MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 27, 2021) – Three different drivers with three varying levels of experience have created a unique situation for the No. 8 team at JR Motorsports through the first half of 2021. Of course, that’s business as usual for the group, led by crew chief Taylor Moyer, who, since his arrival at JRM in 2019, has worked with 12 different drivers aboard the No. 8 machine. 

This year the driver trio of Josh Berry, Sam Mayer and Miguel Paludo have made the No. 8 car a competitive threat every time out, combining to secure one win (Martinsville Speedway), four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. But Moyer is quick to admit there are some undeniable challenges with a fluctuating roster.

“The driver experience within the Xfinity Series is the biggest challenge,” said Moyer. “We have Josh, who is a very experienced driver, just not in the Xfinity Series or in these cars but he was a very quick learner. Then you have Miguel who has driven in the Truck Series. Even then, it’s been a while, but he is a very accomplished road-course racer. Lastly, you have Sam, who has speed, talent and the drive but has only been in the Xfinity car a few times now and doesn’t have the years of seat time that both Josh and Miguel have.”

The bigger the challenge is, the more sizable the reward. That big reward came earlier this spring at Martinsville when Berry scored a storybook victory at the historic short track. The team parlayed the ceiling-shattering win into a pair of runner-up finishes over the next three races before Berry handed the baton over to Mayer for his debut at Pocono Raceway, a day after the youngster turned 18. Without any experience in an Xfinity car, it was an expected learning process.

“The easiest way we rally behind Sam is that we all know he’s a good kid, with a good heart and has a lot of talent behind the wheel,” Moyer said of their strategy with the promising Mayer. “He’s pulling the rope the same direction as the team. He’s very humble about his experience and where he needs help. We’ve been getting him to lean on everyone a little more to help and get going as fast as he can.

“This Olympic break is going to be a good reset for him,” Moyer added. “He’s experienced the series now and understands how tough it is and how it’s going to be. The competition levels and margin for error is so small. We get to spend some time in the simulator this week and we will come back firing on all cylinders, especially with two road courses up next and how much effort Sam has put into his road- course racing.”

The No. 8 team has led 151 laps ont he season and currently sit 17th in the NASCAR Owner Championship standings with seven races remaining before the NXS Playoffs begin at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For Moyer, finding a groove and maintaining it is the critical factor in keeping the No. 8 team in the running for the Owner’s Championship throughout the playoff run.

“Consistency [is key]. You’ve got to get some momentum and keep that momentum,” he explained. “I don’t even mean that consistency is finishing every race in the top five. It’s just not making critical errors that don’t allow you to finish the race. That’s from the team standpoint, the crew chief standpoint – on making good strategy calls -- and then from the driver’s standpoint and keeping the car on track.

“To finish first, you must first finish,” Moyer continued. “We’ve got to have something to build off of. The races are how we are building our notebook for next year so we need to run the entire race to learn where our strengths and weaknesses are and what setups we like so we can build these cars similar for next year.”

With Mayer in the car for the remainder of the season, it will give the young driver a head start on a full season of competition knowing he’s been there and done that already.