THAT’S A WRAP: A RUNNER-UP FINISH IN THE SECOND RACE OF THE LOW-E INSULATION SPRING SHOWDOWN SERIES CLOSES OUT THE FLORIDA PORTION OF THE SCHEDULE AS THE TEAMS HEAD NORTH TO PENNSYLVANIA

BARBERVILLE, FLORIDA (March 6, 2023) – With temperatures in the mid-80s throughout the day and some humidity, the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team soaked up the sun as they prepared the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 speed machine for the second consecutive night of racing at Volusia Speedway Park. It was night two of the six race Low-E Insulation Spring Showdown series that commenced in Florida last night and moves up to Pennsylvania next weekend at Port Royal’s Speed Palace before concluding the following weekend at Williams Grove and Lincoln. There were 23 teams that returned to Volusia Speedway Park, the track that was built as a quarter mile oval back in 1968 by Benny Corbin and expanded throughout the years, to compete at what is now dubbed the World’s Fastest Half Mile on Monday evening.

The night of action would get started with single group time trials in Low-E Insulation Qualifying. Each driver would get two laps to race against the clock with the faster of their two laps representing them on the speed chart. Carson Macedo would be the eleventh daredevil to hit the track aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Motor State Distributing/Vortex Racing Products #41 Maxim. He was ready to put on a speed show when it was his turn to push as his Kistler Racing Engines power came to life under the hood. He flipped the shield down on his Shifty Illusions custom-painted Bell Racing RS7 lightweight carbon series helmet as he was ready to take off. When Carson exited turn four he saw the green flag waving with his right foot buried in the accelerator. His job was to smoothly use the power to hit his marks and turn in a good lap. He did just that the first time around with a lap recorded at 13.544 seconds. The Lemoore, California chauffeur stayed focused the next time around looking to improve his time. He did just that and when he darted across the finish line the clock for his second lap read 13.534 seconds. The quicker of Carson’s two circuits ended the night third quick overall, with Donny Schatz turning the fastest lap of the night at 13.522 seconds.

The lineups were posted for the three 8-lap heat races, which found the JJR entry in the third qualifying race where the top six would secure a spot in the feature with the winner and runner-up earning a spot in the dash. Carson climbed into his office and buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts to prepare for competition piloting the Winters Performance Products/Smith Titanium/WELD Racing #41 Maxim. He pulled the forty-one onto the front row beside Noah Gass with Brad Sweet and Ryan Timms in row two. Brian Brown and Aaron Reutzel paced from row three with Ryan Harrison at the rear of the field. When the front row starter’s front tires reached the chalk stripe in turn four the waving green flag was in view. Carson drag raced down the frontstretch and into turn one with the lead with Brad Sweet battling Noah Gass for the runner-up position. Sweet would seize that position by the time the two drivers exited turn two, but Macedo had already started to stretch his legs using his speed. Carson was fast and started to check out in the clean air. Before you knew it he had built a 2.5 second advantage over Sweet and had it on cruise control. Carson raced across the finish line to capture the NOS Energy Drink heat race win over Brad Sweet with Brian Brown coming home third, Noah Gass fourth, Ryan Timms in fifth, and Aaron Reutzel securing the final transfer position.

After drawing for his starting position in the 6-lap Toyota Dash, Carson headed back to the pit area to climb aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative/ISC Racers Tape/FK Rod Ends #41. The cars staged on the backstretch as they were ready to be pushed off for the dash. David Gravel and Jacob Allen would lead the field from the front row with Logan Schuchart, Carson Macedo, Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz in the next two rows. When the green flag waved, Gravel; spun his tires and Allen took control of the top spot as the two talented racers competed side-by-side. Carson maneuvered into the third spot ahead of Brad Sweet, The top four drivers had an equal amount of space between themselves on the fast and narrow racing surface. Jacob Allen would not be denied as he took the win over Gravel to earn the pole position in the feature. Carson Macedo brought the Albaugh #41 home third followed by Sweet, Schatz and Schuchart.

The starting lineup for the 30-lap NOS Energy Drink feature, the second race in the Low-E Insulation Spring Showdown series, was set. The 8-minute horn notified the drivers and teams that it was about “go time” at Volusia Speedway Park to conclude the two race Bike Week event. The field lined up two-by-two behind the pace truck as they showed their gratitude to the fans with the traditional four-wide salute. It was time to go racing at Volusia Speedway Park!

The green lights came on as Jacob Allen and David Gravel raced down the frontstretch with Macedo and Sweet chasing. This time David Gravel used the outside lane to his advantage to drive into the lead. Allen was not far behind with Brad Sweet and Carson Macedo still dueling for the third position.

By lap 7, the leader has made his way into traffic as he started to pass the slower cars if Bill Rose, Ryan Harrison and Robbie Price on the lightning fast track. Third place running Brad Sweet was closing in on runner-up Jacob Allen ready to put some pressure on the driver of the Shark Racing #1a. By lap 11, Carson was lurking right behind those two and when Brad Sweet attempted a slider, Carson drover the Liquid Trucking/Jansen Transportation/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication #41 into the show position.

Macedo quickly turned his attention towards the blue car of Allen and over the next four laps was in hot pursuit through traffic. On lap 15, the hotshoe from Lemoore, California not only caught Allen but also made the pass as he drove the Tiger Towing #41 Maxim into the second spot. The leader was being held up slightly in traffic giving Macedo a chance to close the gap between to two speed chauffeurs.

Lap traffic was heavy and with 11 laps to go the caution lights came on for Brian Brown who spun after contact with Zeb Wise. It would be a double file restart with the leader choosing the outside lane. That put Carson on the inside of the front row for the restart. Would this be his chance? When they went back to green, David Gravel used the momentum of the outside lane to roll the cushion and drive back into the lead over Macedo.

After completing one lap another caution was displayed leaving 10 laps around the half-mile oval between the leaders and the winner’s check. This time it would be a single file restart and David Gravel again drove forward with the lead over Carson and Jacob Allen. The leader would build a 1.3 second advantage with 8 laps to go.

The final caution of the night flew on lap 24 when 15th place running Justin Peck was sitting sideways in turn four. David Gravel would lead Carson Macedo, Jacob Allen, Donny Schatz and Spencer Bayston back to the green flag and never look back as he collected his third WoO win of the season with Carson Macedo bringing the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 home second followed by Allen, Schatz and Bayston.

Earning a spot on the podium, Carson rolled to a stop on the frontstretch in the forty-one and climbed out to share his thoughts with Chase Raudman from DIRTVision. He explained, “When the caution came out, I was a little bummed. But ultimately I am proud of my race team.” He continued, “Phil Dietz, Clyde Knipp, and Nate Repetz did an incredible job. I thought my car was as good as David’s. Obviously, he was really good in clean air. I feel if we would have been in clean air, we would’ve had a good shot at the win.” Staying focused on the season goals and strategy, Macedo reflected, “I said my main goal when this season started was consistency. I feel like we have that right now. My guys are giving me consistent racecars that feel really good every time I hit the track, so that’s half the battle. And, I am just hoping we can keep this car up front.” Another good run for the forty-one!

Macedo Speeds Home with A Runner-Up Finish in the Low-E Insulation Spring Showdown at Volusia Speedway Park! Photo Credit: Trent Gower Photography

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; 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.