The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series rolled into the streets of San Diego on June 20 for a highly anticipated event that drew a packed field of competitors.
Sam Mayer, piloting the No. 13 entry, misjudged his entry into turn one during a Lap 35 restart, brushing the inside wall before slamming into the outside barrier at near‑full speed.
The collision ripped a section of the temporary concrete barrier several feet inward and compromised the catchfence, forcing track officials to halt the session.
Repair Efforts Underway
A cascade of vehicles followed, with Anthony Alfredo exiting the race outright and a litany of other drivers — including Sheldon Creed, Brent Crews, William Sawalich, Sammy Smith, Jeb Burton, Preston Pardus, Brennan Poole, Blaine Perkins and Jeremy Clements — caught up in the melee.
NASCAR responded with a red flag, deploying two heavy‑duty cranes to the pit‑road vicinity and mobilizing crews to begin extensive repairs to the damaged wall and fence.
Mayer was evaluated in the infield care center and cleared for release, though he acknowledged the need to refine his racing line, stating he would work on improving his performance.
The chaotic sequence contributed to six cautions and two red‑flag periods within the first 35 laps, underscoring the volatility of street‑circuit racing.
Earlier in the opening lap, a dislodged manhole cover had already buried itself into Corey Day’s radiator and grill, prompting NASCAR to weld two covers and restore his laps under caution.