Sam Mayer returns to JR Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season

NXTbets Pro | Published On: September 22, 2026

Mayer returns to JR Motorsports

Sam Mayer will return to JR Motorsports for the 2027 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, and he will be back in the No. 1 Chevrolet. The move brings Mayer back to the team that gave him his start.

Starkey will become the full-season primary sponsor of Mayer’s car starting at Daytona next season. Mayer said he is happy to be back with JR Motorsports, the team that gave him his start, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the team is excited to reunite with him. Earnhardt Jr. also said the organization and Mayer know how to win races together.

The return also extends a relationship that stretches beyond Mayer’s first national series start. He raced in JR Motorsports’ Late Model program in 2018 and 2019 before moving into the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with the organization in 2021.

Mayer’s move from Haas Factory Team

Mayer’s return to JR Motorsports means he will leave Haas Factory Team after the 2026 season. He currently drives the No. 41 Chevrolet for Haas Factory Team in 2026.

Haas Factory Team said its 2027 driver lineup is still to be determined.

The timing also keeps Mayer on the track for one more year before the move becomes official. That gives him a full 2026 season in the No. 41 Chevrolet before he trades it for the No. 1 Chevrolet at JR Motorsports in 2027.

Mayer’s record with JR Motorsports

Mayer won seven of his eight career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races with the team from 2021 to 2024. He also has seven wins, 33 top-five finishes, 57 top-10 finishes and a Championship 4 appearance in 2023 in the series.

Mayer won the Bobby Isaac Memorial during his time in JR Motorsports’ Late Model program.