Sam Mayer to Rejoin JR Motorsports in No. 1 Chevrolet for 2027

The 2026 Haas Factory Team driver will return to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s organization, where he raced from 2021 to 2024, with Starkey as primary sponsor.

Sam Mayer is heading back to JR Motorsports. The team announced that Mayer will drive the No. 1 Chevrolet starting in 2027, returning to the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned operation he raced for from 2021 through 2024.

Mayer currently pilots the No. 41 for Haas Factory Team in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and sits fifth in the 2026 Chase standings. He will finish the season with Haas before making the switch.

Starkey will be the primary sponsor on Mayer's car for most of the 2027 season.

Earnhardt said he is looking forward to working with Mayer again, adding that the team and driver have a proven track record of winning together and that he believes Mayer has grown as a racer since his first stint with the organization.

Mayer has eight career wins in NASCAR's secondary series, seven of which came with JR Motorsports. His best championship finish came in 2023, when he placed third with four victories that year.

Mayer said he is grateful to rejoin the team that gave him his start and is eager to open the 2027 campaign at Daytona, while noting his focus remains on completing the current season.