FINDING GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW: A LITTLE LUCK AND A COURAGEOUS DRIVE FORWARD, HIGHLIGHTED BY A LAST LAP PASS TO RETAKE THE LEAD, RESULTS IN A VICTORY FOR MACEDO AT TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY

HAUBSTADT, INDIANA (April 10, 2021) – After an action packed night on Friday night at Kokomo Speedway, Philip Dietz, Clyde Knipp, Nate Repetz and Carson Macedo loaded up the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Border International hauler and headed to Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana located off Highway 41 north of Evansville. Last year Carson found success at the high-banked quarter mile racetrack with the Kyle Larson Racing (KLR) #2 team during the first ever World of Outlaws doubleheader with a top five finish on the first night at the track followed by ending up in victory lane on the second night back at the bullring in early June. This track typically produces excellent and exciting side-by-side racing action at speed, so the entertainment value is high for the fans in the stands. There were 38 teams registered to complete for the winner’s check and trophy on Saturday night of National 410 Day.   

After hot laps were complete a rain shower moved in overhead and resulted in a rainbow arching the track. When the rain cleared and the Slick Woody’s Qualifying order was posted, Carson would push out 20thoverall, and first in Flight A, aboard the Engler Machine & Tool/Factory Kahne (FK) Shocks/Buckwalter Trucking #41 Maxim for his two laps measured by the stopwatch. He pulled the belts one last time on his Crow Enterprizes safety harness for his high speed attack on the track as the pushed truck helped fire his Kistler Engines power under the hood of the forty-one. The horses started to gallop and when Macedo dropped his right foot they became unleashed thoroughbreds at full sprint. The demanding and technical track requires precision and quick decision making. Carson executed and completed his first lap in 13.000 seconds, then followed that up with a faster second lap at 12.960 seconds. When you race against some of the best in the business, the difference between a great lap and a good lap is measure in tenths or hundredths of a second. The better of his two laps netted him 5th quick overall in Flight B, which set up the third and fourth heat races, to start the night at Tri-State Speedway.

He would line up in the Liquid Trucking/Waco Metal/High Performance Lubricants #41 Maxim from the third position in the third 10-lap Drydene Heat Races when the starting lineups were posted for the competitors. He would lineup directly behind quick timer and the polesitter Cory Eliason, who shared the front row with Spencer Bayston. Macedo was paired up with Justin Peck in row two, with Carson Short and Critter Malone in row three, as Zach Hampton, Robert Ballou, Clinton Boyles, and Andy Bishop rounded out the starting grid. When the yellow lights went off and they started green flag racing, Macedo used his inside starting position to duck to the low side entering turn one under the front row starters. Upon exiting turn two he had the lead over Eliason and Bayston. He was digging from the comfort of his Fibreworks Composite/Sharp Advantage custom fitted seat and would never look back as he took the heat race win by 2.822 seconds over Spencer Bayston with Eliason coming home third as Short and Peck rounded out the top five.

Moving into the DirtVision Fast Pass Dash his drawing luck, or lack thereof, continued as he pulled the ‘8’ pill, or the highest number in the NOS Energy Drink can, for the second night in the row. Tyler Courtney and Ian Madsen were perched on the front row with Aaron Reutzel and David Gravel in row two. Spencer Bayston and Jacob Allen were in row three, with Macedo sharing row four with Hunter Schuerenberg. Not deterred, the Lemoore, California native climbed into the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/MSD Performance/The Boyd Family #41 ready to get after it for eight laps where the finishing order sets the starting positions for the first 4 rows of the feature. When the green flag was unfurled it was Courtney to the lead as Macedo raced his hotrod into sixth. Macedo was on the move and the next time around took over the fifth position with his sights set in a row two starting spot as he was chasing down Ian Madsen. He caught him and the two racers were putting on a show of speed and courage. With the white flag waving, Macedo had one last chance and entering the final set of turns he took his shot with a big slider. He made it work, at least temporarily, but the nose of his car came down and Madsen’s right rear Hoosier Racing Tire got over his front end ending the run for the forty-one and he was scored with an eighth place finish. Tyler Courtney took the win over Reutzel, Gravel, Madsen and Schuerenberg with Allen, Bayston, and Macedo completing the finishing order.

Carson Macedo would start from the outside of row four in the Tarlton and Son Frame-2-Finish/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Tiger Towing #41 Maxim for the 40-lap feature event at Tri-State Speedway, simply referred to as Haubstadt in the grassroots racing world. The teams rolled their entries out on to the exciting bullring not knowing the incredible show they were about to see from the stars of the sport. The first of those stars would be your early leader Aaron Reutzel who jumped into the top spot on the opening lap and led until lap 5 when another star emerged in the form of Tyler Courtney who took the lead from Reutzel in the Clausen Marshall Racing NOS Energy Drink TURBO #7BC. Macedo wasn’t lollygagging in his seat as during the same period of time had gained two spots and was running in sixth place. He along with the always impressive Sheldon Haudenschild were making their way forward. Sheldon was a shooting star though as he was putting on an impressive show of his own. He soon would take the lead from Courtney just after the halfway point of the race on lap 24. Macedo was not far behind as he passed Aaron Reutzel for the third position on the same lap. Haudenschild quickly checked out as he navigated lapped traffic. Carson stayed up on the wheel and with 9 laps to go took over the runner-up position in traffic from Tyler Courtney. Three young guns showing the way. With 7 laps to go, the red flag was displayed for Robert Ballou who tipped over on the back straightaway. When the engines silenced things were about to get interesting as leader Sheldon Haudenschild unfortunately had a left rear tire going down and would have to head to the work area and relinquish the top spot to second running Macedo when they restarted. The race was far from over though as eleventh starting James McFadden, Friday night’s winner at Kokomo in the KKR Karavan Trailers #9, was racing in the runner-up spot and hungry to continue his winning ways. When they restarted Macedo kept the Liquid Trucking/Jonestown KOA/Pro Powder Coating Maxim out front, but McFadden was on the gas and relentless in his pursuit. The two talented chauffeurs were racing extremely hard as things got tight, as they sometimes do when you race against the best competition in sprint car racing. The spotlight was now focused on these two incredible racers. With three laps to go it was anyone’s guess who was going to take the win. McFadden drove hard into turn three on the low side, sliding up across the track in turn four to take the lead. Macedo strategically turned left to execute a crossover move as he raced under McFadden heading to the waving white flag. The two were side-by-side when they passed the flagstand as McFadden had a slight lead and was scored the leader of lap 39. But, Macedo carried his speed and momentum forward and led heading into turn one. The top two were nose-to-tail when they got to turn one with Macedo in the lead hugging the bottom and McFadden close behind. It was extremely tight racing as the two stars entered turn one on the final lap and they made contact as McFadden tapped Macedo’s tail tank on entry with both continuing forward. Meanwhile, third running Tyler Courtney used the competitive racing between the leaders to his advantage as he closed in on both of them. Macedo led McFadden and Courtney into turn three and was the first driver to see the waving checkered flag aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Kistler Engines/Team Jack Foundation #41. He took the win and collected the gold at the end of the rainbow as he crossed the finish line 0.398 seconds ahead of the hard-charging McFadden and Courtney with Hunter Schuerenberg and Reutzel completing the top five. It was Macedo’s second straight win at the track dating back to last year as he was happy and proud to get his teammates – Philip Dietz, Clyde Knipp, and Nate Repetz – and sponsorship partners in speed and success back to victory lane. The jubilant and humble winner acknowledged the close action by stating, “I know he’s (James McFadden) probably upset with me, but I really wanted to win that race.” The Lemoore, California driver continued, “These races are tough to win, I’m going to give it everything I have. James is a great driver and I have the utmost respect for him. I want to run everyone clean. I beat him to the line there and just tried to protect the bottom the best I could.” A field of talented drivers put on an incredible show with rainbows and stars showing out on this night providing entertainment from the drop of the green to the waving of the checkers. A great run for Macedo and the forty-one at Haubstadt!

Carson Macedo Part of an Incredibly Entertaining Show at Haubstadt as He Collects the Win at Tri-State Speedway! Photo: Trent Gower

Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Tarlton and Son Inc.; Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions; Saich Family; Border International; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Jonestown KOA; Durst Inc.; Maxim Racing; The Boyd Family; Liquid Trucking; Meyers Constructors Inc.; Tiger Towing; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Waco Metal; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Kistler Engines; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; All Pro Auto Reconditioning; K1 Race Gear; AutoMeter; Bandy & Associates Accountancy Corporation; Bell Racing USA; Blackbeard LTD; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; Crow Enterprizes; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Fuel Safe Racing Cells; Greber Racing Components; Hoosier Racing Tire; ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; KSE Racing Products; Larry Davis Farms; Logo Daddy Graphics; Mr. Jim’s Racing; MSD Performance; RaceDiecast.com; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Wheels; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.

To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR), go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.

To stay up-to-date with Carson Macedo and his success journey on and off the track, as well as to purchase his gear and merchandise directly, visit www.carsonmacedoracing.com.