WINNING AGAIN IN WISCONSIN: CARSON HUSTLES AROUND WILMOT RACEWAY ON SATURDAY NIGHT TO GO BACK-TO-BACK IN THE LARRY HILLERUD MEMORIAL BADGER 40 ABOARD THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41

WILMOT, WISCONSIN (July 8, 2023) – After rain washed out racing and postponed the West Burlington Sprint Car Showdown event scheduled at 34 Raceway on Friday night, Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team quickly turned their attention to Saturday as they changed direction and headed to Wisconsin. Each of the dedicated race teams with the World of Outlaws traveling speed show had to truck 270 miles to the northeast with the final destination set on Wilmot Raceway. The 1/3 mile, semi-banked venue is located in Wisconsin approximately halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago. It would be the last stop in the state known for their cheese products. Track promoters and officials were busy preparing for Saturday’s presentation of the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40, which is always a terrific race for both the teams and the fans. A year ago, Carson and his JJR teammates walked away with the trophy after they were victorious in this event that honors and remembers a truly remarkable man. They were back to see if they could go back-to-back and add another trophy to the repertoire. With 32 sprint car teams registered to race in this year’s edition it was bound to be another exciting night of racing action at Wilmot Raceway.

The time trial order was set for the race against the clock in Low-E Insulation Qualifying to get the night of racing off to a fast start at Wilmot. Carson Macedo would fire up the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim as he would be the 17th driver out on the track for his two laps at speed. He began to wind up his Kistler Engines power plant as he came onto the track off turn four and produced the speed needed heading towards the flagstand to take the green flag. The track was still narrow and incredibly fast. Carson had his black painted 410 Maxim Racing rocket with green and silver stripes moving as he made his way around Wilmot Raceway during his opening lap. When he triggered the timing stripe to complete lap one, his performance was measured in 12.238 seconds. He kept moving forward as he was looking to see if he could find a hundredth of a second here or there along the way during his last circuit. He was consistent in his effort as his second timed lap was recorded in 12.299 seconds. Both laps were under the previous track record, but when all was said and done in time trials to end the night Carson’s first lap landed him as the 6th quickest overall in qualifying. Bill Balog sat atop the time charts with a New Track Record (NTR) to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award with a lightning fast lap of 12.199 seconds.

World of Outlaws (WoO) Timing and Scoring Officials quickly finalized and posted the starting lineups for each of the four 10-lap heat races. The goal in each heat race for the drivers is to finish in the first or second position to lock into the dash event for the right to race for your starting position in first four rows of the feature. If all else fails locking in one of the top two finishing positions, the backup plan then becomes securing at least one of the remaining three transfer positions in the four heat format. David Gravel and Carson Macedo would sit on the front row of the second of four heat races. Carson was eager to get rolling in the Team Jack Foundation/Boltz Family/ISC Racers Tape #41 from the outside of the front row. Row two featured Robbie Price and Sheldon Haudenschild with Austin Hartmann, Tim Estenson, Matt Vandervere and Kevin Newton occupying rows three and four respectively.

When the yellow lights were shut off the drivers knew it was soon time to unleash all of the horsepower these powerful 410 engines could produce while hoping their Hoosier Racing Tires dug in and transferred all that power to the racing surface. The track crew tries to widen the racing groove out, but it was still relatively narrow which would make passing at speed a bit more challenging. Carson did not waste and opportunity and vaulted to the front as he made a move around the outside of Gravel in turns one and two to take the lead. Sheldon Haudenschild quickly slipped into the third spot ahead of Robbie Price.

Carson was focused and had the Albaugh #41 power machine moving at speed around Wilmot. The only thing that slowed the Lemoore, California native was a yellow flag on lap 5 for the orange safety cone that was in the racing surface after it was ripped off the infield berm. Carson would pace single file ahead of Gravel, Haudenschild, Price and Vandervere.

When the green was back out, Macedo gassed it to maintain the lead ahead of the always fast David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild. Carson would lead the remaining five circuits to collect his 23rd WoO heat race win of the season over Gravel as those two earned spots in the dash later. Sheldon Haudenschild drove his NOS Energy Drink #17 home in the show position with Robbie Price coming home fourth and Austin Hartmann securing the fifth and final transfer position out of the second heat race.

The eight drivers that earned their way into the 8-lap Toyota Dash were summoned to victory lane to draw for their dash starting spots. Carson Macedo and David Gravel were both making their 27th appearance in the dash which is absolutely incredible for both of them. Carson would be the second driver to choose his number by virtue of winning the second heat race. He reached his hand in the oversized NOS Energy Drink can and pulled out the ‘2’ pill, which put him on the outside of the front row beside Donny Schatz, the 10-time WoO Champion and 2019 winner of the Badger 40 at Wilmot. Brad Sweet and Jacob Allen would get started from row two. David Gravel and Spencer Bayston were pacing from row three. And, local favorite Bill Balog along with Kasey Kahne made up row four.

When the green flag waved, Carson drove the Meyers Constructors/FK Rod Ends/WELD Racing #41 around the cushion to take the lead ahead of Donny Schatz, Jacob Allen and Brad Sweet. The Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) crew of Philip Dietz, Clyde Knipp and Nathan Repetz gave Carson a bad fast race car that was setup almost to perfection. Carson did what he does best and maneuvered the speed around the track as he began building his lead to over 1.5 seconds by the halfway point of the dash. He would not be denied, or contested, throughout the race as he raced to the dash victory by a straightaway over Donny Schatz. Schatz was followed across the finish line by Jacob Allen and Brad Sweet with Bill Balog, Kasey Kahne, David Gravel and Spencer Bayston completing the finishing order.

After winning the his heat race and the Toyota Dash, Carson Macedo would get the Liquid Trucking/Bandy and Associates/Winters Performance Products #41 Maxim started from the pole position in row one beside Donny Schatz for the 40-lap Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 feature race. Philip Dietz had the setup he thought would work locked in for his driver as the crew rolled their driver out onto the track to wait to be pushed off. It was time to go racing at Wilmot Raceway in front of a capacity crowd – Cheesehead style!

Macedo and Schatz were pacing the field from the front row eager to get started. After the Whiskey Myers four-wide salute to the fans, the starting field’s drivers right feet were twitching with excitement. When the 24 car contingent exited turn four the green lights were shining as the flagman gave the drivers the signal to ‘go fast’ with the waving of the green flag. The front row starters were side-by-side at speed down the frontstretch, through the first set of turns and halfway down the backstretch before the red flag halted action before a lap could be completed. The race stoppage was for 19th starting Hunter Schuerenberg who got caught up in a gaggle of cars entering turn one and flipped. The driver was ok, but the racecar had too much damage for the talented racer to continue.

The field realigned and got started the next time around. This time it was Donny Schatz using the outside of the front row to drive into the lead ahead of Carson Macedo with Brad Sweet close behind on the opening lap. Schatz was in control of the top position with a clean race track ahead, but Carson Macedo was staying within striking distance in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. By lap 6, the leaders had already caught the rear of the field and began navigating lap traffic. Schatz was leading with Macedo closing the gap between himself and the leader. But fifth starting Bill Balog had worked his way by Brad Sweet to move into the third position and was fast. He caught up to Macedo and was giving him fits in the fight for the runner-up spot. In fact, Balog momentarily moved by Macedo into second on lap 10 before Carson turned back under him entering turn three on the same lap. Carson though then did an outstanding job using the lap traffic to his advantage to separate himself, which allowed him to refocus on tracking down the race leader.

On lap 16, Carson was there and passed Donny Schatz to take over the lead of the race in the Albaugh #41. Third running Bill Balog also worked his way by Schatz and was still chasing after Macedo. Balog was hungry and wanted the win in front of the home state crowd. Carson had some room over the next five laps between himself and Balog, but any space was eliminated on lap 21 when the red came out for Robbie Price. Price slid off turns three and four right in front of the leader, Carson Macedo, after contact with Logan Schuchart while running for position.

With 19 laps to go that gave Bill Balog the opportunity he was looking for – a side-by-side restart and an opportunity to race for the lead. The top five coming back to the green flag was Macedo, Balog, Schatz, Sweet and Kahne. Carson had lane choice and chose the inside, which put Bill Balog to his right side for the restart. As the leader he had the opportunity to start where he needed to and when he dropped the hammer he spun his tires. That gave Balog an opportunity heading into turn one to take the lead and he attempted a big move. He threw a slider and drifted up across the track. Carson courageously, and without hesitation, towed the line on the high side and narrowly missed any contact with as he reclaimed the lead coming off turn two aboard the Albaugh –Your Alternative #41. But a lap later the yellow flag was redisplayed, this time for James McFadden who spun into the infield to avoid contact with Balog on the backstretch. The restart order with 18 laps to go would be Macedo, Sweet, Schatz, Haudenschild and Balog.

Carson again chose the inside lane for the restart with Brad Sweet pulling beside Macedo in his NAPA Auto Parts #49. When the green flag waved again, Carson drove back into the lead. Brad Sweet was staying close enough to position himself to seize any mistakes to take the lead. He was right there and a few times raced underneath Macedo, but never had the opportunity to clearly race by him. That did not stop Sweet from making multiple charges at the leader throughout the remainder of the race.

Carson had a fast hotrod all night and prevailed as he defended his 2022 victory in the Federated Auto Parts Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 at Wilmot with another win in 2023. Brad Sweet raced home second with Sheldon Haudenschild rounding out the podium as Donny Schatz and Kasey Kahne completed the top five.

The always affable driver of the JJR #41 climbed out of the cockpit and celebrated with him teammates before celebrate amid the falling confetti in victory lane. He spoke to Chase Raudman and reflected, “I am just thankful more than anything. It’s been a tough few weeks. I’ve had a lot of really good people reach out and be supporters. When you’re young you think you’re invincible, but the other week kind of knocked me back a little bit, that wreck (referring back to his nasty wreck in early June at Knoxville).” He continued, “I feel like my guys have never given up on me – Philip Dietz, Clyde Knipp and Nate Repetz. They’ve been trying to give me the best car they possibly can. I just haven’t been 100% right.”

He concluded by explaining, “Coming into this week, I worked out all week and was just in a much better mind and place in my head. I felt pretty good about our chances. We were fast early in the night. I felt like we had a really good heat race. We were outstanding in the dash. And, they delivered again in the feature. These guys did an incredible job.” A so did the driver as he collected his fourth WoO win of the season and fifth win overall. A great run, and win for Macedo and the forty-one team! A confidence builder for sure as they look forward to a busy week ahead starting on Tuesday night at the 35th Annual Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park followed by the Eldora Million and 40th Annual Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway.

A Whale of a Performance at Wilmot Raceway Enables Carson Macedo to Race to the Win at the Larry Hillerud Memorial Badger 40 for the Second Year in a Row! Photo Credit: Dave Olsen Photo

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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.