AN ALMOST PERFECT NIGHT: AFTER SETTING QUICK TIME, WINNING HIS HEAT RACE AND CAPTURING THE DASH, CARSON MACEDO LEADS 28 LAPS BEFORE NOZZEL LINE COMES LOOSE RESULTING IN A RUNNER-UP FINISH TO OPEN WORLD FINALS

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA (November 2, 2022) – After a long season that took them coast-to-coast, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series teams guided their haulers to The Tar Heel State for the season-ending World Final races at Dirt Track at Charlotte. This capstone event is circled on the calendars for many reasons, but make no mistake about it the teams come here to win. Coming in to the final three races, the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team has garnered 13 total wins on the season (18.31% Success Rate), 39 Top 5’s (54.93% Success Rate), 56 Top 10’s (78.87% Success Rate), and 65 Top 15’s (91.55% Success Rate). A very good season by any account, but they were in North Carolina to continue their high-level performance and add to their success. There were 52 sprint cars registered for the World Finals with Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team poised to continue their speed and checkered flag success as the chased the $15,000 winner’s share of the purse money.

Carson climbed into his office for his two laps against the clock in My Place Hotels Qualifying. These time trial laps measure both the driver’s and crew’s preparation and tenacity in thousandths of a seconds. The Lemoore, California speed chauffeur would be the twelfth driver out on the 4/10-mile red dirt track in Group B to challenge himself behind the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Tarlton and Son #41 Maxim. When the push truck pulled behind him to assist getting his Kistler Engines power fired, he stomped on the accelerator and built up his speed as he worked his way back around to the waving green flag. The clock was started as Carson used his KSE Racing Products to steer his way around The Dirt Track at Charlotte. When he completed his first circuit the clock read 12.678 seconds, which catapulted him to the top of the speed charts. Carrying his speed forward he continued through the first set of turns and down the backstretch. When he came off turn four his Hoosier Racing Tires were digging in and he clawed his way to the checkers. The second lap was slightly slower at 12.678 seconds, but his first lap established quick time not only in Group B but overall on the night. It was the JJR #41 team’s series leading 11thquick time of the season. A great start to the night for Carson and the team.

With time trials concluded it was time to race side-by-side in the four 8-lap heat races with the top five finishers earning spots in the feature event at the end of the night. These qualifying races are loaded with talent so getting a good start is a key component of keeping a good night going. When the lineups were posted, the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Durst Inc./Team Jack Foundation #41 would get started from the pole position in the third heat race with 3-time WoO champion Brad Sweet flanking his right side and pacing beside Carson. Two talented young guns, Sye Lynch and Parker Price-Miller, made up row two followed by two talented veterans in the next row, Kasey Kahne and Donny Schatz. Aaron Reutzel, Cale Thomas, Zeb Wise and Derek Hauck filled in the remaining rows on the starting grid. The field of high powered sprint cars rolled slowly towards the starting chalk stripe laid down across turn four and when the front row starters arrived they mashed the loud pedal and rocketed towards the waving green flag. It was Carson Macedo to the lead over Brad Sweet as the racers skillfully maneuvered around The Dirt Track at Charlotte. It was Macedo, Sweet and Schatz in the top three positions as the laps clicked down. Carson would not be denied as he collected the heat race win over Brad Sweet by one second with Donny Schatz coming home third, Parker Price-Miller fourth and Cale Thomas locking down the final transfer position out of the third heat race.

By the luck of the draw, the driver of the forty-one would get to start from the pole position again in the 6-lap DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash that sets the starting lineup for the first four rows of the feature later in the evening. Carson would pull the Border International/FK Shocks/Boltz Family #41 Maxim into position on the front row with Jacob Allen to his outside. Rico Abreu and Logan Schuchart paced from row two with David Gravel and Michael (Buddy) Kofoid in row three and Sam Hafertepe Jr. and Brad Sweet in row four. The front row starters hit the chalk stripe and bolted towards the flagstand with Macedo leading Allen through the first set of turns. The yellow flag was displayed for David Gravel before a lap could be completed as he slowed to a stop on the backstretch after a close call with Rico Abreu in turn two. When they got back up to speed the talented California wheelman took control of the lead and was not looking back as Philip, Clyde and Nate gave him a fast chariot to ride aboard. He would not be contested as he took the win over Brad Sweet who charged through the field to earn his runner-up finish. The Shark Racing teammates, Jacob Allen and Logan Schuchart, came home third and fourth respectively with Rico Abreu, Michael Kofoid, Same Hafertepe Jr. and David Gravel rounding out the finishing order.

When the checkered flag flew over the Last Chance Showdown (LCS) the feature lineup was set for the World Finals opening night 30-lap feature. In addition to the 24 cars who earned their spot in the race, there were five provisional starters added to bring the field to a total of 29 starters. Carson Macedo would lead the field to the green flag aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative/T-FAB Custom Fabrication/Schoenfeld Headers #41 with Brad Sweet right behind in the NAPA Auto Parts #49. The Albaugh – Your Alternative “Green Machine” was fast as he led Sweet on lap one and maintained that lead over the course of the first seven lap before the first yellow of the night was displayed for Michael Kofoid who rolled to a stop in turn four. Carson Macedo would lead the field back to the green flag with 23 laps to go with Brad Sweet and Logan Schuchart battling hard for the runner-up position. But before a lap could be completed, the red flag flew for James McFadden who got up over the cushion in the first set of turns and flipped ending his night. It was a single file restart and Carson brought the field back up to speed as they raced back to the orange cone on the frontstretch. He barreled through turns one and two and was putting some space between himself and Logan Schuchart who know owned the second position in the running order. Logan Schuchart was racing hard and closing in on Macedo as they two speedsters approached lap traffic. During the last 10 laps of the race these two drivers were mastering the art of navigation as things got tight racing through the slower cars. On lap 26, the caution flew for fourth running Donny Schatz who had a tire expire on the abrasive surface.  A restart with 4 laps to go gave Schuchart a shot at Macedo on the restart. Carson got his elbows up and was racing around the top just ahead of Schuchart’s #1s. They got a lap in the books and another yellow flew, this time for Robbie Price who stopped in turn four. There was three laps left and everyone had less rubber on both their left and right rear tires. When they got back up to speed it was the driver of the forty-one trying hard to keep his perfect night intact. He led lap 27, but when he crossed under the two-to-go flags the sound from his engine was not favorable. He started to slow and Schuchart pounced on the opportunity ducking under Macedo for the lead through turn two. Schuchart was in command as Macedo was nursing his forty-one hoping to make it to the end. Logan Schuchart was opportunistic and collected the win over Carson Macedo who limped across the finish line in second ahead of Brad Sweet with Rico Abreu and Giovanni Scelzi rounding out the top five. After crossing the scale it was revealed that a nozzle line had been knocked off which slowed Macedo over the course of the last two laps. With a positive attitude Carson reflected on the frontstretch as he stated, “We had a car to win and it was a really great night right up until the end.” He continued, “It was just a freak deal. There’s a fitting that hooks to the nozzle, and at the end of that the rubber line broke right off. I was basically running on seven cylinders and trying to baby it so we didn’t blow the engine. It is unfortunate because we really should’ve won, but it is what it is. I’m thankful we’ve got such a fast race car and I know we can come back to compete for wins on Friday and Saturday.”

When the dust settled around the Dirt Track at Charlotte Carson brought home a second place finish. Using the unique event format, that finish earned him 146 event points to kick off the 3 nights of actions where he could add to that total with his finishing position on Friday night.

A Runner-Up Finish Kicks Off the World Finals for Carson Macedo and the Albaugh #41 Team!

Albaugh, LLC; Border International; Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; Tarlton and Son Inc.; Boltz Family; Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions; Durst Inc.; Liquid Trucking; Bandy & Associates Accountancy Corporation; Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Jansen Transportation; Larry Davis Farms; Meyers Constructors Inc.; Mr. Jim’s Racing; RaceDiecast.com; Sam I Am; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Tiger Towing; All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads; AutoMeter; Bell Helmets; BMRS (Brown & Miller Racing Solutions); BR Motorsports; C&R Racing; Crow Enterprizes; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Greber Racing Components; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Hoosier Racing Tire; Indy Performance Composites (IPC); ISC Racers Tape; K1 Race Gear; Kistler Racing Engines; KSE Racing Products; Maxim Racing; Motor State Distributing; Premium Coach Group; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Saldana Racing Products; Schoenfeld Headers; Smith Titanium; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Racing; Wilwood Racing; Winters Performance Products; and Xtreme Body and Paint.

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.