THIRD TIME IS A CHARM AT GRAND FORKS: MID-WEEK RUN ENDS WITH A PODIUM FINISH AT RIVER CITIES FOR MACEDO ABOARD THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 MAXIM AT THE NORTH DAKOTA SPEED PLANT

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA (August 25, 2021) – After rain knocked out the attempts to race at River Cities Speedway on the two previously scheduled race dates, with the last one being this past Friday night, Carson Macedo and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Series competitors were back in the upper Midwestern part of the country for some mid-week WoO action. The grandstands were absolutely packed with sprint car fans, which was appreciated by all of the teams. Those teams were nestled in the pit area at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota ready to put on a show for them. The state of North Dakota was named after the indigenous Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native Americans. It is a beautiful state filled with a rich history. Woven into that stories past is River Cities Speedway. It is a fast and racy high banked quarter mile bullring that absolutely demands the best from the driver, team, and equipment. It is a show maker that entertains all. In order to be successful, the driver and team has to be prepared and in the right frame of mind before the night starts so they can adapt throughout the evening to stay fast and competitive. Always a popular event that fans come out in mass for some high speed entertainment, there were 25 teams that registered at the pit gate to race on this Wednesday night in North Dakota.

After a disappointing outcome at Huset’s Speedway on Sunday night, surrendering the lead and bringing out the yellow while leading on lap 8, Carson Macedo was excited, refocused and ready to get busy during his two laps in Slick Woody’s Qualifying action. He climbed into the Fibreworks Composites carbon fiber seat inside the cockpit of his Maxim Racing chassis and buckled in. The Lemoore, California-born speedster would be the fifth driver to hit that track for his race against time. The one-lap track record of 9.269 seconds was set here back on August 21, 2009, by none other than Jason Meyers who know owns and operates Meyers Constructors in California and is a valued and appreciated sponsorship partner on the JJR #41. When the Kistler Engines power came to life under the hood of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/AutoMeter #41, Carson pedaled down and set sail. He raced under the green flag and hustled through the first set of turns. He was busy and maneuvered through the next set of turns at speed. When he crossed the starting line the clock read 10.345 seconds following lap one. He had one more chance to see if he could better his effort and the next time around, and did so securing a time of 10.307 seconds. That faster of his two laps positioned him second quick overall in time trial qualifying. The fastest driver on this night was Logan Schuchart who had a quick pace around the quarter mile measured in 10.299 seconds, just .008 seconds quicker than Macedo’s best time.

With the lineups for the three 10-lap Drydene Heat Races established off of each driver’s qualifying times, Macedo would start from the pole position in the second heat race aboard the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Wilwood Racing/Greber Racing Components (GRC) #41 Maxim. The starting field was packed with talent as Carson would share the front row with James McFadden with David Gravel and Brock Zearfoss situated in row two. The front two rows were followed by Jason Sides. Noah Gass, Wade Nygaard, and Jordan Adams. When the front row starters hit the chalk stripe in turn four, they dropped their right foot and filled the air with the powerful sound of growling 410 engines. Carson drove into turn one low and slid up across the track through turn two right in front of McFadden. Macedo exited turn two with the lead and had his elbows up taking on the demanding, high-banked bullring and the challenges that come with it. He would lead the heat race from green-to-checkers to take the win over McFadden and Gravel, as Zearfoss, Gass, and Sides secured the remaining transfer positions.

Earning a spot in the 8-lap DirtVision Fast Pass Dash, Carson jumped on the scooter in his Team Jack Foundation/K1 Race Gear fire suit and headed to the front straightaway to draw for his starting position. He pulled the lowest pill in the can to start from the pole, with James McFadden set to start to his outside. Kraig Kinser and Donny Schatz were in row two, with Brad Sweet and Sheldon Haudenschild in row three. This time it was James McFadden using his speed to drive around the topside of the track and into the lead when the race went green. Macedo was chasing the KKR #9 throughout the entire race distance, but never was able to get close enough to even threaten the talented Australian-born driver. James McFadden earned the dash win, and the pole position for the feature, getting to the finish line 2.186 seconds ahead of Macedo, with Schatz, Haudenschild, Sweet, and Kinser rounding out the finishing order.

The starting field was set for the 40-lap NOS Energy Drink feature to conclude the Second Leg of the Northern Tour at River Cities Speedway. Carson Macedo would get rolling in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Buckwalter Trucking/C&R Racing/Waco Metal #41 entry from the outside of the front row when the green flag came out to start the action. The fans in the stands were about to get their money’s worth. The green flag waved as Macedo and McFadden brought the field down the frontstretch. Carson was on the hammer and attacked the cushion around the top to race track driving into the lead with McFadden close behind working the bottom side. With one lap completed, the first yellow flag of the event flew for Austin Pierce who went over the edge of the banking in turn two resulting in a broken front axle, which ended his night. With one lap scored and in the books, Carson chose the outside lane in the two-by-two restart formation. The field came back to the green flag with Macedo bolting into the lead again. Second place running James McFadden was now dealing with Sheldon Haudenschild who raced by into the runner-up position. Carson was setting a fast pace and approached lap traffic by lap 5 on this racy bullring. The navigation process slowed Macedo down a bit allowing Haudenschild to close the gap quite a bit. Haudenschild pulled within striking distance. Carson was able to fend off the Wooster, Ohio native as the top two drivers were racing just ahead of Donny Schatz, James McFadden, and David Gravel on lap 15, when the second caution of the night came out. This time action was slowed for Kraig Kinser who rolled to a stop off the backstretch with a flat right rear Hoosier Racing Tire. Kinser headed to the work area and rejoined the field with some fresh rubber mounted and ready to roll. Carson was again focused inside his office of the forty-one as he chose the outside lane for the restart. The field went back to green flag racing and Macedo maintained the lead over Haudenschild who was now seemingly glued to his rear tail tank. They reached the halfway point of the race, 20 laps in and 20 laps to go, and these two talented hot shoes were putting on a show battling for the top spot. Action was quickly halted though as the red flag flew for Kraig Kinser who flipped exiting turn two right in front of the leaders. After a brief respite in the action, the competitors re-fired their engines and were ready to get back to work at speed. Carson again elected to use the high line at the restart of the race. It worked as he led Haudenschild when they went green flag racing as he dove low entering turn one and drove off turn two strong. Before they could get another lap completed though another red flag was thrown, this time for Brendan Mullen who flipped wildly end-over-end down the backstretch tumbling to a stop outside of turn three. The next restart would be single file because of the crash with contact just after another race stoppage with Macedo leading the field back up to speed. Haudenschild was relentless and in hot pursuit of the Lemoore, California driver. He wanted the lead and was making a determined effort to get it. Carson again caught up to the back of the field and was navigating lap traffic. On lap 29, Sheldon took advantage of Macedo getting caught behind some slower cars in turn two as he drove into the lead. Brad Sweet had also worked his way into the picture now and was able to scoot by Macedo after a great three car battle for position between Macedo, Sweet and Schatz for the show position. Haudenschild was in command of the lead over the next 10 laps, but Sweet was closing the gap. On the final lap of the race, Haudenschild also got slowed up by lap traffic opening the door for Sweet. Brad Sweet welcomed the opportunity and drove into the lead off turn two to earn the win over Haudenschild and Macedo who rounded out the top three podium spots.  On the frontstretch, Macedo reflected on his night and his lost opportunity. He humbly stated, “I made too many mistakes in traffic and that is what really cost me.” He continued, “All it takes is one mistake to lose these Outlaw races with how good everyone else is. I tried to move around and find something after Sheldon got by me, but he set such a good pace up top there was no keeping up. It sucks to lead that many laps and not win the race, but it’s good momentum to get the #41 team going again.” Indeed it is momentum to build on. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one team!

A Podium Finish at River Cities Speedway for Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 Team! Photo Credit: Trent Gower

Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Tarlton and Son Inc.; Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions; Albaugh – Your Alternative, 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.