MASTERING THE TEXAS TWO STEP: THE JJR TEAM COLLECTS THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON ABOARD THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 IN A HIGH SPEED, ACTION-PACKED RACE AT COTTON BOWL SPEEDWAY

PAIGE, TEXAS (March 5, 2022) – When the sun came up over Texas on Saturday morning it represented a new day for Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team. After battling on Friday night to overcome their challenges, the team was upbeat and determined to find some more speed and success. They headed back to Cotton Bowl Speedway for the finale of the Texas Two Step in their Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 Maxim. This fast 3/8-mile oval is a bullring that demands the best from each of the teams and drivers. There were 29 entries back at the track to complete for the Texas shaped trophy at the end of the night.

After being the fastest car in hot laps, the Lemoore, California native would have to patiently wait to see if he could carry that speed and momentum forward when it counted in Slick Woody’s Qualifying. He would be the 24th driver out on the track for his two laps at speed. He climbed aboard the Tarlton and Son/T-FAB Metal Fabrication/Factory Kahne Shocks #41 and placed his hand inside his K1 Race Gear gloves. When David Gravel completed his two laps, the Kistler Racing Engines power under the hood of the forty-one came to life and he powered his way towards the waving green flag. The clock was ticking and Macedo was trying to get the most out of his first lap. He drifted high on the exit of turn four which scrubbed some speed off ending with a lap time of 14.235 seconds. He quickly collected himself and carried his sped forward on lap two. This time he ran a great lap catapulting him up to eighth on the speed charts with a time of 13.957 seconds. His time would stand when the final qualifier took the checkers. Native Texan Sam Hafertepe Jr. set quick time with a top lap of 13.612 seconds.

Carson’s time trial effort situated him on the inside of row two with Giovanni Scelzi to his outside in the second of three 8-lap heat races. Kraig Kinser and Brock Zearfoss would lead the field from the front row. Garet Williamson and Wayne Johnson would get started from row three with Tanner Thorson, Aaron Reutzel, Bill Rose and Noah Gass completing the starting grid. The top two finishers in each heat race would advance on to the DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. After waiting in the staging area the field in heat two moved onto the track. When the green flag waved it was Kraig Kinser seizing the lead over Brock Zearfoss with Macedo poised in the show position within the running order. Kinser was in command of the point position as the laps counted down, but Macedo was relentlessly pursuing Zearfoss who is known as “The Jonestown Jet.” He would get close with 3 laps to go, but was unable to make the pass for position. Carson did not give up and on the last lap, in the last turn he used the outside line to get beside Zearfoss in a sprint to the finish line. Both drivers did an amazing job with Macedo aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/FK Rod Ends/Tiger Towing #41 Maxim just edging out Zearfoss in the Moose’s LZ #3z for the coveted runner-up position at the finish line by a mere .003 seconds.

His last lap heroics earned him one of the six spots in the 6-lap DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He headed to the frontstretch to meet with Hannah Rickards to see where he would get started. When it was his turn to pull a pill there were only two numbers available – the five and the six. He was the recipient of the higher of the two numbers by the luck of the draw with David Gravel getting the six. Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Cory Eliason made up row one. Kraig Kinser and Jacob Allen sat in row two. With Macedo and Gravel positioned in row three. The finishing order of this race sets the starting lineup for the feature. When the green lights illuminated over the race it was Hafertepe Jr. driving into the lead over Eliason. Carson was wheeling the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Wilwood Racing/ISC Racers Tape #41 Maxim from the fifth position just ahead of David Gravel. Hafertepe went on to take the win over Eliason to earn the pole position with Kinser, Allen, Gravel who raced by Macedo late to take fifth.

Carson had a fast forty-one machine and was eager to get rolling in the 30-lap NOS Energy Drink Texas Two Step Feature. The teams were called to the track and the fans in the stands were ready for some exciting racing World of Outlaws style. They would not have to wait long as when the initial green flag waved Jacob Allen made contact with Kraig Kinser in turn two sending both into Cory Eliason to bring out the first caution of the race. Carson was able to avoid the melee, but the contact ended Eliason’s night with a broken shock mount and sent Allen to restart at the back of the pack. Kraig Kinser never stopped so he restarted at the front. This incident reshuffled the starting grid as Carson moved up to the fourth starting position. When they went back to green flag racing, Sam Hafertepe Jr. took control of the lead with David Gravel just behind. Carson drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 by Kinser to take command of the third position. Macedo would soon be embroiled in a high speed battle with the hard-charging James McFadden. The two were wheeling their cars side-by-side and wheel-to-wheel with each swapping out the better position through the first 20 laps of the race. David Gravel was in hot pursuit of Hafertepe as the two speedsters started to track down the back of the field before lapping them. As the two navigated the traffic Carson Macedo used that to his advantage and closed the gap on Gravel in the runner-up position. McFadden was right there on Macedo’s rear nerf bar before you knew it there was a three car race for the second position between the three talented chauffeurs. Macedo made the pass for position on Gravel entering turn three on the low side and drifting up across turn four into the runner-up position on lap 21. Carson then set his sights on tracking down the native Texan at the front of the pack. The laps were dwindling with 6 to go, but the Lemoore, California driver was not about to settle for second. He stayed up on the wheel and closed in on Hafertepe making the pass for the lead on the exit of turn four on lap 27. He never looked back and led the remaining distance to take the win over Hafertepe Jr. and McFadden with Logan Schuchart coming home fourth and David Gravel rounding out the top five. The jubilant winner exited the car and debriefed with car own and crew chief Philip Dietz before heading to the top of the wing to celebrate under the falling confetti. It was the drivers and teams first World of Outlaws win of the 2022 season, and 18th career WoO win for Carson, as they celebrated their victory. The jubilant winner explained, “I knew I had a good car, but it felt like I was making the wrong decisions early on. We struggled last night pretty bad, but Philip Dietz did what he does best and came back to give me a car capable of winning, It was a lot more technical tonight, so the more patient I was, the faster I went.” Carson and the JJR #41 team now head west with confidence to his home state of California. Carson knows how important that is and securing an early win. He stated, “It’s always crucial to knock out that first win as early as you can. It’s crazy how much pressure something like this can lift off your shoulders. Such a great confidence booster especially with all of my home tracks coming up.” A great run and result for Macedo and the forty-one at Cotton Bowl Speedway.

Carson Macedo Masters the Texas Two Step as He Collects First WoO Win of 2022 Season! Photo Credit: Trent Gower

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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.