BALLYHOOING IN BAKERSFIELD: GUNS WERE BLAZING IN CALIFORNIA WITH CARSON MACEDO USING HIS QUICK DRAW TO KNOCKOUT A PODIUM FINISH IN THE NASHVILLE WEST SHOWDOWN DRIVING THE TARLTON AND SON #41 MAXIM

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (September 12, 2025) – After spending the month of August wandering throughout six (6) different states for competition – Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota – the traveling tour set their GPSs to take them to the Southwest and then on to the West Coast to entertain the devoted sprint car fans on this side of the country. Their travels took them from one showdown to another showdown to allow the teams to do their thing from New Mexico to California. When the checkered flag flew at Vado Speedway Park at the Desert Showdown (followed by a rainout on Saturday night), Carson Macedo, and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) continued west to Carson’s home state – The Golden State of California. It would be the tour’s first and only visit this season to compete over the next two weekends beginning with the World of Outlaws Nashville West Showdown at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. This one-third mile, high banked bullring is situated off Interstate 5 and has the potential to produce exciting, action packed racing which is magnified when the World of Outlaws (WoO) come to town. The sun was shining in the crisp Pacific Blue skies on this West Coast Friday welcoming the stars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series to California. There were 26 teams signed in to battle each other for the victor’s prize at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway!

With less than 38 cars registered to compete in this event, the field of tenacious competitors would time trial against each other in one qualifying group during Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. Where each of the drivers pushed off for their two laps against the clock was based off the random numbered pill drawn in the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw when they passed through the pit entrance. That positioned the California-born speedster as the second chauffeur to turn his two laps of speed in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. He climbed into the cockpit of his Maxim Chassis and buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts. When Chris Windom in the Sides Motorsports/NOS Energy Drink #7s completed his attempts against the clock it was Carson’s turn to make speed. Philip (Dietz), Robby (McQuinn), and Adam (Zimmerman) finished their work as the push truck rolled up to the rear nerf bar to assist getting the Kistler Engine fired. Carson rolled out onto the track and sped up quickly. The green flag was waving when he exited turn four putting the numbers on the clock in motion. Those numbers rolled by quickly and so was Macedo as he piloted the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Team Jack Foundation/Wilwood Racing #41 in his home state. It only took him 12.393 seconds to circle Bakersfield Speedway the first time around and he was digging for more during lap two. He was gripping and ripping as his hands covered by his K1 Race Gear gloves were directing his JOES Racing Products Matador Steering Wheel where to go. This time when he crossed the finish line to end his timed session of qualifying, the clock displayed 12.326 seconds. The better of Carson’s two time trial laps was the last one which positioned him sixth quick overall with Michael “Buddy” Kofoid establishing the quickest lap of the night at 12.041 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award.

The starting lineups for the three 8-lap Heat races posted based on each driver’s best qualifying lap times. The drivers perused the list as they prepared to turn up the heat in California. For Carson Macedo, that positioned him in the second starting spot aboard the High Performance Lubricants/BR Motorsports/Xtreme Body and Paint #41 Maxim in WIX Filters Heat Race #3 where he would line up beside Bill Balog in the Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup #17B. Right behind them in row two was Emerson Axsom #18 and Chris Windom #7s with Spencer Bayston #21 and Tim Kaeding #0 moving in row three. The last row was made up of Caeden Steele #121 and Hunter Schuerenberg #55 as they were ready to race.

The field lined up in order as they all mashed the gas out of turn four to get this high velocity rodeo started in these ferocious 410 monsters. Carson powered off the top at the start of the race to move into the lead with polesitter Bill Balog stuck to the rear bumper as he was in hot pursuit during the opening laps of the race.

On lap 3, Carson started to build a little bit of a margin between himself and Balog with Windom, Axsom, Kaeding, and Bayston battling behind. Carson continued to make tracks and not look back as he led the qualifying race from the drop of the green to the waving of the checkers. Bill Balog raced home second and would join Carson in the Toyota Dash. Chris Windom raced home third with Emerson Axsom, Tim Kaeding, and Hunter Schuerenberg securing the final three transfer positions out of the third Heat race.

After the six numbered pills were drawn the drivers knew where they would start the 6-lap Toyota Dash. Carson would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 started from the final row in position six with Kerry Madsen in the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) #15s to his inside. Logan Schuchart #1s and Bill Balog #17B would lead the field with Sheldon Haudenschild #17 and Buddy Kofoid #83 sandwiched in between in row two. Before the Dash could start the yellow came out for Kerry Madsen who had a right rear tire going down, so he was forced to the pit area. When it was time to attempt to start again, Logan Schuchart would not waste any time as he raced into the lead at the drop of the green. But fourth starting Buddy Kofoid roared off the outside of row two into the runner-up spots hugging the bottom through the first set of turns. He had the Roth Motorsports #83 hopped up and was fast. He was not satisfied and eventually passed Schuchart for the top spot. Carson was working from the fifth position searching the track for the fastest lane. Buddy Kofoid took the win to earn the pole position for the feature with Logan Schuchart coming home second. Bill Balog hustled home third with Sheldon Haudenschild coming home fourth, Carson Macedo fifth, with Kerry Madsen scored sixth.

The night of World of Outlaws competition had produced some great racing up until this point of the night, but the best was yet to come as the eight minute horn sounded throughout the pit area alerting the 24 teams to finish their prep work. The crew then escorted their drivers and cars out on to the racing surface to stage for the 30-lap World of Outlaws Nashville West Showdown feature. There was a nice, crisp $12,000 oversized check waiting for the race winner in victory lane but the path to achieve it was going to require speed, precision, and expertise mixed in with a little luck and a lot of courage.

The front row featured Michael “Buddy” Kofoid in the Mobil 1/Toyota TRD #83 and Logan Schuchart in the Take 5 il change/Drydene #1s. Bill Balog was in third aboard the Honest Abe Roofing #17B with Sheldon Haudenschild to his outside in the NOS Energy Drink #17 followed the racy duo in row three with Carson Macedo in the Tarlton and Son #41 and Kerry Madsen in the Carquest #15s pacing behind.

Carson climbed into the cockpit of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Winters Performance Products/Jansen Transportation #41 Maxim and was ready to get to work from his fifth starting position in the lineup. Carson knew he had work to do but was ready to pound the loud pedal to move forward.

When the green flag waved, Kofoid claimed the first position in the running order, but it was Carson who raced the JJR #41 around the bottom of the first set of turns moving into the runner-up position during the opening lap as he raced ahead of Balog, Schuchart, and Haudenschild.

The high speed action was short-lived because the caution flag flew with two laps in for Zach Hampton #6 who slowed and was off the pace. The restart order with 28 laps to go was Kofoid, Macedo, Balog, Schuchart, and Haudenschild with David Gravel in sixth.

The green flag waved again with the two Californian – Kofoid and Macedo – out front with Balog sticking right with them. David Gravel drove the Big Game Motorsports #2 into fourth with Schuchart and Madsen right behind as Haudenschild got high and lost a few positions running in the seventh position.

On lap 10, the yellow flag was back out for Kaleb Montgomery #3 who came to a stop in turn four. It was still Buddy Kofoid out front with Carson trying to keep pace in second, Bill Balog third, with David Gravel and Logan Schuchart rounding out the top five for the restart.

When the green lights came on, Kofoid got the field back up to speed with Carson right on his bumper as Gravel continued his forward march getting by Balog for the third spot. The next time by Gravel gained another position as both he and Sheldon Haudenschild were able to race underneath Carson when the driver of the forty-one got a little too high in turns one and two. Carson would surrender another position in the running order to Bill Balog and was running fifth on lap 12.

Three laps later, Carson would get back by Balog to reclaim the fourth position behind Kofoid, Gravel, and Haudenschild before the yellow flag was back out again for Zach Hampton #6 who sat sideways in turns three and four ending his night.

They were halfway done with 15 laps remaining in the feature. They field was aligned in their double file restart order and the green flag was back out but quickly replaced by the yellow one when Donny Schatz slowed following contact on the restart with D.J. Netto.

This time they would get back going in the single file restart formation due to contact on the last restart. These restarts have been exciting for everyone behind Kofoid, and this one was no different as Bill Balog scooted by both Carson and Sheldon into third with Haudenschild getting shuffled back to the fifth spot.

Carson kept his right foot planted and two laps later moved back by Balog into the third position behind Kofoid and Gravel. The next time by Sheldon followed suit and moved by Balog into the fourth running spot. Up front though Buddy Kofoid was checked out. He was in a league of his own.

On lap 22, another caution flag flew for a multi-car incident involving Tim Kaeding, Hunter Schuerenberg, and Skylar Gee in turn two. The scene was cleared, and the field was ready to race to the finish. Buddy Kofoid mashed the gas with Gravel behind him. Macedo and Haudenschild were racing hard banging wheels racing for the third position off turn two. Carson had it, but Haudenschild was hungry and wanted it. The forty-one held onto the show position for the time being, but these two talented speed entertainers were going at it.

The final caution of the night came out with two laps to go for Tim Kaeding who spun in turn one. It would be a green-white-checkered restart for all the money with Buddy Kofoid leading David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Logan Schuchart when they went back to green flag racing.

Under the yellow there was some drama developing as second running David Gravel had a right rear tire going down. He tried everything to keep the tire heated up and inflated before they went back under green flag conditions. He momentarily was successful, but Carson, Haudenschild, and Schuchart all moved by him when they went back racing at speed.

The yellow flag though came back out for the last time when Spencer Bayston and Netto got together with the Tarlton and Son #21 spinning. It would again be a two laps dash to the finish with Kofoid, Macedo, Haudenschild, Schuchart, and Madsen all hoping to get to the checkers first. David Gravel headed to the Federated Car Care Work Zone to get a new right rear before tagging the field at the rear of the lead lap cars.

Back to green, Buddy Kofoid was in command with Carson and Sheldon battling for the runner-up position. Kofoid led the remaining laps leading the feature from the drop of the green to the waving of the checkered flag to collect his eleventh World of Outlaws victory this season with Sheldon Haudenschild working his way by Carson on the last lap to come home second. Carson raced the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 across the finish line third with Logan Schuchart and Bill Balog rounding out the top five. Another good run for the forty-one!

The Competitive Action was Banging During the World of Outlaws Nashville West Showdown in Bakersfield, California! 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; 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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