MOMENTUM IN MARION COUNTY: THE 63RD ANNUAL NOS ENERGY DRINK KNOXVILLE NATIONALS CONCLUDES FOR THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE TEAM WITH A TOP FIVE RUN FOR CARSON MACEDO AND THE FORTY-ONE!

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 10, 2024) – Carson Macedo locked the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) entry into the prestigious A-Main at the 63rd Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s after driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Durst Inc. #41 Maxim to a third place finish during preliminary action on Thursday evening. His cumulative 480 event points earned that night ended up being the fourth highest overall and positioned him on the outside of row two in the big show.

With 108 entries for this race, just making the $15,000-to-start A-Main could be considered an incredible success. It is certainly not an easy tasks to make the show at the Knoxville Nationals with 106 entries. In fact, with only 24 available starting positions in the A-Main field, there is only 22.6% of the teams that make the field and actually have a chance to fulfill their goals. If you want to win . . . that is even more difficult as there is less than a 1% chance, a 0.0094% chance to be exact, to stand on the top step of the podium at the end of the night on Saturday. That challenge is exactly what drives all of these drivers and teams to define themselves at this event. It is also why the Knoxville Nationals is undeniably the best sprint car race in the country – bar none.

All of these talented athletes are incredibly tenacious competitors and want to win, so none of them were about to rest on their laurels, yet alone give in to any of their competitors. They were all here to race for the win at the 63rd Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. It was race day at Knoxville Raceway – in front of another sold-out crowd at the Marion County Fairgrounds – even the pit area was sold out!

Saturday night is all about the alphabet soup beginning with the E-Main and culminating with the 50-lap A-Main feature at the end of the night. There is always great racing as the drivers are competing with a purpose in every lettered event. Pride is on the line. Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman have worked tirelessly and unselfishly all week to make sure Carson had the best Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to drive around the black gumbo clay surface every time he hit the track. From the crew and driver to the incredibly supportive sponsorship partners, Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) is very blessed and grateful to be surrounded by such an amazing group of quality individuals and organizations focused on the same goals. Every single one of the partners contributes as an important part of the success formula.

Before the evening of racing action commenced, the annual awards were given out for Best Appearing Car Award which was won by Giovanni Scelzi and the KCP Racing #18 team. Brian Brown won the MVP Express Mr. Sprint Car Award. Kyle Larson won the Sprint Car Unlimited Pole Award. The Avanti Doors and Windows Best Appearing Crew Award went to the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team. The $500 award goes to the team that presents themselves the best from a professional perspective throughout the week. With assigned outfits for each race day for both the crew and the dedicated team working the merchandise trailer, even when working on the car out in the parking lot, to crew jerseys to match their event car design on evening’s they compete – JJR #41 makes it a priority. In fact, this was JJR’s fifth time winning the honor as a team in this category as they have now won in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024.

When the E-Main (Winner = Sawyer Phillips #3P), D-Main (Winner = Don Droud Jr. #1M), C-Main (Winner = Brenham Crouch #1c), and B-Main (Winner = Brad Sweet #49) races were done the only thing left after an exciting four consecutive days in Knoxville, Iowa, was what this capacity crowd came to witness . . . the 50-lap, A-Main at the 63rd Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. Knoxville Raceway was absolutely packed and brimming with anticipation as that emotion collided with overflowing excitement. The 24 teams that put their driver in the show were making their final adjustments as the cars rolled into the staging area.

Kyle Larson in the Finley Farms #57 and Daryn Pittman in the Kreitz Racing #69K would pace the awesome field of colorful sprint cars showcasing their sponsors from the front row as the two highest point earners throughout the week. Tyler Courtney in the NOS Energy Drink #7BC and Carson Macedo in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 were right behind them in row two. Row three found the speedy duo of Giovanni Scelzi in the KCP Racing #18 and Rico Abreu in the Rothwell Hyde Vineyard #24 pacing together, with Brian Brown in the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 and Anthony Macri in the J&S Classics #39M rolling two-by-two in row four. Brady Bacon #21 and Scott Bogucki #10 completed the top ten in the starting lineup side-by-side in row five.

After a little track prep where track officials packed down the top of the track and driver introductions were completed, these speed entertainers were prepared to put on another captivating show at Knoxville Raceway. After re-aligning in the two-by-two starting formation, polesitter Kyle Larson stepped on the gas when the front row reached turn four and blasted down the long front straightaway with Daryn Pittman and Carson Macedo sliding in behind the racing star after the first lap.

Kyle Larson wasted no time putting some space between himself and second running Daryn Pittman as the early laps were being recorded. Carson was up on the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 from the show position as he was in hot pursuit of the second spot as he chased down the iconic Kreitz Racing blue #69K of Daryn Pittman.

By lap five the running order up front was Larson, Pittman, Macedo, Abreu and Macri when the caution flag came out for the Shark Racing #1s of Logan Schuchart who slowed on the racing surface and headed to the work area where the crew did a fantastic job making the necessary repairs for him to rejoin the field.

When the yellow lights were turned off as the green flag came back out with 45 laps to go. Kyle Larson raced off quickly with the lead in clean air with Pittman and Macedo staying close. Anthony Macri drove by Abreu for fourth with Giovanni Scelzi also making his way by Abreu as he entered the top five. Scelzi has a fast hotrod and kept his speed and momentum heading in the right direction as he also moved by Macri for fourth in the running order.

Carson also had the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Tarlton and Son/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions #41 Maxim moving forward as he was closing in on Pittman. On lap 14, Macedo carried his momentum by Pittman to make the pass for the runner-up position.

There was quite a bit of race track between Carson and the race leader, but the forty-one was fast and was looking to close the space quickly. He could run in almost any lane and make speed. The gap between the two California racers was beginning to shrink as they raced towards the plan mid-race caution on lap 25.

On lap 20, Carson was getting closer. The next time around closer yet. He kept digging and just before the planned caution flag flew he was within a few car lengths of the leader.

Carson headed to the pit area for the “Open Red” where the crew changed tires and made a few tweaks hoping the combination would work allowing him to continue his impressive performance to this point of the race. The running order in the top five for the last 25 laps would be Kyle Larson, Carson Macedo, Giovanni Scelzi, Anthony Macri, and eleventh starting Corey Day who was charging in the Driven to Save Lives #14.

The green flag was back out with the trip at the front of the pack showing the way. Giovanni Scelzi was showing speed and pressuring Macedo for the second spot. Two laps after the restart, Scelzi moved low and took the position from Carson who was now running third.

Carson moved down to that lane opening up the top for Corey Day who was blasting around the half-mile oval. Day was catching the driver of the forty-one bringing Anthony Macri along. Carson was fast too as he was doing his best to find grip to stay ahead as he held his position.

On lap 38, Corey Day’s relentless drive forward continued as he drove around Carson into the show position. Carson moved back up to the top as he was now valiantly fending off Anthony Macri who wanted to be one spot better.

The racers at the front of the pack were following Kyle Larson’s lead over the last 10 laps. Larson would never be contested as he led wire-to-wire to take the win over Giovanni Scelzi and Corey Day who completed the podium. Carson Macedo did a terrific job to bring the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 home fourth with Anthony Macri rounding out the top five.

After the races, the competitive driver reflected on his night of action with some disappointment as he thought he had a racecar that could have challenged for the win before the break, which was offset by his optimism for the remainder of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink season with an eye already turned to next year’s 64th Annual Knoxville Nationals. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Carson Macedo Garners a Fourth Place Finish at the 63rd Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals! 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.

To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) and Carson Macedo go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.

Check out ShopJJR.com to buy all your new Carson Macedo and JJR gear and merchandise.