LAS VEGAS — Two races, two checkered flags, two trophies, two wins for Sam Mayer.
Not a bad way to start off 2020.
The reigning ARCA Menards Series East champion dominated the Star Nursery 150 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thursday, earning his second consecutive win to kick off the season.
Mayer won the ARCA East season opener at New Smyrna Speedway a week and a half ago, and made the trek with GMS Racing to Sin City to honor Spencer Clark, who got his start racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Clark was killed in an automobile accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2006 at the age of 19.
Although Mayer had no connection to Clark due to the age gap, he mentioned that he feels a special connection driving the paint scheme, taking him back in time, allowing him to “feel like (he) can relate to it.”
“I don’t want to pinch myself because I hope I’m not dreaming,” Mayer said after the win. “This is a heck of a way to start a year for sure. New era, new freakin’ everything. Obviously it’s a new me too. Hopefully we can continue this grind of getting wins left and right and hopefully get into Victory Lane all the time.”
Jesse Love finished second and led 12 total laps in his first career ARCA Menards Series West start. Sunrise Ford’s Blaine Perkins came home third in his first start with the team, as Gracie Trotter and Trevor Huddleston rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, Blaine Perkins, Gracie Trotter, Trevor Huddleston, Lawless Allen, Jack Wood, Todd Souza, Austin Reed, Gio Scelzi, Takuma Koga, Holley Hollan, Bobby Hills Jr., Joey Iest, Chris Lowden, Zach Telford, Bridgett Burgess.