TIMING AND PACE: CARSON PUTS ON AN ENTERTAINING RUN FORWARD DRIVING THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN ELEVENTH PLACE TO WRAP UP THE PREMIER CHEVY DEALERS CLASH AT KNOXVILLE RACEWAY

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (June 14, 2025) – On Friday night at Knoxville Raceway Carson raced across the finish line in fourth place to open the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash at the “The Sprint Car Capital of the World.” Using some of the intel they learned on the opening night of racing action, Philip Dietz and the JJR #41 crew went to work to make small adjustments in preparation for the final night of racing here in central Iowa. It would be the team’s last opportunity before retuning in August for the 64th running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals, so they were looking to perform and take notes so when they return later this summer they were prepared for success. To no one’s surprise, the infield pit area was again brimming with and incredible field of 64 race teams lined up neatly in rows throughout the infield ready to put on another entertaining show in the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash finale. After signing autographs in the afternoon in merchandise alley, it was time to trade in the Sharpie Marker for his driver’s suit and gloves to go racing again at the legendary Knoxville Raceway!

With enough race teams entered to compete again on Saturday to split the competitive field of cars into two separate qualifying groups for time trials. Which qualifying group each driver would be assigned to as well as where they would go out for two-car qualifying was determined solely by the pill draw when each time entered the pit area. For Carson and the forty-one team, that meant the Lemoore, California native would be the twelfth driver out in Flight 2 for his two trips around the black gumbo clay surface that uniquely defines Knoxville. The Dunkin family does such a tremendous job tending to the race surface, even under the varying conditions, which enables the teams to prepare and refine their setups accordingly. Carson headed over to the staging area where he would wait for the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Durst Inc./AutoMeter #41 Maxim to push off along with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid in the Mobil 1/Toyota Roth Motorsports #83 for their two laps at speed under the watchful eye of the clock. He used the warmup lap to get the horses running in his Kistler Engines powerplant as he headed over to the frontstretch to take the green flag. He was on the clock and making quick progress as he circled the famous half-mile oval. He completed his first lap in 16.209 seconds and stayed the course as he had one more lap remaining. Carson maneuvered through the first set of turns and raced by the Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower in turn two before making his way down the backstretch. He exited turn four and made his way through the timing light stopping the clock in 16.553 seconds on lap two. The faster of his two qualifying laps was 11th quick overall in Flight 2. Earning the Simpson Quick Time Award out of Flight 1 with a lap of 15.508 seconds was Austin McCarl in the Country Home Builders #17. Brad Sweet in the NAPA Auto Parts #49 was the fastest driver out of the second Flight with a lap of 15.857 seconds.

The lineups for the four 8-lap scheduled Heat races were posted putting the fastest cars in time trials out front with eleven cars in each Heat. The drivers had to be on their game from the drop of the green because there were only five transfer positions available in each qualifying race. Carson was set to start from the sixth starting position driving the Tarlton and Son/Motor State Distributing/Team Jack Foundation #41 lining up beside Hunter Schuerenberg in the TK Concrete #55 in row three of the WIX Filter Heat Race #3. Two Californians were on the front row, Brad Sweet #49 and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid #83 followed by Emerson Axsom #27 and Aaron Reutzel #87 in row two. Row four found Sye Lynch #42 and Tyler Courtney #7BC with Rico Abreu #24A and Brandon Wimmer #6B in row five. Skylar Gee joined the starting lineup at the tail of the field after winning the second non-qualifiers race.

The field was perfectly aligned side-by-side entering turn three before spreading out when the front row starters arrived at the chalk stripe laid down across turn four with the green flag waving. Brad Sweet was the first driver through turns one and two with Kofoid and Axsom racing in second and third. Carson was running sixth behind Hunter Schuerenberg after lap one searching for speed. The next time around he would move by the fifty-five to take over the last transfer spot but Rico Abreu was on the move and would soon be pressuring Macedo for the spot. On lap 6, Abreu moved by Macedo and continued his trek forward.

Brad Sweet took the win over Aaron Reutzel and Buddy Kofoid. Rico Abreu raced home fourth with Emerson Axsom rounding out the top five. Carson finished in the sixth position.

Since he did not transfer out of his Heat race, Carson would have to compete in the 12-lap Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown where he would get rolling from the outside of row two with Kevin Thomas Jr #19 to his inside. Cole Macedo #2c and Hunter Schuerenberg #55 would lead the field to the green flag with only four transfer spots up for grabs. Cole took the early race lead as Carson drove right through the middle of Thomas Jr. and Schuerenberg down the front straightaway into the runner-up spot.

On lap 2, the red flag came out for Chase Randall who flipped in turn one. I would be the Macedo brothers getting everyone back up to speed with Cole taking the lead over brother Carson as Brian Brown made a bold move to go four wide before diving down to the bottom in turn one to take over third.

Cole was on a mission out front and race to the win with Carson coming home second, Tyler Courtney third with Brian Brown locking down the fourth transfer spot out of the Last Chance Showdown.

Only twenty-four drivers made their way into the 25-lap Premier Chevy Dealers Clash finale at Knoxville on Saturday night, but they were joined by one additional provisional starter joining the fun, Chris Windom. They were set to battle each other around the famed oval for the right to pull into victory lane to celebrate. Brad Sweet #49 and Bill Balog #17B staged on the front row after finishing first and second in the Dash. They were followed in row two by Ryan Timms #10 and Corey Day #14BC.

Carson was prepared to get his long road adventure in Iowa started aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative/High Performance Lubricants/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim from the 22nd starting position. He would roll to the outside of row eleven pacing alongside Cole Macedo #2c.

The fans came out to see this loaded field entertain them and the drivers were ready to go after saluting the fans with the World of outlaws traditional four-wide salute. When the green flag dropped, Brad Sweet took the early race lead with Corey Day quickly taking over the second spot with Ryan Timms in the mix. A little further back Carson was on the gas being scored 16th after the first lap.

The duel at the front was captivating, but watching the forty-one wheelman caught others attention. By the second lap he was into the top 15 and the next time by he gained another position. With eight laps in the books, Carson was already up to 13th place on the scoreboard.

Corey Day passed Brad Sweet for the lead on lap 9 as Carson continued to dig for more from his running position. He was putting in a workmanlike show and continued to make progress as he passed Sheldon Haudenschild.

Corey Day would fend off the late race charge of David Gravel who finished second with Buddy Kofoid coming home third. Carson’s run forward would end with an 11th place finish to salvage a night that looked like it was going to be a tough one. For their efforts Carson and the team received the KSE Hard Charger Award for the night. A good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

An Entertaining Show Caps Off the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash During June Visit to Knoxville Raceway! Photo Credit: Trent Gower Photography

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.

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

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