”