FUN AT FULL THROTTLE: CARSON MACEDO SHOWS OUT ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF THE SKAGIT NATIONALS AS HE PUTS TOGETHER A PERFECT NIGHT TO COLLECT THE VICTORY AFTER SETTING QUICK TIME AND WINNING HIS HEAT AND THE DASH

BURLINGTON, WASHINGTON (September 5, 2021) – With his seventh place performance on Friday night, followed up by a sixth place finish on Saturday night, Carson Macedo was eager and excited to climb back into the seat of the Mesilla Valley Transportation/High Performance Lubricants/AutoMeter #41 Maxim for the final night at the picturesque Skagit Speedway. With a $25,000 check awaiting the winner in the Skagit Nationals finale, Carson and the JJR #41 team were looking for more on this night as they have had speed all weekend at Skagit, but have been unable to gain track position to take advantage and drive the results they expect. Surrounded by evergreens and beautiful scenery, as the sun broke through the grey clouds revealing the brilliant blue skies and mountain backdrop, the pit area on Sunday night for the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals finale was bustling with 24 teams parked and ready to roll on the final night in Burlington, Washington. 

With all of the cars lined up in order for time trials in Slick Woody’s Qualifying, Carson buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts and prepared as he was scheduled to be fourth driver out for his two laps at speed. With a slight push on his rear nerf bar following Logan Schuchart’s two laps on the clock, the engine under the hood of the Durst/Jonestown KOA/Meyers Constructors #41 Maxim fired and Carson rolled onto the track to take the green flag. The clock started rolling as Carson had his right foot planted in the accelerator. He made his way quickly through the first set of turns and down the backstretch before exiting turn four as he saw the white flag waving. The clock recorded his first lap in 11.186 seconds, but he was looking for a better one the next time around. Using his KSE Racing Products to help steer his way around Skagit Speedway the next circuit, Carson completed the oval the second time around slightly slower at 11.268 seconds. Carson’s best lap was quick time again on the final time trial chart for the second consecutive race to start the evening in a perfect way.

With three 10-lap Drydene Heat Races scheduled on the night, Carson would line up from the pole position in the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Liquid Trucking/Pro Powder Coating (PPC) #41 Maxim in the first and fastest heat race by time trial lap times. He would roll alongside Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart on the front row as they were followed by Wayne Johnson and Kraig Kinser in row two. Jacob Allen and Jason Sides paced from row three, with Tanner Holmes and Malachi Gemmer in row four. The track surface was fast and the racers were ready to put on a show for the fans in the stands. The green flag waved as Macedo and Schuchart raced to be the first to turn one. Carson got there first and wheeled through the turns with Schuchart in hot pursuit. Macedo was wheeling his Maxim Racing #41 around the bottom and making quick work of the 3/10-mile oval. He led wire-to-wire to take the win by 2.428 seconds over Schuchart with Wayne Johnson coming home third followed by Kinser and Allen to round out the top five. Carson Macedo’s perfect night continued as he secured the heat race victory.

Earning his way into the 8-lap DirtVision Fast Pass Dash, the 41st of the season, Carson was hoping his good fortunes on this night would continue at the pill draw for starting positions as he seems to either pick the ‘1’ pill or the ‘6’ pill, the latter which was occurred on the first two nights at Skagit. He walked up onto the frontstretch stage to see what his fate was for the dash. When he pulled his hand out of the oversized NOS Energy Drink can his luck continued as he pulled the ‘1’ pill and would start from the pole position in the dash beside Friday night’s feature winner James McFadden. Row two had Saturday night’s winner Brad Sweet and Logan Schuchart with Washington native Kasey Kahne and Donny Schatz in row three. The drivers were ready as the finishing order of this race set the lineup for the first three rows of the feature. The green lights came on and Macedo and McFadden were in a drag race to the first set of turns. The two competitors crisscrossed lanes as Macedo entered high aboard the Liquid Trucking/Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Smith Titanium #41 and McFadden went low in the KKR #9. James McFadden slid up across the track in turn two opening the door for Carson. Macedo turned back down underneath him off the turn to retake the lead down the backstretch. Meanwhile, Logan Schuchart wasn’t about to miss the action and entered the mix as he dove underneath McFadden and was dicing to claim the second position. This allowed Macedo to take advantage of the clean racing surface ahead of him as he built a small lead early. Carson would lead the remaining laps to secure the victory by 1.011 seconds over Logan Schuchart with James McFadden coming home third 2.022 seconds back. Brad Sweet raced home fourth as Donny Schatz and Kasey Kahne completed the finishing order. With the victory, the Lemoore, California racer’s perfect night continued.

The only thing standing between Carson and the JJR #41 team’s perfect night was the 40-lap NOS Energy Drink championship finale of the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals. With $25,000 on the line, track owner and promoter Steve Beitler had his team thoroughly groom the track to ensure it produced some good racing. Beitler recently announce the sale of the track and this event marked his final night leading the beautiful facility. The drivers were summoned to the front straightaway to await driver introduction befitted for a big event. After all of the pomp and circumstances was completed, it was time for the hallmark event of the night and weekend – the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals championship finale. Carson climbed into Meyers Constructors/Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/Waco Metal #41 Maxim and focused on the task at hand. James McFadden flanked his right side in the KKR/Karavan Trailers #9 as the two talented speedsters brought the field to the green flag. Carson used his Kistler Engines power to roar into the lead in the opening lap with third starting Logan Schuchart right behind. The bottom line early was the dominant line, but when the leaders caught the back of the field and had to navigate lap traffic they had to search for speed elsewhere. Macedo was the first one to start the navigation process 5 laps into the race. He was doing a masterful job, but the task would only get trickier lap after lap. This allowed Logan Schuchart to close the gap on your race leader and start pressuring him for the top spot. Macedo held the lead until Schuchart slid by to lead laps 19 through 22. Carson kept his composure and used the opportunity to get back to his game plan. On lap 23, Carson raced back by Logan Schuchart for the lead as they were mired in lap traffic. The racing was intense. The continuous green flag action around Skagit Speedway is demanding, but these professionals were putting on a terrific show. James McFadden fought back Schuchart for the runner-up position with 9 laps to go and quickly turned his attention on tracking down Carson Macedo. He closed the gap and was in position a few times to make a move, but was unable to execute the pass. Carson raced the remainder of the way in the caution-free event, after doing a terrific job putting some lap cars between himself and McFadden, to earn the victory in the championship finale of the Skagit Nationals! The win was his eighth of the season and fourteenth of his young career.

Carson and the team had a fast race car all weekend here at Skagit, but were just not able to gain the track position they needed to secure the win. This night was different as they had both speed and track position and took advantage of it. The jubilant driver, smiling from ear-to-ear, explained, “I think I just knew what I needed to do tonight.” He continued, “That was the most aggressive, yet smartest I think I’ve ever driven and that’s what I needed. I’ve lost some races lately because of lap traffic and making the wrong decisions while leading. When Logan got by, I knew I needed to kick it up a notch and drive harder. I was passing multiple lappers at a time, so I knew I was getting good. I’m getting better at reading the traffic and letting them show where they go.” The late Jason Johnson had quite a bit of success here so Carson relied on team owner and crew chief Philip Dietz all weekend. He stated, “I really didn’t feel comfortable the first two nights here, but Philip made some huge adjustments. We made a lot of gains from Friday to Sunday. It’s cool to win here at a track that Jason raced so much with ASCS. I’m pumped to bring this momentum back to California.”

We would be remiss if we did not give Steve Beitler a huge shout out. Jason Johnson took a train from Eunice, Louisiana to Central Pennsylvania following his high school graduation. He made his way to Williams Grove Speedway looking for a job in the sport. Steve Beitler gave him that chance and Jason was forever grateful. They became friends for life and Steve Beitler became a hero to the kid from Cajun country who would go on to win 5 ASCS Nationals Championship titles as well as the 2016 Knoxville Nationals. How fitting that the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 entry sat in victory lane on Steve Beitler’s last night running Skagit Speedway. A special evening for the team and a truly remarkable individual we are honored to call a friend . . . forever. Thank you Steve! #FOREVER41

Carson Macedo Races to Victory in the Sage Fruit Skagit Nationals Championship Finale! 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.