RECOVERING STRONG AFTER FEBRUARY RAIN: A STRONG RUN SLOWED WITH A MID-RACE FLAT, BUT MACEDO HUSTLES THE TARLTON AND SON #41 BACK TO EARN A SEVENTH PLACE FINISH IN THE DIRTCAR NATIONALS FINALE

BARBERVILLE, FLORIDA (March 5, 2023 – February 11th Race Completion) – During the final night of the 52nd Annual DIRTcar Nationals back on Saturday, February 11th, Carson Macedo and the other drivers were not only racing against each other, but also against Mother Nature who had reared her head all weekend creating disruption and havoc.  With ominous, heavy dark clouds overhead, track officials at Volusia Speedway Park were trying their best to get the show in for the drivers, teams and fans alike. There were 36 eager sprint car teams parked in the pit area ready to go racing at the track affectionately dubbed “The World’s Fastest Half Mile.”

After an extensive hot lap session to help bring in the track surface to make it race ready, the field was ready to test their talents against the clock in Low-E Insulation Qualifying. Fortunately, the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 with Carson Macedo piloting behind the wheel would be the first car out on the track along his time trial partner Giovanni Scelzi. Looking to get the most out of each lap, Carson got his elbows up and had his Kistler Racing Engines power singing as he raced under the flagstand to take the green flag. He was hustling and turned a sub-14 second lap the first time around at 13.969 seconds. The California gasser stayed on the hammer the next time around too and turned in an even better lap at 13.807 seconds. It was early, but Macedo had the JJR #41 perched at the top of the speed charts. When time trials concluded, Carson earned his first WoO quick time award of the 2023 season out pacing Brad Sweet who turned the second quickest lap of the night at 13.845 seconds.

Setting the fastest time put the Border International/Team Jack Foundation/BR Motorsports #41 Maxim on the pole in the first NOS Energy Drink 8-lap heat race with James McFadden to his outside in the Roth Motorsports #83. Behind the front row starters was a talented field of drivers with Tyler Courtney and David Gravel in row two, Anthony Macri and Buddy Kofoid in row three, Aaron Reutzel and Bill Balog in row four, and up-and-coming star Ryan Timms in row five. James McFadden used the outside lane to power his way into the lead over Macedo and Gravel during the opening lap. McFadden set sail as Macedo stayed within striking range. The Australian born speedster would lead from wire-to-wire to take the win with Macedo coming home second locking those two drivers into the dash. David Gravel, winner of the first two WoO season opening races, raced home in the third position with Buddy Kofoid and Anthony Macri rounding out the top five, with each driver all securing their way into the A-Main feature event.

In order to keep the show moving along drivers selected their starting pill for the 6-lap Toyota Dash in the pit area. James McFadden would be back on the front row with Jacob Allen on the pole. Allen’s Shark Racing teammate Logan Schuchart would start third with Spencer Bayston rolling from fourth. Carson Macedo would line up the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Meyers Constructors/High Performance Lubricants #41 Maxim on the inside of row three sharing that row with Brad Sweet to his outside. Brian Brown and Donny Schatz were in the fourth and final row. Before the competitors could push out though, the heavy rains moved in suspending the program for the night. World of Outlaws officials postponed the dash and the feature event to March 5 when the competitors returned to Volusia Speedway for the Low-E Insulation Spring Showdown at Volusia.

With kinder Floridian skies and temperatures welcoming the teams back to The Sunshine State, it was time to get back to business. After Carson motored to the win in the opening race of the six race Low-E Insulation Spring Showdown series to start the night, the remainder of the February 11th show was set for completion as the dash entrants pushed out onto the speedway. Each of the eight drivers had 6-laps in the Toyota Dash to earn their starting position for the feature finale. Carson had his K1 Race Gear gloves wrapped around the steering wheel ready to roll from the fifth starting position. The yellow lights were turned off and replaced with the green ones as they field roared off turn four. It was McFadden to the lead over Jacob Allen on the opening lap with Carson moving the Albaugh #41 into fifth. Macedo was battling with Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart for that position with the #1s wrestling back from Macedo the next time around. James McFadden was rocketing out front and took the dash win over Allen and Sweet with Bayston and Schuchart rounding out the top five. Carson Macedo earned sixth with Donny Schatz and Brian Brown completing the finishing order.

With the engines still warm, the new 8-minute siren was sounded summoning the 21 teams who qualified and returned to Florida to the track for the 30-lap NOS Energy Drink A-Main feature. Carson Macedo would get the Tarlton and Son/Durst/Xtreme Body and Paint #41 Maxim started from the outside of row three with Logan Schuchart to his inside. The engines fired with James McFadden aboard the Roth Motorsports #83 and Jacob Allen would lead the field to the green flag.

James McFadden took command of the top spot from the get go with Brad Sweet driving the NAPA Auto Parts #49 into the runner-up spot. It was all-out chaos behind the front two with Carson driving the Albaugh #41 into the fifth spot ahead of Logan Schuchart in the early laps of the race. He was now focused and in hot pursuit of the other talented Shark Racing driver, Jacob Allen, looking to move into fourth. He tracked the Hanover, Pennsylvania native down and in the middle of turns one and two slid by the #1A to take the position before turning his attention to Spencer Bayston who was right in front of him in the third spot.

By lap 8, McFadden had chased down the back of the field and started to navigate his way through the traffic as he had built a 1.6 second lead over Sweet. He maintained that lead at the halfway point of the race leading Sweet, Bayston, Macedo and Allen in the high speed race. Meanwhile, two laps later Carson had his hands full trying to hold off the Shark Racing #1S that was driven by Logan Schuchart. Schuchart made his way by the forty-one with Macedo now running in the fifth position.

On lap 18, the first yellow flag of the race was displayed for Jacob Allen and David Gravel who got together trying to slow down when Carson’s left rear tire exploded. Both Macedo and Gravel headed to the infield pit area for work, while Jacob Allen’s night was over. The JJR #41 crew bolted on a new tire and he pushed off with Gravel not too far behind leaving the pit area. They both rejoined the back of the field behind the cars on the lead lap.

James McFadden raced the field back up to speed when the green flag waved ahead of Sweet, Bayston, Schuchart and Schatz. Before a lap could be completed the yellow flag was thrown for Giovanni Scelzi who rolled to a stop in turn 3 with a flat tire. When they got rolling again, Carson Macedo was up on the wheel and hustling as he was moving forward fast. He was picking up spots one car at a time before the caution lights came on again on lap 23, this time for Justin Peck and Ryan Timms.

The top five in the running order had McFadden leading Sweet, Bayston, Brian Brown and Logan Schuchart, but Carson’s hard work had him now sitting in the tenth position with 7 laps to go. The yellow lights around the track dimmed and the green ones came on as they field powered up to speed. Carson collected two more positions in the running order and was now running eighth. He wasn’t done tough as he grabbed another spot before the black and white checkered flag flew to recover and earn a respectable seventh place finish.

James McFadden took the $16,000-to-win 52nd Annual DIRTcar Nationals finale, Dennis Roth’s 100th WoO victory as a team owner, over Brad Sweet, Brian Brown, Logan Schuchart and Donny Schatz. Carson crossed the finish line in seventh right behind Spencer Bayston. Another consistent and good run for the forty-one!

A 7th Place Finish in the 52nd Annual DIRTcar Nationals Finale for Macedo in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41! Photo Credit: Ascent Media

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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.