PLAYING HIS CARDS: CARSON MACEDO HOLDS HIS HAND TIGHT AROUND THE TABLE IN KUBOTA HIGH LIMIT RACING SERIES ACTION TO REEL IN A SOLID TOP TEN PERFORMANCE IN THE JOKER’S JACKPOT AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY

ROSSBURG, OHIO (July 18, 2024) – After a very productive night of competition in the Double Down Duels, which showcased Carson Macedo racing the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 from his 21 starting position to a seventh place finish in the first Double Down Duel, the driver and the JJR #41 team had earned and accumulated 554 Every Lap Matter event points for all of their hard work and efforts. Those points were very important because they carried over for every driver to Thursday’s Kubota High Limit Racing Series event – the Joker’s Jackpot – that had a lucrative $100,000 paycheck awaiting the winner at the end of the night. Those precious points that were earned would be used to seed each of the drivers heads up in each of the six heat races based on their point total. There would be another full program, sans time trials, starting with the heat races at Eldora. There were 64 race teams last night and 61 of them either returned or joined and were parked in the pits looking for their chance to claim the big prize at the end of the night at Eldora Speedway on night two of four.

The lineups for each of the six 10-lap heat races were arranged using the Every Laps Matter points earned for each driver. The higher their point total, the further front the driver would start. From the front row starters all the way back to the final row of each race, the lineups were littered with just some incredibly talented drivers. That is why this sport is so great, because each team and driver has to earn everything along the way. Nothing is free. It’s the ultimate form of merit-based rewards.

The heat race winners would redraw for starting spots one through six in the feature. The second and third place finishers in the heat races would then start heads up in positions seven through twelve and thirteen through eighteen respectively in the feature.

Carson recovered nicely on Wednesday night after not being able to transfer out of his heat race charging from his 21st starting spot up to 7th place when the checkered flag flew. But, there was still a lot of work left to do. Based on his body of work the night before, Carson would line the Scott Boyd Family/Sander Engineering/Border International #41 Maxim up in second spot in the sixth heat race. He would share the front row with Brad Sweet in the NAPA Auto Parts #49. Behind the two Californians on the front row was Brent Marks and Brian Brown. Kasey Kahne and Corey Day were in row three with Devon Borden and Cole Macedo in row four. Chris Windom and Scott Bogucki made up row five.

There was four miles (8 laps) of racing action around the fast half-mile oval lying ahead of the field as they were now pacing side-by-side down the backstretch. When they arrived at the chalk stripe in turn four the dust flew in the air as the engines roared a powerful growl. Brad Sweet jumped off of the inside lane into the early race lead on lap one with Carson Macedo and Brent Marks aggressively pursuing him.

The outside lane starters in the heat races were challenged as most of them spun their tires on the initial start trying to find grip. Brent Marks was racing underneath Carson in turn one but after the initial onslaught that he fended off Macedo moved into the single file formation around the top. Brad Sweet had checked out by that point and Brent Marks slid up to the top in line behind Macedo.

Everyone moved to the top and it was a fast paced, follow-the-leader type race from there on out. No more passing, just speed. Brad Sweet was never contested as he raced to the win by over three seconds with Carson driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 home second. Brent Marks locked down the third and final transfer position.

The lineup for the 40-lap, $100,000-to-win Joker’s Jackpot feature was now complete and posted. The work to get here was now etched in the history books, but the most important entry still needed to be determined – the winner’s name of the inaugural Joker’s Jackpot. Based on the race format, Carson would get his race started in the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication #41 Maxim from the 12th starting spot in the talented field.

The crew members were busy finalizing their last minute work before pushing their cars back away from their haulers. They guided them to the cement staging lane and out onto the track. Carson sat contently inside his high speed office with the shield up on his Bell Helmet as he contemplated what a successful run would look like from his seat. The push truck pulled in behind the tail tank of the JJR #41 and assisted him getting his engine fired up for the race. He maneuvered the Team Jack Foundation/High Performance Lubricants/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim into his row six starting spot alongside Aaron Reutzel in the RSR #87. The front row starters of Giovanni Scelzi and Kyle Larson were leading the 24 car field slowly as the pre-race fireworks shook the seats and lit up the skies. It was time to go racing in the Joker’s Jackpot with the Kubota High Limit Racing Series.

The green flag was out with Giovanni Scelzi leading the opening lap. Kyle Larson was running in the second spot with Tyler Courtney in the NOS Energy Drink #7bc holding down the third position after the first lap.

In the opening stage of the race there were some incredible duels for position throughout the entire field with Carson working multiple lines in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 through the turns from position twelve with 39 laps to go. He was holding off challenges from Aaron Reutzel but was using his knowledge, skills, and abilities to maintain the spot.

The racing was intense over the first ten laps with Scelzi out front. The first caution of the night though for Kerry Madsen who made hard contact with the outside turn two wall would slow the action. It was Scelzi, Courtney, Larson, Gravel, and Sweet out front with Carson sitting in 13th place. As the field was pacing and waiting to get restarted, second place running Tyler Courtney was forced to head pit side as he had a right rear tire going down. That would move Donny Schatz up to fifth for the restart.

They would go back to high speed racing with Giovanni Scelzi again showing the way with Kyle Larson still trying hard to track him down. Carson went back to work trying to improve his position. He was battling hard with Buddy Kofoid, Rico Abreu, and Brent Marks as these four speed chauffeurs were putting on a show for a spot in the top ten. They were able to get a few more laps in before the yellow flag was back out. This time it was for Buddy Kofoid who slowed to a stop after a puff of smoke came out from under his hood of his Roth Motorsports #83 entering turn three.

Giovanni Scelzi was still on point with Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet, David Gravel, and Logan Schuchart now in the mix in the top five. This time Carson would restart from the twelfth spot. They went back to green flag racing and the engines roared again. Scelzi darted off out front as Carson re-engaged in his battle for a better position. He still was racing hard with Marks and Abreu.

The racers were now in a rhythm as they passed the halfway point of the race. It was still Scelzi, Larson, Gravel, Sweet, and James McFadden. Carson was racing from the thirteenth spot looking to find his groove. Over the next ten laps there would be a lot happening from fifth place on back. Carson was right in the middle of it all as he began to move forward. Jacob Allen was hugging the bottom and moving forward as others railed the top lane.

The only thing that could stop them was another yellow flag on lap 32, this time for the other Roth Motorsports car as James McFadden now had a flat right rear tire. Jacob Allen had raced his way all the way into the top five. But when they went to re-fire their engines he had ignition box problems and the Shark Racing #1A would not start sending him to the work area where they replaced it and he rejoined the field.

With all the activity in front of him, Carson would restart from the tenth position when they went back to green. Giovanni Scelzi would lead the field back up to speed with Gravel, Larson, Schatz, and Sweet looking to take advantage of the opportunity with only 8 laps remaining.

Carson had a terrific restart and raced his way up to the eighth spot on the restart. Giovanni Scelzi had his hands full with David Gravel and the next time around hit the wall and flipped I turn one. He was ok but his stellar race was now over. David Gravel inherited the lead with Kyle Larson, Donny Schatz, Logan Schuchart, and Brad Sweet right behind.

When the green lights turned back on David Gravel drove the Big Game Motorsports #2 into the clean air with Kyle Larson trying everything to see if he could keep pace. He could not and on lap 38 he slowed with a flat right rear tire.

It would be a two lap race to the riches with David Gravel leading Donny Schatz, Brad Sweet, Justin Peck, and Rico Abreu back up to speed. Carson restarted eighth and was looking to see if there were any more advancement opportunities. He was contending with Brent Marks, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Rico Abreu.

David Gravel raced to the $100,000 win ahead of Schatz and Sweet who rounded out the podium. Carson finished in ninth place after Sheldon Haudenschild inched by him right at the line with James McFadden coming home tenth. A good run for Macedo and the forty one, but Carson and the JJR #41 team will be looking for more Friday night with the World of Outlaws at the Knight Before the Kings Royal and Saturday at the 41st Annual Kings Royal.

Testing the High Limits at Eldora Speedway Results in a 9th Place Run for the Forty-One in the Joker’s Jackpot! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners: Albaugh, LLC; Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Border International; Scott Boyd Family; Saich Family; Tarlton and Son Inc.; Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions; Durst Inc.; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Kistler Racing Engines; Maxim Racing; Sander Engineering; Bandy & Associates Accountancy Corporation; Boltz Family; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); RaceDiecast.com; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Xtreme Body and Paint; All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads; AutoMeter; Bell Helmets; Ben Cook Race Car Products; BlackBeard LTD; BMRS (Brown & Miller Racing Solutions); BR Motorsports; Buckwalter Trucking; CASM Safety Products; C&R Racing; ChalkStix; Crow Enterprizes; CS Productions; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Fuel Safe Racing Cells; Greber Racing Components; Hoosier Racing Tire; Indy Performance Composites (IPC); ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K1 Race Gear; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy; Motor State Distributing; Mr. Jim’s Racing; Premium Coach Group; Saldana Racing Products; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; Smith TI; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.

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