CLAWING FORWARD IN ALABAMA: THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS (WoO) INVADED “THE HEART OF DIXIE” STATE AT TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK FOR THE DEGA DUEL WITH CARSON MACEDO LEAVING WITH A SEVENTH PLACE RUN IN THE FORTY-ONE!
EASTABOGA, ALABAMA (March 6, 2026) – Carson Macedo raced home to a fourth place finish in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 on Monday night in the finale of the Bike Week Jamboree show down in Florida at Volusia Speedway Park. After the checkered flag flew and the dust settled, the team loaded up their hotrod and trucked over to Alabama throughout the week for some Friday night racing in the Dega Duel at the Talladega Short Track. This .28 mile clay oval is known as “The Hornet’s Nest” and is located off Speedway Boulevard just across from the Talladega Super Speedway. The high speed race action is exciting, and the fans always come out to show their support at the event when the World of Outlaws traveling tour of stars come to town. There were 25 race teams registered to race on Friday night. It was race day in Alabama – WoO style!
Each driver got a chance to get out on the track and turn some quick laps to evaluate their setup in Hot Laps. But the first official order of business for them was Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. Each competitor gets two laps at speed measured by the stopwatch with the quicker of the two laps representing them for the night. The random draw sets the qualifying order which meant Carson would be the 16th qualifier to take time aboard the Durst Inc./Motor State Distributing/ Prime Composite Innovations #41 Maxim. He rolled up to the front of the line and waited for the race official to wave him out onto the track when Giovanni Scelzi in the Chili’s/Spire Motorsports #77 completed his laps. Carson quickly went to work as he raced under the fluttering green flag to start his timed session of speed. When he completed his first circuit he laid down a lap in 12.335 seconds. Continuing to work hard from his Fibreworks Composite carbon fiber seat with a Sharp Advantage custom fitted insert he maneuvered around the bullring one last time. This time the checkered flag was out when he came off turn four and the clock stopped at 12.243 seconds when he crossed the finish line. The faster of Carson’s two attempts ended the night 16th quick overall. The driver who earned the Simpson Quick Time Award for the night with a second lap of 11.681 seconds was Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing #18 after spinning out in turn four on his first lap.
When the completed starting lineups for each of the three 10-lap Heat Races posted, the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 was set to go from the sixth starting spot in NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1 alongside his brother Cole Macedo in the TwoC Racing #2c in row three. Sheldon Haudenschild #18 and Bill Balog #17B led the field from the front row with Logan Schuchart #1s and Chase Randall #9 behind in the second row. Behind the Macedo brothers in row four was Giovanni Scelzi #77 and Creed Kemenah #15K with Ricky Peterson #98 alone in row five.
All the engines fired as the drivers pulled into their starting positions in preparation for the green flag waving. The yellow lights turned off as the green ones illuminated in coordination with the green flag as it unfurled. Polesitter Sheldon Haudenschild mashed the accelerator and sped down the front straightaway into turn one with Bill Balog right there with him. Balog would lead the opening lap ahead of Haudenschild, Schuchart, and Randall with Carson tucking in behind in the fifth position with Cole Macedo peering at his tail tank from sixth.
Bill Balog was executing his mission out front with the NOS Energy Drink #18 closing in with two laps to go. Passing was at a premium, but the speeds and racing on the edge around this place keep things exciting. The win went to “The North Pole Nightmare” Bill Balog with Haudenschild coming home second. Logan Schuchart crossed the finish line third with Chase Randall holding on for fourth. Carson raced home to a fifth place finish in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 as Cole Macedo followed him under the checkers.
With all the eligible slots filled for the 35-lap Dega Duel feature at the Talladega Short Track, race officials summoned the teams to the track to stage for the start of the race when the Factory Stock feature concluded. There was certainly excitement brimming in southern Alabama both in the cockpit and throughout the stands. These fans were ready to see a show and the drivers were willing to give them a memory.
The 25 car field lined up and spread out into their famous four-wide salute for the fans in the stands and those tuning in on DIRTVision. After a parade lap the drivers accelerated before slowing back down as they got back into their double wide formation to get going. After winning the Toyota Dash, Donny Schatz #15 would start on the pole with Bryce Lucius #32 to his outside in row one. Buddy Kofoid #83 and Sheldon Haudenschild #18 were beside each other in row two for the start with Bill Balog #17B and Spencer Bayston #17 holding down the two spots in row three.
It was about to go down in “The Hornet’s Nest” where Carson would get the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Smith TI/Team Jack Foundation #41 started from the 13th position in row seven beside Chris Windom in the Sides Motorsports/NOS Energy Drink #7s.
Donny Schatz and Bryce Lucius were together and when they hit the chalk stripe in turn four before powering the field up to speed as they raced towards turn one on the opening lap. Schatz drove the CJB #15 into the top spot leading the first lap with Lucius, Kofoid, and Haudenschild keeping him in their sights.
Carson moved into 12th place behind Chase Randall with one lap in the books and was looking for more. It took him a few more laps to gain another spot, but on lap 3 he moved by Randall and was now sitting one spot out of the top ten.
Donny Schatz was still leading with five laps recorded when the first yellow flag of the night came out for Cole Macedo’s #2c after he was off the pace. He headed to the work area but was unable to rejoin the race.
Donny Schatz was on the point for the restart with Lucius, Kofoid, Haudenschild, and Bayston ready to breathe down his neck when the green flag came back out. Carson was poised to get back up to speed too and when the green lights came on, he went back to work. He hustled past Ashton Torgerson and Spencer Bayston on lap 6 and was now running in 9th place with a lot of racing yet to complete.
On lap 8, the yellow lights turned back on for Scott Bogucki #51 who slowed on the back straightaway with issues. Donny Schatz was still out in front of Lucius and Haudenschild with Kofoid and Garet Williamson #23 rounding out the top five.
The green flag waved again with the 10-time WoO champion leading the pack. Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid moved by Byrce Lucius to take over second and third in the running order. They were now tasked with trying to chase down the leader. Carson was fast too and was able to collect another spot in the running order as he raced past Spencer Bayston and was now scored in 8th place with 26 laps to go.
The driver of the forty-one now focused forward. His next target was the blue and gold trimmed NAPA Auto Parts #9 of Daison Pursley. The California native was tracking Pursley down and patiently waiting for a lane to open so he could drive by cleanly. That space was created on lap 12 off turn four as Carson snuck underneath Pursley to take over the seventh position on the scoreboard.
Donny Schatz was fast, smooth, and in championship form as he led lap after lap fending off numerous challenges from Sheldon Haudenschild as they navigated through slower traffic. Schatz cruised to the victory ahead of Haudenschild and Kofoid who completed the podium. Byrce Lucius earned a fourth place finish with Garet Williamson completing the top five. Bill Balog crossed the finish line sixth with Carson earning a seventh place finish as Logan Schuchart, Daison Pursley, and Spencer Bayston rounded out the top ten at the Dega Duel at Talladega Short Track. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!
After a severe weather forecast for Saturday night, the Black Ice Brawl event scheduled at Magnolia Motor Speedway was canceled. But the busy March calendar of competition continues next weekend in Texas with the two-day (3/13 and 3/14) Cowtown Classic at Kennedale Speedway Park.
If your plans or location on the map do not allow you to make it out to the track to catch the World of Outlaws action in person, be sure to tune into DIRTVision to watch all the entertainment and speed throughout the season.
Creating Speed and Excitement in Alabama at Talladega Short Track in the Dega Duel! Photo Credit: Tyler Carr
JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners for 2026: 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); 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; Crow Enterprizes; CS Productions; Dale “Mickey” Snyder; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Greber Racing Components (GRC); 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; PWR Advanced Cooling Technology; 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.
Go to ShopJJR.com to look at all our offerings and buy your new JJR and Carson Macedo gear and merchandise.