MAKING NOISE AT THUNDERBOWL: CARSON MACEDO AND THE JJR #41 TEAM BANG AROUND TULARE TO PUT TOGETHER A “PERFECT NIGHT” BRINGING HOME THE BEEF AND THE WINNER’S SHARE OF THE PURSE AT THE DENNIS ROTH CLASSIC FINALE

TULARE, CALIFORNIA (September 21, 2024) – After setting quick time and racing hard Friday night resulting in a solid sixth place finish to open the two-day Dennis Roth Classic, Carson Macedo along with his Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) crew were back at Thunderbowl Raceway ready to compete for some bigger stakes (. . . and steaks, too). Thunderbowl Raceway, which is commonly just referred to as Tulare, is located on the grounds of the Tulare County Fair. This 1/3-mile racetrack is surrounded by red and white colored walls and is bad fast. It is also certainly demanding for the drivers as it is technical, too. It always produces incredible wheel-to-wheel entertainment for the fans in the stands. And, it is a track that calls for the absolute best from all of the drivers and crews from start to finish each night if you want to succeed. The finale of the Inaugural Dennis Roth Classic was sure to be a spectacle for many reasons: (1) the race was honoring a legend – Dennis Roth; (2) it would be extremely lucrative for at least one team with $83,000 up for grabs for the winner of the race; and, (3) the racing action would be tremendous, well, because it was at Tulare. Oh, there was also a lot of meat up for grabs for the quick timer, Heat Race winners, Dash victor, and Feature winner throughout the night which is a flavorful bonus for sure. With the big prize money and a great race track to compete at there were 35 race teams back, registered, and prepared to battle it out at Thunderbowl Raceway! It was race day at Tulare – World of Outlaws style – for Dennis Roth!

With the car count just coming in under the 38 car limit that would split the field into two separate groups for time trials, all of the drivers would compete against each other as one group for Sea Foam Qualifying. The associated order that the drivers would go out was established based off of random draw at the World of Outlaws Command Center earlier in the evening. Carson Macedo would go out late as the 29th driver to hit the track for his individual race against time driving the Tarlton and Son/Ben Cook Race Car Products/CASM Safety Products #41 Maxim. When Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman finished up their work, Carson climbed into his office and buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts before pushing off into the staging lane. He sat quietly contemplating his speed strategy as he watch the other competitors turn their laps on DIRTVision using his iPhone. When it was his time to show off his speed he hopped on the gas and took off. Carson raced the Albaugh – Your Alternative entry off turn four with a full head of steam as he took the green flag. With his elbows up and his right K1 Race Gear boot planted on the speed button, Carson was making tracks and not looking back. He circled the track the first time in 13.556 seconds vaulting him to the top of the speed charts. Still hammer down the Lemoore, California native was digging to collect every little bit he may have left out on the track the first time around. When he triggered the timing light for the last time, the numbers on the stopwatch were slightly higher as they read 13.768 seconds. The quicker of Carson’s two timed laps positioned him at the top of the speed charts for the series leading 12th time this season earning him and the JJR team the Simpson Quick Time Award. It was Carson’s 45th career quick time. As an added treat, the quickest driver of the night also went home with ten pounds of choice New York steaks.

With the single car portion of the show in the rearview mirror, it was now time for the four 8-lap heat races where the top five finishers lock themselves into the big show at the end of the evening. The winners, in addition to advancing onto the Toyota Dash, would also each receive a cooler filled with twenty pounds of Tri-Tip. When perusing through each of the lineups it was clear they were filled with some incredible sprint car talent. Carson would get the Border International/Winters Performance Products/KSE Racing Products #41 started from the pole position. He would share the front row with another California star, Giovanni Scelzi, in the Logan Contractor Supply/Aspen Aire #18 as both drivers were looking to capitalize on their solid time trial results. Tow two was occupied by D.J. Netto #88N and Austin McCarl #88 with Caeden Steele #121 and Justin Sanders #2x in row three. Tanner Holmes #18Tand Brock Zearfoss #3z were rolling in row four with Dominic Gorden #10 alone in row five awaiting the start.

The field was set. Each driver was ready to execute their race strategy. The fans in the stands were ready to watch all of the action unfold. When the polesitter saw the green flag unfurled when he exited turn four he pressed the accelerator and took off. Carson did not waste a second jumping into the lead as he raced off the bottom and moved up in front of Scelzi down the front straightaway to enter the first set of turns. In the early going it was close racing amongst the top five – Macedo, Scelzi, McCarl, Netto, and Sanders – before Carson started to use his Kistler Engines speed to distance himself from the pack.

D.J. Netto was fast and hounding Austin McCarl for the third position and made his way by the red eight-eight. Sixth starting Justin Sanders was on the move and before too long he also entered the mix racing with McCarl for the fourth position.

Carson was fast out front in the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Engler Machine & Tool/Factory Kahne (FK Shocks) #41 Maxim as he led from start to finish to take the win by 1.911 seconds over Giovanni Scelzi who powered his way to a runner-up finish. D.J. Netto came home third with Justin Sanders and Austin McCarl completing the top five.

With his win in the heat race, Carson headed to the frontstretch to draw for his starting position in the 6-lap Toyota Dash. It would be his 40th appearance in the Dash this season and he was hoping for a little luck when he drew his number. When he flipped over his numbered pill it had a ‘2’ on it, which position him on the outside of row one beside Shane Golobic #17W. Behind the front row starters were Giovanni Scelzi #18 and Logan Schuchart #1s. Row three was made up of two more California racers, Landon Brooks and Buddy Kofoid, who were ready to roll. The final row, row four, featured Kaleb Montgomery #3 and David Gravel #2.

The winner of tonight’s Dash would not only earn the pole position for the feature, but also gets a cooler full of ten pounds of New York steaks. Carson had already secured thirty pounds of meat so far, but was looking to add some more to his freezer.

When the green flag came out, Carson stepped on the gas and used the outside lane to drive into the lead after almost tapping the outside wall coming down the frontstretch. He led the first lap aboard the Scott Boyd Family/Team Jack Foundation/Pro Powder Coating (PPC) #41 with Golobic and Scelzi right behind looking to track him down.

The cushion had built up and was a bit tricky, so these driver’s talent and courage was on full display. Carson grew up on these types of tracks, so he felt right at home. He stayed out front and dominated the Dash as he crossed the finish line 2.294 seconds ahead of Shane Golobic with Kofoid, Scelzi, and Schuchart rounding out the top five. David Gravel picked up two spots to finish sixth with Kaleb Montgomery and Landon Brooks wrapping up the finishing order.

It was now time to see which driver and team would end up celebrating in victory lane with a big payday with a lot at stake. The lineup for the 35-lap finale at the Inaugural Dennis Roth Classic feature was locked and loaded as the crew members were busy finishing up their end of the daily work commitment. The drivers were now ready to take over with Carson Macedo in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 and Shane Golobic in the Matt Wood Racing/NOS Energy Drink #17W set to pace the field and bring them to the green flag.

With none other than Danny “The Dude” Lasoski pacing the field in the 1998 Roth Motorsports Knoxville Nationals winning car to honor a legend, it was a special moment as the World of Outlaws past and present recognized and honored a true sprint car legend – Dennis Roth. Danny Lasoski was one of Dennis Roth’s former iconic drivers in the Beef Packers #83. They won a lot of races together while traveling up and down the road across the country chasing winner’s purses and trophies and they made tracks and never looked back.

It was now time for this stellar field of stars to shine and entertain these incredible fans at Thunderbowl Raceway! The yellow lights dimmed as the green lights turned on when the front row reached turn four. Carson jumped out to the early lead ahead of Shane Golobic, Buddy Kofoid, and David Gravel. He was wheeling the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Walker Performance Filtration/Motor State Distributing #41 out front at the end of the first lap.

With one lap in the books, the high speed action was halted when Jock Goodyer #57W got upside down entering turn one ending up sitting on the inside berm. Carson was your race leader and would choose the inside lane for the restart with 34 laps to go when the engines re-fired. Shane Golobic pulled up beside him on the front row hoping to get an advantage on the restart.

The green flag was waving again with Macedo driving the forty-one back in the front of the pack enjoying clean air flowing over the Vortex Racing Products front and top wings. He was setting a fast pace out in the lead with Golobic and Kofoid trying their best to stay close.

The yellow lights came on around the track on lap 8 for Justin Sanders #2x who was stopped on the inside berm of the track after an on track incident. Carson again selected the inside lane with Golobic to his outside with 27 laps now to go.

Macedo mashed the accelerator and powered back into the lead. Behind him though there was a lot happening as Buddy Kofoid took over second place with David Gravel moving into third and Sheldon Haudenschild racing into fourth. Shane Golobic was shuffled all the back to fifth. The race was on again with a lot of speed stars hustling at the front of the pack.

They were setting a torrid pace up front during their battles for position. Meanwhile, Carson was on the move making speed in his Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 as high speed challenges were occurring behind him. By lap 15, the leader was closing in on the slower traffic. A new challenges as the track was top dominant. Carson meticulous weaved his way forward making calculated and bold moves when needed to get by.

He had built an almost two second lead over Buddy Kofoid, but the process to make his way through the slower lap cars gave the driver of the Mobil 1/Toyota TRD/Roth Enterprises #83 the opportunity to close the gap a bit. Carson stayed aggressive and focused as he completed each lap. He was digging and having a blast as Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman gave him a fast hotrod.

With 10 laps to go the track started to take on rubber. Carson maintained his line and continued to drive the JJR #41 hard. He led the remaining distance to put an exclamation on a perfect night as he set quick time, won his heat race, capitalized in the Dash, and now was your race winner in the Inaugural Dennis Roth Classic that paid $83,000 to win, plus added thirty more pounds of ribeye steaks for the race victor. Buddy Kofoid came home second followed by Sheldon Haudenschild. David Gravel and Shane Golobic completed the top five.

Of Carson and the team’s none series victories this season, it was their third perfect night with the first one coming at Kennedale Speedway Park back on March 23rd and the second one locked down on August 24th at Red River Valley Speedway. Winning at this level is hard enough. But, having a perfect night is exceptional.

After crossing the scales, Carson was escorted to victory lane on the front stretch where he climbed out and shared celebratory fist bumps and hugs with his team, family, and friends before climbing all the way to the top of his wing to celebrate amongst the falling confetti.

After climbing down, Carson was smiling from ear-to-ear as he spoke with Conner Wade. He started exclaiming. “What a night to have a perfect night. Philip Dietz just delivered tonight. It was, from start to finish, an absolutely excellent performance by this JJR #41 team.” He continued, Adam Zimmerman and Robby McQuinn, they work their tails off. They did a great job. They just made phenomenal adjustments. I wasn’t that comfortable in Hot Laps. Phil just knocked it out of the park for Qualifying really. We just never faded from that point on. It was just an unbelievable to drive from start to finish.”

An impressive night, which was even more meaningful because it was headlined honoring a true racing legend. Carson reflected and exhaled as he explained, “Man, what a night!” He continued, “Obviously, we were racing for the Dennis Roth Classic. Dennis and Teresa Roth, they’ve given a lot to the sport of sprint car racing. It feels special to win this race. I’ve been competing against the Roth #83 for a while. Obviously, out here in California driving the Tarlton Motorsports #21 and through the transition of my career.”

Another great run for Carson Macedo and the forty-one! They will now close the books on the West Coast swing and head back to the other coast with two stops in Ohio next weekend – Friday night at Wayne County Speedway and Saturday night at Sharon Speedway – before continuing on to Pennsylvania the following weekend. Be sure to stay tuned in each and every night they race on DIRTVision.

The Competition Heats Up at Thunderbowl Raceway in an Exciting Show at the Inaugural Dennis Roth Classic Finale with Carson Macedo Securing the Victory! Photo Credit: Trent Gower Photography

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.

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