BOOT SCOOTIN’ IN PAIGE: CARSON MACEDO MOVES AROUND AT COTTON BOWL ON THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE TEXAS TWO-STEP AS HE CROSSES THE FINISH LINE WITH ANOTHER PODIUM FINISH ABOARD THE ALBAUGH #41

PAIGE, TEXAS (March 21, 2025) – Philip Dietz, along with Carson Macedo and his Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team, stayed in the Lone Star State of Texas to prepare to race in the multi-day Federated Auto Parts Texas Two-Step event at Cotton Bowl Speedway. This racy and well-maintained 3/8-mile, high-banked racetrack historically has produced some competitive wheel-to-wheel action at speed when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series comes to town. The track crew finished the pre-race surface preparation for the teams. The fans milled around buying merchandise of the favorite driver before heading in to find their seats for the night. There were 26 teams registered to race and entertain the fans at Cotton Bowl Speedway and Carson was ready to get to work.

The native of Lemoore, California was the 13th driver to test his skills and speed out on the track aboard his Durst Inc./KSE Racing Products/Factory Kahne Shocks #41 Maxim in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. He likes to go fast and when he pushed off, he was ready to show case his Kistler Racing Engines power around Cotton Bowl Speedway. He charged off turn four with a head of steam and took the green as the numbers started rolling on the stopwatch. Carson made quick work of the first set of turns and powered down the backstretch. The Californian stopped the clock after his first lap in 14.098 seconds. This fierce competitor stayed focus inside the cockpit. He was hard at work looking to create more speed. When Carson raced off the final corner, he saw the waving black and white cloth to end his session. His second lap was slightly better at 13.927 seconds. When time trials concluded, Carson’s fastest lap was second quick overall. Earning the Simpson Quick Time Award for the quickest time of the night was David Gravel after turning a lap in 13.906 seconds.

Based upon his time trials result, Carson would get the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Walker Performance Filtration/Xtreme Body & Paint #41 started from the pole position in the second of three 8-lap Heat races. Carson was joined on the front row by Texas native Sam Hafertepe Jr. #15 with Hunter Schuerenberg #55 and Logan Schuchart #1s right behind. Rookie of the Year contender, Cole Macedo #2c, was on the inside of row three with Garet Williamson #23 to his outside. Logan Julien #73, John Carney II, and Skylar Gee #99 pulled into their positions behind the first three rows.

The field was set. The flagman showed the drivers the white flag to indicate the next time by out of turn four they would go green flag racing. The polesitter dropped his right foot and everyone else did the same thing. Carson Macedo led the field with Hafertepe and Williamson coming after him like hungry dogs chasing down their dinner. Williamson was high with Hafertepe working the bottom as Hunter Schuerenberg stalking close behind.

Carson was out front in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 and was moving and digging dirt. He led flag-to-flag to collect his seventh WoO Heat race win of the young season so far. He crossed the finish line 1.181 seconds ahead of Garet Williamson as both of those drovers would move onto the Dash. Hunter Schuerenberg raced home third ahead of Logan Schuchart and Cole Macedo with Sam Hafertepe Jr. holding on to finish in the sixth and final transfer position.

The six drivers that were eligible for the 6-lap Toyota Dash pulled numbers to determine their starting positions. Sheldon Haudenschild #17 would start on the pole with Buddy Kofoid #83 to his outside. Giovanni Scelzi #18 and Garet Williamson #23 were together in row two with David Gravel #2 and Carson Macedo #41 in row three.

They were racing for their starting spot in the feature when the green flag came out with the driver of the NOS Energy Drink #17 leading the chauffeur of the Roth Motorsports #83. Sheldon would not be contested and led wire-to-wire to earn the pole position in the feature. Buddy Kofoid came home second followed by Scelzi and Gravel. Garet Williamson finished fifth with Carson Macedo driving the forty-one home sixth.

Carson locked the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the opening night 30-lap Federated Auto Parts Texas Two-Step feature. He would start from the outside of row three after running sixth in the Dash. Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid would be on the front row leading the field with Giovanni Scelzi and point leader David Gravel in row two.

The grandstands were packed. These eager fans were ready to see the drivers with The Greatest Show on Dirt do what they do best – high speed entertainment – at Cotton Bowl Speedway. The front row of Haudenschild and Kofoid slowly paced down the backstretch into turn three. When they arrived at the chalk stripe, the dust flew and the engines roared. Buddy Kofoid jumped into the early lead in the Roth Enterprises #83 ahead of Haudenschild and Gravel when the first lap was completed.

Carson dropped one position on the scoreboard after the first lap, but moved into the top five the next time around. He found speed on the low side at both ends of the track and took over the fourth position with seven laps in the books. He was battling with Sheldon Haudenschild and moved into third on lap 8, but the driver of the Marshall/Stenhouse Racing #17 moved back by him the next lap.

On lap 9, the caution flag flew for Hunter Schuerenberg who spun. Kofoid was leading Gravel, Haudenschild, Macedo, and Bill Balog when they got back up to speed. David Gravel drove his Big Game Motorsports #2 by Kofoid for the top spot. Behind them Haudenschild and Macedo were racing each other cleanly sparring for the show position.

Donny Schatz found some rubber through the middle of the track and started trucking. He moved by Carson for position before the Californian ripped it back away the next time around. Carson stayed focused on finding a way by the driver of the NOS Energy Drink #17.

On lap 13, the yellow lights around the track illuminated. This time the race interruption was for Garet Williamson who had a flat right rear tire. David Gravel was out front followed by Kofoid, Haudenschild, Macedo and Schatz. When they got back up to speed, Carson moved by Haudenschild into third.

In addition to the middle of the track, the racing surface was now taking on rubber in the low lane. Carson was trying to carry his speed to close in on the runner-up position, but Haudenschild found the rubber, was closing in, and wanted the show position back. Behind the two talented racers was Bill Balog who was flying and closing in. Haudenschild caught Carson and passed him but the yellow flag was back out.

The final caution of the night flew on lap 29 for Bill Balog who also had a flat right rear tire. It would be a green-white-checkered finish with David Gravel bringing the field back up to speed. He led the remaining distance to take the win with Buddy Kofoid and Carson Macedo finishing right behind him.

In his post-race interview, Carson explained, “It was a bit of a marathon race. There was a lot of moving parts. I felt like throughout the race there was a lot of comers and goers.” He continued, “You kind of had to chase the track a little bit. I feel like early it started out the bottom was really good at both ends, and then down in turns one and two I found the top and was actually kind of creeping back a little bit.” Carson concluded, “I found the top and drove back by a few guys and got to third.” Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Digging in the Dirt at Cotton Bowl Speedway on the Opening Night at the Texas Two-Step! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners for 2025: 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; 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; ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K1 Race Gear; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy; Motor State Distributing; Mr. Jim’s Racing; Prime Composite Innovations; Saldana Racing Products; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; Smiley’s Racing Products; 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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