REVVING UP AT “THE CAPPY”: GETTING ANOTHER INTENSE WEEK OF COMPETITION STARTED AT KNOXVILLE ON SUNDAY NIGHT RACING IN THE 13TH ANNUAL AVANTI WINDOWS & DOORS CAPITANI CLASSIC ENDED WITH A TOP FIVE RUN

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 3, 2025) – After leading the opening 39 laps at the Ironman 55 before getting a flat right rear tire, Carson recovered and salvaged a 12th place finish at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park in World of Outlaws (WoO) competition. Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team were disappointed but loaded up their Albaugh – Your Alternative racing equipment and made the long, overnight haul up to Knoxville, Iowa to start the busy week in The Sprint Car Capital of the World – Knoxville Raceway.

On Sunday night, the pit area at the famous half mile oval was brimming with 75 incredible race teams looking to add a special trophy that honors a sprint car racing legend to their collection at the 13th Annual Avanti Windows & Doors Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank. Ralph Capitani was the former, long-time promoter of Knoxville Raceway who had a vision in 1978 when he arrived and built this place into a national icon. It was time to go racing in the non-sanctioned Capitani Classic at Knoxville Raceway. Before racing started, the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team used this event as an opportunity to unveil their new Knoxville special paint scheme that looked terrific.

After each driver got a chance to see the track in Hot Laps to evaluate their setup and get comfortable quick, cars began to line up in the staging area for time trails in the first of two qualifying groups. Drivers were assigned to their group and ordered based on a random pill draw when they checked into the pit area outside of turn four. Three cars would be out on the track racing against the clock trying to record the lowest numbers possible.

Carson would be the 12th driver to push off onto the track to create speed in Qualifying Group One chauffeuring the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim. He would make his speedy laps around the half mile with Clovis, California’s own Corey Day #14BC and Riley Goodno #22 from right here in Knoxville, Iowa. All three drivers would be out there trying to do the same – go as fast as possible. As they inched closer to the front of the line, Carson gave one last pull to tighten his Crow Enterprizes safety belts and flipped down the shield of his new Shifty Illusions custom painted Bell Helmet to match the new Knoxville Nationals paint scheme on the JJR entry.

When his Kistler Engines power awoke, Carson lowered his right foot on the go forward button as he built speed up enroute to the waving green flag on the front straightaway. When wisped by the flagstand the numbers on the stopwatch were rolling as he worked his way through the first set of turns and hustled down the backstretch. His Hoosier Racing Tires were digging in the dirt trying to assist his exit off turn four. Carson recorded his first lap in 15.996 seconds. The Lemoore, California born racer kept the hammer down trying to make more speed throughout his second circuit. He missed the grip entering turn one which scrubbed off a lot of speed. This time when he flew by the flagstand the clock read 16.789 seconds. That clock catching everything . . . even the smallest errors. The better of Carson’s two speed attempts against the ticking stopwatch though was his first lap, which ended up fifth quickest overall in Qualifying Group One. Daison Pursley in the Pella/Avanti Windows and Doors #13, who went out in the first set of three cars in the time trial order, turned the fastest lap in Qualifying Group One and overall, with a lap of 15.686 seconds. James McFadden in the Tarlton and Son #21T was the quickest driver in Qualifying Group Two circling Knoxville Raceway in 16.362 seconds.

With an inversion of the fastest four drivers in each of the scheduled six Heat races, Carson would get the Tarlton and Son/Vortex Racing Products/Motor State Distributing #41 Maxim started from the inside of the second row with Brian Brown in the Casey’s/FVP #21 pacing directly beside him in the second of six 8-lap Heat races. Brad Sweet in the NAPA Auto Parts #49 and Jamie Ball #4W led the field from the front row with Tanner Thorson #88T and Daryn Pittman #3L in row three. Justin Peck #26 and Jack Anderson #17A were together in row four with Chase Dietz #23D and Hunter Schuerenberg #55H behind in row five. Derek Hagar #45C and Kaleb Johnson #6K shared row six with Lynton Jeffrey #39 alone in row seven.

Only the top three finishers in each of these Heat races secured a transfer spot into the A-Main feature, so it was ‘gas and go’ time at Knoxville Raceway. The Polesitter, Brad Sweet, was idling slowly on the pace lap as the large field worked its way down the backstretch and through turns three and four with the outside multi-tiered guiderail and Impact Signs large video scoreboard as the backdrop.

When the front row starters peaked out of turn four the green flag was waving with Brad Sweet charging into the early race lead with Jamie Ball and Brian Brown in hot pursuit of the leader like an episode of Dukes of Hazzard when Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane chased Bo and Luke Duke.

Carson had the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 moving running in the fourth position when the first lap finished as he was racing with Brian Brown in front of him and Tanner Thorson behind him chomping at the bit to get by. By the hallway point of the race Brian Brown carried his momentum by Ball to take over the runner-up position. Tanner Thorson also muscled his way by Carson who was not running fifth, two spots behind where he needed to be to earn a transfer position.

Carson stayed focused as he searched for a faster way around. On lap 7, he had his sweet looking Maxim Racing machine moving and passed Jamie Ball for fourth. He quickly set his sights on Tanner Thorson and was closing the gap on him quickly. Carson caught him on the last lap as they were competing for the final transfer spot. The driver of the forty-one was up on the wheel and drove around on the far outside of turn two and made the pass on the back straightaway before diving low entering turn three to secure the third position.

Brian Brown challenged Brad Sweet late for the top spot but showed the way out in front of the pack from the drop of the green flag through the waving of the checkered flag to take the win. Brian Brown came home second with Carson Macedo locking down the third and final transfer spot late. Phew, that was close. Those three drivers secured those coveted transfer positions out of this qualifying race to the A-Main. Tanner Thorson came home fourth with Jamie Ball completing the top five.

The eight (8) fastest drivers to transfer through their Heat race qualified for the Pole Shuffle. Those eight drivers were: (1) Daison Pursley #13; (2) James McFadden #21T; (3) Brian Brown #21; (4) Giovanni Scelzi #7BC; (5) Austin McCarl #88; (6) Brent Marks #19; (7) Carson Macedo #41; and (8) Rico Abreu #24. It would be a two car duel for two laps in each of the seven rounds with the winner advancing to take on the driver waiting just ahead of them who would get lane choice. The results of each round were as follows:

Round #1: Carson Macedo versus Rico Abreu

Rico Abreu wins/Carson Macedo starts 8th in A-Main

Round #2: Rico Abreu versus Brent Marks

Rico Abreu wins/Brent Marks starts 7th in A-Main

Round #3: Rico Abreu versus Austin McCarl

Rico Abreu wins/Austin McCarl starts 6th in A-Main

Round #4: Rico Abreu versus Giovanni Scelzi

Giovanni Scelzi wins/Rico Abreu starts 5th in A-Main

Round #5: Giovanni Scelzi versus Brian Brown

Brian Brown wins/Giovanni Scelzi starts 4th in A-Main

Round #6: Brian Brown versus James McFadden

James McFadden wins/Brian Brown starts 3rd in A-Main

Round #7: James McFadden versus Daison Pursley

Daison Pursley wins/James McFadden starts 2nd in A-Main

Daison Pursley won $2,500 for his efforts in the Pole Shuffle and earned the pole position for the start of the 13th Annual Capitani Classic.

The first four rows of the Capitani Classic were now set based off the Pole Shuffle results with the drivers in the remaining eight rows looking to make some noise to start the week at Knoxville Raceway. The cars began to fire for the 25-lap, $13,000-to-win 13th Annual Avanti Windows & Doors Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank. The field was loaded with talent from the front row to the back row with some of the best drivers in the sport of sprint car racing. They were all racing to honor a great ambassador of the sport – Ralph Capitani – as the driver’s loud pedal foot started to jitter with anticipation as they were ready to put on an incredible show for the fans in the stands.

Off turn four the low rumble of the engines turned into a roar with James McFadden driving the Tarlton and Son #21T into the early race lead down the frontstretch. Daison Pursley was running in the second spot at the end of the first lap with Brian Brown in third, Giovanni Scelzi in fourth, with Rico Abreu rounding out the top five. Carson was scored in the seventh position driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative/T-FAB Metal Fabrication/ISC Racers Tape #41 Maxim with a half mile in the books and twelve miles left to go in the trophy and purse chase.

On lap 5, the caution flag waved for the NOS Energy Drink #17 of Sheldon Haudenschild who stopped on the racetrack in turn one just as Carson was immersed in a three car battle for the fifth position with Austin McCarl and Giovanni Scelzi. He would restart seventh and was hungry to improve his position on the scoreboard when they went back to green flag conditions.

Justin Clark unleased the green flag again with McFadden darting into the lead again with Pursley and Brown following. Giovanni Scelzi made his way by McCarl for fifth with Carson Macedo now pressuring McCarl for the sixth spot. Two laps later Carson moved by Austin McCarl as he started to track down Giovanni Scelzi in the NOS Energy Drink #7BC while he is subbing for the injured Tyler Courtney.

On lap 10, Carson caught the fellow California Central Valley star and moved the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the top five behind McFadden who was dominating, Pursley, Brown and Abreu. The forty-one was fast and he was starting to track down Abreu for fourth. He caught him and made the pass for position on lap 16, but Abreu ripped back by the next time around to take the higher position back from Macedo.

James McFadden was in a rocket ship out front and led the entire distance to take the win at the Cappy Classic by 2.882 seconds over runner-up Daison Pursley. Brian Brown followed close behind to come home third completing the podium with Rico Abreu and Carson Macedo rounding out the top five. Carson showed speed in his new, snazzy paint scheme throughout the night of action. The team and driver will take any lessons learned and apply them during their qualifying night on Thursday night. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

A Fifth Place Run in the 13th Annual Avanti Windows & Doors Capitani Classic Starts the Week at Knoxville for Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) Team! 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.

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

Check out ShopJJR.com to buy all your new Carson Macedo and JJR gear and merchandise.