Ty Gibbs takes a brutal dig at Sam Mayer after the Watkins Glen Xfinity race drama, mocks the JRM driver’s inferior victory record

Ty Gibbs has 12 race wins, whereas Sam Mayer has only 2.

Ty Gibbs takes a brutal dig at Sam Mayer after the Watkins Glen Xfinity race drama, mocks the JRM driver’s inferior victory record

Ty Gibbs (right, credits: Essentially Sports) and Sam Mayer (Left, credits: Jayski)

In the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International, the drama peaked when Sam Mayer executed a daring maneuver to snatch victory from race leader Ty Gibbs. This threw Gibbs out of contention for the win, and post the race, Gibbs took the opportunity to throw shade at Mayer’s race wins despite having more race starts than he does. 

Ty Gibbs had demonstrated his prowess by commanding the track for most of the 86-lap event. His dominance was undeniable, and victory seemed within his grasp. However, the race took a dramatic turn during a late restart. Restarting with only a few laps left, the field was bunched up. Dale Earnhardt Jr‘s driver, determined to win, executed a daring move. 

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He nudged Gibbs out of the lead position, securing his second Xfinity Series victory boldly and unexpectedly. Mayer’s move not only propelled him to the front but also sent Gibbs down the order, with him ultimately finishing in 17th. This incident ignited tensions between the two drivers and became the focal point of the race. 

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Post-race, Ty Gibbs couldn’t resist taking a sly jab at Mayer’s achievement. He congratulated Mayer on his second win but noted his impressive track record with 12 victories. Gibbs speaking to Motor Racing Network, said, “I am racing on Sundays. He has more race starts, and I have more wins.” He also expressed his desire for a 13th win, which had eluded him in this race.

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Sam Mayer holds the view that the clash was merely a racing incident

Sam Mayer and Ty Gibbs fight at the Martinsville race in 2022
Sam Mayer and Ty Gibbs fight at the Martinsville race in 2022 (Credits: YouTube)

This wasn’t the first time these two drivers clashed. Last year in April at Martinsville Speedway, their rivalry escalated after an intense race. Mayer’s move on Gibbs during the race resulted in contact, sending Gibbs into the wall. Gibbs lost his composure and threw fists at Mayer. NASCAR fined Ty Gibbs $15,000 for a disciplinary offense, but not for punching Sam Mayer. According to the penalty report, Gibbs’ car made “contact with another vehicle on pit road after the race.” 

Back to Watkins Glen, Mayer, however, maintained that the bump was a racing incident, defending himself, saying, “That’s an accident, but I think everyone can agree it’s OK for an Xfinity Series regular to win this race.” He admitted to making an error by overdriving the corner while attempting to position himself on the inside, which caused his car’s wheels to hop and make contact with Gibbs’ vehicle. 

Mayer emphasized that, as a fellow race-car driver, he understands the frustration this type of contact can cause and acknowledged that he wouldn’t appreciate it happening to him either. He characterized the incident as a mistake, one of those things that can happen in racing, and recognized that Gibbs was understandably upset about it.

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