TAKING ANOTHER SHOT AT BECOMING A KING: CARSON MACEDO DRIVES HARD IN THE BORDER INTERNATIONAL #41 HOT ROD TO AN IMPRESSIVE PODIUM FINISH AT THE 37TH ANNUAL KINGS ROYAL AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY

ROSSBURG, OHIO (July 17, 2021 – Evening) – On Saturday afternoon, Tyler Courtney added his name to the list of Kings Royal winners when he raced to the win in the 38th edition of the prestigious race of royalty. So far 19 drivers have been able to wear the crown and get bestowed the honor of being called a Kings Royal champion. Steve Kinser tops that list with seven wins followed by Donny Schatz with five wins. On Saturday night, with this race being postponed back in 2020 due to COVID restrictions, the drivers and teams were back with another opportunity to compete hard to see if they could add their name to the coveted list of winners of this prestigious event. If their name was already listed, adding it again to this prestigious list of winners never hurts. Additionally, the $175,000 check that goes to the winner is always a nice added benefit too. Carson Macedo, after finishing sixth on Saturday afternoon in the running of the 38th Annual Kings Royal, was back with a determined look in his eyes. There was a total of 58 teams registered at the pit gate as active participants in the 37th Annual running of the Kings Royal.

We live in a world where most people seemingly never think much about luck. We generally are critical of bad luck. We put a spotlight on no luck. A few celebrate good luck often enough to think they have the “it” factor. But in racing as it does in life usually, good luck seems to find those who prepare relentlessly, as well as, those that have worked hard to deserve it . . . at least some of it. Every drivers hope when they pull their pill when entering the pit area is that “it (the number) will be a good one” so they get what they perceive as the best chance in Slick Woody’s Qualifying. Sometimes luck truly is to credit. While other times it is to blame. On this night, Carson drew the ‘6’ pill which positioned him as the fifth car out in time trials. He sat in the cockpit of the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Team Jack Foundation/C&R Racing #41 finalizing his qualifying strategy from the staging lane. When it was his turn, his Kistler Engines fired as he focused and drove up the banking in turn one and picked up speed down the backstretch. He would qualify with Sam Hafertepe Jr. in the two car qualifying format. He was at full steam exiting turn four and whisked passed the starting line as the seconds started ticking by on the watch. He stopped them the first time around in 13.453 seconds. When he roared over the finish line after his second lap, the time recorded was 13.269 seconds. The second lap was the better of his two lap time wise, which positioned him eighth quick overall for the night. Brock Zearfoss was the fastest driver in time trials turning in a lap of 13.173 seconds.

The format for the Kings Royal has always been different and challenging. If royalty is the goal you should expect nothing less. For the six Drydene Heat Races, they use an invert determined by the “Wheel of Misfortune” that has zeros, twos, fours, and sixes. Wherever the wheel stops determines the inversion. The wheel stopped on a four which put the fastest six drivers on the outside of row two in their respective heat races, the seventh through twelfth fastest in the inside of row two, ultimately culminating in 19th through the 24th fastest drivers starting from the pole position in each heat race. The top three finishers then from every heat race are the only drivers who lock down and secure their spot in the 37th Annual Kings Royal feature. That is not just tough, it is a format builds character and displays every driver’s courage and talent. Carson’s fastest time trial lap ended up eighth overall, which position the California speedster in the second heat race where he would start third aboard the Meyers Constructors/Liquid Trucking/Larry Davis Farms #41 Maxim beside Paul McMahan. Sheldon Haudenschild and Spencer Bayston paced from the front row and when the flagman unfurled the green flag Haudenschild led the field down the frontstretch and into the first set of turns. Carson used the inside line to go wheel-to-wheel with Spencer Bayston as they exited turn two. The two talented wheelman were battling for the runner up position with Macedo ultimately coming out on top. The California native then turned his attention to tracking down the leader in the NOS Energy Drink #17. The Lemoore, California speed chauffeur was a rocket on the bottom as he closed the gap on Sheldon. HE was right there and made the pass for the lead off turn two. He stretched the Kistler Engines ponies under the hood extending his lead with each completed lap. Carson went on to earn the win over Sheldon Haudenschild and Spencer Bayston as those three locked into the 37th Annual Kings Royal.

When the final drivers coming out of the Last Chance Showdown (LCS) were locked in, it was time to go racing for the crown in the 40-lap NOS Energy Drink 37th Annual Kings Royal feature. Tyler Courtney, no forever known as King Tyler the 38th, and Jac Haudenschild sat on the front row with an all Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR) second row with James McFadden and Brad Sweet. Carson Macedo aboard the Liquid Trucking/FK Rod Ends/Wilwood Racing #41 and Donny Schatz paced behind from row three. Who would last for 20 miles (or 40 laps) around the half-mile oval in their quest for royalty? It was time to find out in the 37th Annual Kings Royal feature!

After the pyrotechnics lit up the evening sky over Rossburg, Ohio, it was time for these 24 drivers to chase the crown bestowed upon the winner. The green flag waved and Tyler Courtney drove into the lead over Jac Haudenschild and James McFadden. Meanwhile, Carson was racing with Donny Schatz for position on the track. With one lap in the books, Brad Sweet made contact with the outside wall exiting turn two to bring out the yellow. Carson would restart from the fifth position with Sheldon Haudenschild sharing the third row with him. When they got restarted Kyle Larson and Sheldon both maneuvered by Macedo who was now running in seventh. James McFadden and Tyler Courtney were in a fierce battle for the lead. Carson then slowly and methodically worked his way back one-by-one moving back into the top five. With 18 laps to go a yellow flag slowed the field as Logan Schuchart came to a stop on the track. When they restarted the next time Carson used the bottom lane of the track to drive from fifth to second behind your new leader Kyle Larson. He was fast and staying with Larson’s #57. He stayed on the bottom and was keeping him within striking distance. Sheldon Haudenschild was working the top side and keeping the pressure on Macedo for the second spot. Sheldon would eventually make the pass for position as Kyle Larson led the remaining distance to earn the 37th Annual Kings Royal crown with Sheldon Haudenschild coming home second and Carson Macedo in third. Another podium run for the forty-one!

An Impressive Third Place Finish at the 37th Annual Kings Royal Puts Carson Macedo on the Podium! Photo by: Cameron Saich

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; BR Motorsports; 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; Smith Titanium; 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.