PONYING UP IN THE HOOSIER STATE: CARSON MACEDO TAKES ON TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY AT THE SOUTHERN INDIANA SHOWDOWN AS HE GALLUPS TO AN 11TH PLACE RUN IN THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41

HAUBSTADT, INDIANA (April 19, 2026) – After the postponement of the show over at Jacksonville Speedway on Friday night, the traveling tour of stars entered Haubstadt, Indiana into their GPS systems to guide them over to Tri-State Speedway to entertain on Saturday evening before more rain pushed that event back to Sunday. This fast quarter mile bullring always produces intense racing action when the NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars come to town. That type of action always keeps the fans engaged and on the edge of their seats for the entire show. Promoters Tom and Lori Helfrich put their heart and soul into making sure the teams and fans alike have an incredible experience when they come to this gem. On this night, there were 27 race teams in the house for the Southern Indiana Showdown. It was ready to throw some mud against the wall in the “Hoosier State” at Tri-State Speedway.

Set to be the seventh car in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying, Carson was looking to produce two suitable time trials laps with speeds indicative of his efforts. He buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts and pulled on his K1 Race Gear gloves as he prepared for his speed chase against the clock. When Joe B. Miller #51B finished his work it was Carson’s turn out on the track. He entered the track in turn four and lowered his right foot on the speed button to get moving. The California racer hustled under the waving green flag as the numbers started to roll on the stopwatch measuring his work. The first lap completed in 12.790 seconds with four more turns and two straightaways to go. He was ripping around on lap two and when he crossed the finish line the clock displayed 12.926 seconds. The better of his two speed shots positioned the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Maxim Racing/High Performance Lubricants #41 14th quick overall on the final time trial order. Earning the Simpson Quick Time Award with a lap of 12.346 seconds was red hot Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1/Toyota Racing #83.

After the lineups posted for each of the three 10-lap Heat Races, Carson would get his qualifying race started from the inside of row three in The Greatest Show on Dirt Heat Race #2 beside Terre Haute, Indiana’s Bryce Norris #37. It was a stacked lineup with Emerson Axsom #27 and Will Armitage #7A rolling on the front row with Garet Williamson #23 and Chris Windom #7s in row two. Situated in row four was the talented young duo of Ashton Torgerson #1a and Joel Myers Jr. #19 with Conner Morrell #28M tucking in behind alone in row five.

The field was nose-to-tail as things were about to get serious in Haubstadt, Indiana along Interstate 41 just to the north of Evansville. When polesitter Emerson Axsom peeked out of turn four he was hammer down making hay with Garet Williamson, Carson Macedo, and Chris Windom moving by outside front row starter Will Armitage for position. Carson was in third but Chris Windom dove underneath him to steal back the lowered numbered position on the scoreboard with one lap in the books.

Carson continued to battle with the driver of the NOS Energy Drink/Sides Motorsports #7s for third place with Emerson Axsom and Garet Williamson still out front. Axsom took the win by 1.861 seconds ahead of Garet Williamson as those two racers moved onto the Toyota Dash. Chris Windom came home third with Carson locking down the fourth spot in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. Ashton Torgerson hustled home in fifth place with Joel Myers Jr. securing the sixth and final transfer position away from Will Armitage with a late race pass.

With all the qualifying activity now completed at the track dubbed the “The Class Track,” Tri-State Speedway, the drivers and teams’ attention turned to performing at their best in the 40-lap Southern Indiana Showdown feature. Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman checked and tightened the last bolts before pushing the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Factory Kahne/All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads #41 Maxim back away from the trailer so they could stage for the start of the race.

The starting positions established for the first three rows were based off the finish in the Toyota Dash. That put Cole Macedo in the TwoC Racing/Highside Racewear #2c and Sheldon Haudenschild abord the KCP Racing #18 on the front row followed by Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports #83 and Tyler Courtney in the Clausen Marshall Racing (CMR) #7BC in row two. Emerson Axsom #27 and Garet Williamson Fischer Motorsports #23 were together in row three with Carson pulling the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 entry pacing from his 11th starting position.

The energy throughout the grandstands on both the front straightaway and the back straightaway was palpable as the blood was circulating at a more rapid pace for the drivers as well as the fans as the safety lights turned off around the track. The green flag would be waving high in the sky when the field came by the flagstand the next time with Sheldon Haudenschild leading the first lap with Tyler Courtney, Cole Macedo, Emerson Axsom, and Buddy Kofoid completing the top five. Carson was running in the 12th position.

On lap 2, the first caution of the race came out slowing the action at Haubstadt. On the restart, Tyler Courtney drove the NOS Energy Drink #7BC into the top spot with everyone else just chasing the orange and blue rocket. He led the way until the next race slow down on lap 11 for Scott Bogucki #51 who slowed and headed to the pit area.

It was Tyler Courtney leading Axsom, Haudenschild, Williamson, and Kofoid back to the green. He was in command out front racing aggressively around this bullring. Carson was battling for position over the next 20 laps with Chris Windom, David Gravel, Parker Price-Miller, and Logan Schuchart.

The leader would not stay comfortable too long though because with 10 laps to go Buddy Kofoid stole the lead. That did not sit well with Courtney who wrestled the lead back away from Kofoid on lap 33. They continued their torrid battle for the lead when the white flag came out. They got together down the backstretch knocking the front end out of the Roth Motorsports #83 ending his night of competition.

Tyler Courtney would lead the final two laps under the green-white-checkered finish beating Emerson Axsom to the finish line with Sheldon Haudenschild, Brady Bacon, and Cole Macedo rounding out the top five. Carson secured a 11th place finish crossing the line behind Carson Short, Parker Price-Miller, David Gravel, Kasey Jedrzejek, and Garet Williamson who finished in the six through ten finishing spots.

After racing four consecutive races in recent weeks on smaller, bullring style tracks the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series teams will recalibrate their programs, setups and driving styles back to the bigger ovals as they travel to Iowa to race on the famous half mile venue located at The Sprint Car Capital of the World – Knoxville Raceway – for the two-day Premier Chevy Dealers Clash next weekend.

Pushing the Limits at Tri-State Speedway in the Southern Indiana Showdown! Photo Credit: Tyler Carr

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