CHASING THE BIG MONEY: WITH $100,000 UP FOR GRABS TO THE WINNER, CARSON MACEDO AND THE JJR #41 TEAM HAD THEIR GAME FACES ON AT THE HUSET’S HUSTLE FINALE BEFORE RACING TO A 12TH PLACE FINISH

BRANDON, SOUTH DAKOTA (June 19, 2025) – On Wednesday night during the Huset’s Hustle preliminary night of action, Carson Macedo toughed it out and drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to a 16th place finish in the feature accumulating 376 total event points for the night. That point total positioned him 19th overall in points at the end of the night, all of which carried over to Thursday’s $100,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle as the lead in event leading up to the BillionAuto.com Huset’s High Bank Nationals presented by MENARDS. There were 60 teams back at Huset’s Speedway as the crew members prepared for night two on just a pictured perfect day in South Dakota.

There would be no time trials slated for the night. The evening of action would begin with six qualifying races. In each of the qualifying races, the drivers lined straight up based in their combined points earned during the preliminary night. The winners of each of those six races would lock into the King of the Hill which features two cars on the track for time timed laps with the fastest driver moving on. The second and third place finishers in each heat race will also lock into the A-Main with drivers finishing fourth through sixth moving into the Last Chance Showdown (LCS).

When the starting lineups for each of the Heat races posted, Carson would be qualifying in the NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1 as he would start from the outside of row two in the fourth starting position. He would pace side-by-side with Ashton Torgerson in the Shark Racing #1a entry. Spencer Bayston #14 and Bill Balog #17B led the field from the front row with Aaron Reutzel #87 and Carson’s younger brother Cole Macedo #2C situated in row three. Sam Henderson #83 and Chris Windom #7s were together in row four ready to rock-n-roll with Tyler Drueke #95 and Dominic Dobesh #9D in row five.

The math was simple – finish in the top three and lock into the feature. Finish fourth or higher and the hill to climb just got steeper. It was time to go racing as the drivers slowly worked their way around Huset’s Speedway towards turn four. I am sure there was nervous excitement from each of the drivers as they headed towards the waving green flag. When Bayston and Balog arrived at the chalk stripe they pounded the loud pedal and took off down the front straightaway. The skilled racers were letting it all hang out in this high-speed chase through the first set of turns. Bill Balog was out in front of Bayston with Carson driving off the high side into the show position ahead of Torgerson. Balog was coordinated and hitting his marks leaving no room for Bayston to slide by. Carson was doing the same as he was smooth and consistent running in third. Bill Balog won the race and was one of six Heat race winners to get an opportunity to race in the King of the Hill to determine where they would start for the feature. Spencer Bayston, the high point driver coming into the night, raced home second with Carson Macedo trucking across the finish line third in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Border International/Sam I Am #41 Maxim. Ashton Torgerson and Aaron Reutzel rounded out the top five.

The horns sounded and the gates opened on the backstretch for the cars to roll out and stage on the track for the 40-lap, $100,000-to-win Huset’s Hustle feature finale. This is the first six figure race of the year, so you could bet your bottom dollar these drivers were going to put on a show in South Dakota worthy of the admission price.

The engines began to fire which just fueled the already existing fire that was burning throughout the grandstands and pit area in anticipation of the high stakes Huset’s Hustle finale. After competing in the King of the Hill portion of the show the first three rows of the hundred grand spectacle were set. Bill Balog #17B would start on the pole with Kyle Larson #57 to his right. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid #83 and David Gravel #2 paced side-by-side in row two with Anthony Macri #39M and Brad Sweet #49 rolling in row three.

Carson buckled into the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Sander Engineering/Durst Inc. #41 Maxim that he would get the big money chase started from the outside of row seven from the 14th starting spot after the redraw for the third-place finishers in the Heat races. He would share the row with Brian Brown in the Casey’s/FVP #21.

The lights turned off and it was ‘go time’ at Huset’s Speedway in the Huset’s Hustle! Polesitter Bill Balog pounded the gas pedal off turn four and set off for the first set of turns in the Anderson’s Maple Syrup #17B with Kyle Larson and Buddy Kofoid keeping him company early. The North Pole Nightmare was fast leading the opening lap with everyone giving chase behind him.

Carson was scored in the 13th position after the initial lap and was racing with Brian Brown, Spencer Bayston, and Tim Kaeding for the better spot on the scoreboard. He was battling and showing his grit. The top side was working for a while before the bottom lane became the preferred line for racing. That multi-car tussle continued throughout the first 23 laps before Carson moved ahead into the twelfth spot.

Up front Bill Balog was putting on a show and the fans were loving. He was fending off the “Big Dogs” as he had more bite. He led the first 27 laps before Kofoid drove the Roth Enterprises/Mobil 1/Toyota #83 underneath him entering turn three to take over the lead.

Balog was not about to surrender that easily as the two talented drivers put on one heck of a show over the next few laps for the top spot. Michael “Buddy” Kofoid would not be denied as he collected the win and the hundred thousand dollars crossing the finish line ahead of Bill Balog and Kyle Larson who stole third with a last lap pass on David Gravel.

Carson came home with a 12th place run in the Albaugh #41. The team will keep digging trying to find speed and hope for a little luck along the way as the page turns to the BillionAuto.com High Bank Nationals on Friday night at Huset’s Speedway. Catch all the action live on DIRTVision.

Money and Dirt Flew in The Mount Rushmore State at the Huset’s Hustle $100k Finale! Photo Credit: Trent Gower Photography

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