ROLLING AROUND AT THE RIVER: ADDING A LITTLE CALIFORNIA FLAIR AND EXCITEMENT RACING IN THE DON MACK CLASSIC, CARSON MACEDO FINISHES IN SIXTH PLACE AT RIVER CITIES SPEEDWAY IN NORTH DAKOTA

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA (May 30, 2025) – When the rumble from the engines quieted back in Ohio after the Memorial Day weekend, where Carson Macedo wheeled the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to his third win of the season at Atomic Speedway, the drivers and teams made the long, 17-hour asphalt trek up to River Cities Speedway in North Dakota for some Friday night sprint car action under the lights. This quarter mile oval historically has produced incredible bullring action throughout the years every time the touring stars with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Series stars come to town. The racing surface is unique and demanding, which brings out the best in the drivers behind the wheel. Bur at this facility to generate superior results the drivers must balance extreme courage with their refined skills to produced optimized performance and results. A walk throughout the pit area revealed there were 33 competitors ready to put on an exciting show in the SLS Promotions Don Mack Classic presented by Gerdau Metals Recycling at the high-banked bullring. It was race day to kick off the First Leg of the Northern Tour for the series at River Cities Speedway – North Dakota style!

Every registered team pulled a numbered pill when they arrived at Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw to determine where their car and driver would go out for two timed laps in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. The completed lineup for the solo speed portion of the show posted. Carson would be the twelfth driver to hit the track aboard his finely tuned Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Greber Racing Components (GRC)/Motor State Distributing #41 Maxim. The number the JJR team pulled positioned Carson early in the time trial order. He secured the belts tight in his Fibreworks Composites carbon fiber seat with a Sharp Advantage custom molded seat insert. When it was Carson’s turn to hustle around River Cities, he was pumped and ready to go. The Californian stomped on the loud pedal and used the flowing air above to put pressure on his Vortex Racing Products wings to provide some needed traction and stability. He raced around the track the first time in 10.221 seconds but was looking for some more speed the next lap. The numbers were rolling by on the stopwatch as Carson displayed his driving abilities from his high-speed office. He exited turn four and saw the white and black checkered cloth waving to end his session with a very consistent, but better, lap time of 10.220 seconds. The better of his two attempts finished third quick overall on the night. Turning the quickest lap of the night to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award at River Cities Speedway was Zach Hampton #6 chauffeuring the Bill Rose #6 entry showing off his speed with a lap of 10.172 seconds.

Using each driver’s best time in time trial qualifying positioned them in one of the starting lineups of the four 10-lap Heat race event. There was certainly no “easy” race when perusing the lineups with a pit area full of talented sprint car racers and team. Carson would get the Durst Inc./High Performance Lubricants/BR Motorsports #41 Maxim started from the inside of the front row from the pole position with fellow Godlen State star Michael Kofoid in the Dennis and Teresa Roth owned #83 pacing with him at the front of WIX Filters Heat #3. Behind them in row two was Cole Macedo in the TwoC Racing #2c and hometown favorite Donny Schatz #15 in row two. A guy who has had quite a bit of success here, Mark Dobmeier #13 shared row three with Jack Dover #53 with Weston Olsen #27 and Adam Sobolik #52 in the final row.

The eight cars in the WIX Filters Heat Race #3 were wheel-to-wheel slowly making their way to the chalk stripe in turn four. When Carson Macedo arrived to turn four in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 he mashed the gas and got the action started. The Lemoore, California born racer led at the end of the opening circuit as he raced across the line ahead of Kofoid and his younger brother Cole. Cole was valiantly fending off the ten-time World of Outlaws champion and doing an exceptional job.

Carson would not look back as he was on point and closing in on the back of the pack as the laps dwindled. He raced across the finish line to collect the win over Michael Kofoid and Cole Macedo with Donny Schatz and Jack Dover rounding out the top five in the finishing order.

After drawing a pill for his starting position in the 8-lap Toyota Dash, Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adama Zimmerman buttoned up their work for the race where the finishing order determines where you start in the feature for the top wight drivers. Current point leaders David Gravel #2 would start on the pole with Tim Kaeding #3 to his right on row one. Michael Kofoid #83 would start third with Carson Macedo #41 lining up fourth, Chris Windom #7s and Giovanni Scelzi #18 were together in row three with Hunter Schuerenberg #55 and Logan Schuchart #1s paired up in row four. The initial green flag waved but was quickly replaced by the yellow flag when the caution flew for Tim Kaeding who clipped the cushion in turn four and gets his wheels up before coming to a stop. The restart order shuffled Carson to the inside of row two with his new dancing partner being Chris Windom as Kofoid joined Gravel on the front row. They were back on the gas with Gravel taking the lead. Kofoid tucked in behind in the second spot with Carson holding down third place. The eight drivers were on the hammer with very little passing occurring from start to finish with David Gravel taking the win. Michael Kofoid cam home second with Carson locking down the third position. Coming home fourth was Giovanni Scelzi with Hunter Schuerenberg, Logan Schuchart, Chris Windom, and Tim Kaeding coming home behind in positions five through eight.

The horns sounded to indicate there was eight minutes remaining for teams to roll out onto the track for the upcoming 40-lap Don Mack Classic presented by Gerdau Metals Recycling feature. These competitors like to win. If that was not enough incentive there was also a $12,000 paycheck awaiting the winner of the race in victory lane.

David Gravel and Michael Kofoid would lead the field to the green flag from the front row. The racer behind the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Border International/Schoenfeld Headers #41 would start from the third starting spot in row two. The driver of the KCP Racing #18, Giovanni Scelzi, pulled up beside him eager to go racing in North Dakota.

It was the calm before the storm and things were about to heat up in Grand Forks. The green flag flew high overhead with David Gravel hopping into the early race lead ahead of Kofoid. Carson was hustling in the third spot with Scelzi and Schuerenberg close behind with one lap in the books.

The field was fast on this technical and tricky track with Gravel showing the way early. But Kofoid and Macedo were not too far behind as they kept the driver of the Big Game Motorsports #2 in the crosshairs. Carson was smooth and fast pacing from the third position. He was in a heated battle for position with fellow Californian Giovanni Scelzi for the show position.

On lap 4, the red flag was thrown when Felton, Minnesota’s Andy Pake #64 was sitting over the banking on the backstretch ending his night. David Gravel would lead the field as they came back up to speed with Kofoid breathing down his neck aboard his Roth Enterprises #83. Gravel held the to spot at the end of lap five but that would change the next time around as Kofoid entered high and drove around the outside of turn one to take the top spot.

Carson was watching the race for the lead from his third running position, but Scelzi was lurking looking to knock Macedo down one position in the running order. On lap 13, Scelzi drove his sharp looking orange and blue Logan Constructors Supplies #18 by to take control of the show position. Carson now running fourth with Logan Schuchart chomping at the bit to get by him too. Schuchart moved the Shark Racing #1s into fourth on the next lap but a few laps later Carson reclaimed the position.

Michael Kofoid was still in control out front with Gravel running second and Scelzi holding down the third position. At the halfway point of the race the action was slowed when Jack Croaker #8 came to a stop outside turn four after getting up and over the edge of the backing.

The respite in the action gave the drivers time to regroup and focus on the second half of the race. They would attempt to restart but before a lap was recorded at speed the yellow flag was back out for a multi-car incident in turn one involving Zach Hampton #6, Cole Macedo #2c, Conner Morrell #28M, and Jy Corbett #25.

Michael Kofoid would bring them back to the green flag with Gravel and Scelzi right in his tracks. Carson was holding down the fourth position with Schuchart battling with Sheldon Haudenschild for fifth. The action again was slowed though on lap 22 for Bill Balog #17B who got up over the banking in turn two. He was able to rejoin the field.

The green lights were back on with the driver of the Roth Motorsports #83 out front. When they got up to speed, Carson was immediately under pressure for the fourth position with Logan Schuchart up high and Donny Schatz charging underneath him entering turn three. Schuchart and Schatz both relegated Carson back to sixth place but the racer was not done. He would work back by Schuchart to move into fifth place with Schatz showing his speed as he was closing in on Scelzi.

With nine laps to go, the red flag was back out for Grand Fork’s own Jade Hastings #8H who flipped off turn after getting over the banking. He was ok but his night of racing was done. Race officials used this as an opportunity to make this stoppage an Open Red allowing teams to refuel and make minor mechanical adjustments for the last 2.25 miles of racing.

Coming out of the Open Red the engines refired, and these entertaining drivers were ready to get down to business again. Michael Kofoid raced back into the lead ahead of Gravel and Scelzi. Carson got a good restart and dove underneath Schatz to reclaim the fourth position, at least momentarily. Before the lap was completed, the yellow flag flew as there was an issue with the safety lights which negated the pass for position.

On the next restart Kofoid was still in control out in front of Gravel as Schatz raced by Scelzi into the third spot. Carson was nestled into the fifth spot, but not comfortably, with five laps to go. The last caution of the night flew for Zach Hampton who spun in turns three and four.

When racing resumed, Kofoid maintained the top spot with Gravel and Schatz hoping for some magic. Giovanni Scelzi was running fourth with Macedo in fifth. Carson was looking to get by Scelzi on the bottom opening the top lane for the hard charging sixth place driver Logan Schuchart. Schuchart used the opening to drive into fifth with three laps to go.

Michael Kofoid collected his fourth win of the season with David Gravel and Sonny Schatz earning the final two steps on the podium. Giovanni Scelzi came home fourth with Logan Schuchart completing the top five. Carson secured the sixth position with Chris Windom, Sheldon Haudenschild, Hunter Schuerenberg, and Bill Balog completing the top ten. Another good run for the forty-one.

Carson and the team will be at Red River Valley Speedway on Saturday night for the Rumble on the Red presented by Ellingston. Catch all the action on DIRTVision if you cannot be at the track to watch these stars live and in person.

Rooting Around River Cities Speedway Nets a Sixth Place Finish in the Don Mack Classic! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

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; 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.

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