WHEELING INTO WISCONSIN: THE INDEPENDENCE SPECTACULAR OPENER AT CEDAR LAKE SPEEDWAY WAS FILLED WITH ACTION FROM GREEN-TO-CHECKERS WITH THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 RACING HOME TO A TOP FIVE FINISH
NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN (June 26, 2026) – The long and winding schedule throughout the season brought Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 Sprint Car Team back to the great state of Wisconsin for two nights of racing. The fans streamed into the grandstands awaiting the action to kick off Friday night at the opener of the Federated Auto Parts Independence Spectacular at Cedar Lake Speedway. Carson and the team have had quite a bit of success at this 3/8-mile racing venue most recently finishing in the runner-up position last year on the opening night before collecting the win in the finale, Carson’s 52nd career World of Outlaws (WoO) win and Jason Johnson Racing’s 76th WoO victory, last year at this event. Since then, this driver and team combination has added ten more wins to those stats as they continue to focus on driving those numbers higher with new opportunities right here at Cedar Lake over the next two nights. The drone flyover of the pit area identified 30 race haulers with 410 sprint cars behind them unloaded and ready to compete in the Independence Spectacular. They were joined in the pit area by the UMSS Traditional Sprints. It was race day – World of Outlaws style – in New Richmond, Wisconsin!
After ripping around in Race//Ready Hot Laps, the drivers began to line up in the staging area for time trials in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. They would hit the track based on the numbered pill they drew randomly, in order from low to high, at the beginning of the night at the back of the World of Outlaws Timing and Scoring trailer. For the Lemoore, California racer that meant Carson would be out on the racing surface behind the wheel of the Scott Boyd Family/Durst Inc./Vortex Racing Products #41 Maxim 18th after Riley Goodno #22 from Knoxville, Iowa completed his circuits. The shield of Macedo’s sharp RX7 carbon fiber Bell Helmet flipped down and locked into place. Carson was ready to take the black with green, white, and blue accents Albaugh – Your Alternative speed chariot for a high speed adventure around Cedar Lake Speedway. The speedster raced by the flagstand, he was officially on the clock. He was doing his part to use his Kistler Engines power to make speed and drive results with the stopwatch as the judge. Carson completed hist first lap in 11.736 seconds and followed it up on lap two with a time of 11.885 seconds. The best of his two attempts ended the night fifth quick overall in time trials with David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 sitting at the top of the speed charts for the 13th time this season at 11.633 seconds earning the Simpson Quick Time Award.
With a brief pause in the action for the lineups for each of the three 10-lapHeat races to be compiled and posted, the teams continued to work on their cars to prepare them for qualifying action. When perusing the lineups, Carson would be in The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat Race #2 and start from the second position with Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing #18 to his inside on the front row. Buddy Kofoid #83 and Christopher Thram #24T rolled into row two behind the front row starters. Donny Schatz #15 and Skylar Gee #16C neatly tucked in behind in row three with Kasey Jedrzejek #6 and Josh Schneiderman #49 beside each other in row four. Wisconsin racers Will Gerrits #8 and Tyler Tischendorf #26T shared row five in the starting field.
The yellow lights dimmed around the track as the Toyota Racing pace truck ducked into the infield. When the front row starters arrived at the chalk stripe laid across turn four the air filled with the sweet sound of roaring sprint car engines. Sheldon Haudenschild raced Carson into turn one into the lead and led the opening lap ahead of Carson wheeling the Border International/Schoenfeld Headers/KSE Racing Products #41 with Christopher Thram and Buddy Kofoid battling for the show position. That tussle for third place continued for a few laps before Kofoid stamped his name on it.
Clean air was critical on this night with Haudenschild executing and using it to his advantage extending his lead over Carson with each circuit when completed. Carson stayed focused and began searching around the track for different lines to find some grip as the track surface began to evolve.
Sheldon Haudenschild led from start to finish taking the win by 1.792 seconds in the second qualifying race ahead of Carson who raced home second in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. Buddy Kofoid crossed the finish line third with Christopher Thram, Skylar Gee, and Donny Schatz finishing in positions four through six to transfer onto the A-Main later in the evening.
The top two finishers in each of the Heat races advanced into the Toyota Dash where they would stick their hands into the oversized NOS Energy Drink Can drawing one of the six numbered pills to determine where they would start the eight lap race. Where they finish the Dash is where they start the A-Main. When the can was empty, the starting lineup was set with David Gravel sitting on the pole with Bill Balog #17B to his outside. Kelby Watt #1K would start third with Carson Macedo pulling the Tarlton and Son/FK Shocks/Sam I Am #41 into the fourth starting position. Chris Windom #7s and Sheldon Haudenschild were the speed duo in row three.
David Gravel ripped into the lead when the green lights turned on with Balog right behind. Carson got a fast start and raced into turn one low to take over the third spot from Kelby Watt by the end of the first lap. Carson kept the two cars directly in front of him within his sight, but Sheldon Haudenschild moved by both Windom and Watt and was now running in the fourth position hoping to gain another spot in the running order.
The driver of the Big Game Motorsports #2 entry was not contested and took the win with Bill Balog coming home second, Carson third, with Sheldon Haudenschild finishing fourth. Kelby Watt finished fifth with Chris Windom racing across the finish line sixth.
The 24 lineup was set for the 35-lap preliminary night feature at the Federated Auto Parts Independence Spectacular. From the front of the pack to the back of the pack the lineup, the names of each one of the starters was very impressive to say the least. After winning the Toyota Dash David Gravel in the ShopHusets.com #2 would start from the pole position with Bill Balog in the Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup #17 B sharing the front row with the driver from Watertown, Connecticut. The two gas mashers in row two were Carson Macedo in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41 and Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing/Aspen Aire #18 and Kelby Watt behind the wheel of the New American Funding #1K and Chris Windom sitting in the NOS Energy Drink #7s following behind in row three. Garet Williamson #23 and Buddy Kofoid #83 were in row four with Conner Morrell #28M and Emerson Axsom #27 together in row five.
Following the incredible fireworks display, Carson climbed into the Albaugh – Your Alternative/PWR Advanced Cooling Technology/T-Fab Custom Metal Fabrication #41 Maxim and cinched his Crow Enterprizes safety belts tight. He was ready to get his elbows up at Cedar Lake Speedway. It was time to go racing.
After fanning out four wide to express their appreciation to the fans in the stands and those tuning into DIRTVision, the competitors raced back into the two-by-two starting formation in anticipation of the green flag the next time by the flagstand. When the initial green flag waved, David Gravel darted into the race lead followed by Bill Balog. Sheldon Haudenschild used the outside lane to build momentum and take command of the third position ahead of Carson in fourth and Chris Windom in fifth at the end of the first lap.
The caution flag came out with one lap in the books for Donny Schatz #15 and Scotty Thiel #31 resulting in the CJB #15 having a collapsed front axle. The ten-time WoO champion headed to the work area and was able to replace the front axle in the allotted two minutes to rejoin the field. Scotty Thiel was also able to get back out on the track following the incident.
When the green lights turned back on Gravel maintained the top spot with Balog close behind as Carson reclaimed the third position ahead of Haudenschild and Kofoid who moved into the top five. Carson cruised in the show position closing in on the Buesser Concrete/Indian Motorcycle of Metro Milwaukee #17B. The Californian made multiple attempts to steal the second spot away from Bill Balog to no avail.
The battle behind the top three in the running order was fierce between Sheldon Haudenschild and Buddy Kofoid. As they fought for position working the low side of the racing surface, the two talented racers began to close in on the third place running Macedo who was railing around the top side of the track. On lap 9, both stalkers caught him and moved by for position relegating Carson back to the fifth position with 26 laps remaining.
The drive forward continued for Kofoid and Haudenschild as they eventually tracked down second place running Bill Balog and moving by him at the halfway point of the race. David Gravel was still out front weaving through the slower cars like a hot knife through butter. Carson confidently raced in the fifth spot.
On lap 22, the action slowed when the caution flag waved for Kasey Jedrzejek #6 and Emerson Axsom #27 who tangled in turn four while racing for the ninth position. They kept moving but the yellow flag came out. David Gravel would lead the field back up to speed followed by Kofoid, Haudenschild, Balog, and Macedo.
Bill Balog made the most of the restart retaking the runner-up position as he passed both Haudenschild and Kofoid as they got back up to speed. Carson exchanged the fifth spot with Garet Williamson on the restart but ripped it right back the next time around. David Gravel led the entire race to collect the win followed across the finish line by Buddy Kofoid and Bill Balog. Sheldon Haudenschild finished fourth with Carson Macedo racing home in fifth to earn his 17th Top 5 finish of the season in 35 races (a 48.57% Top 5 Success Rate). Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!
The only thing better than one night of high speed World of Outlaws competition at Cedar Lake Speedway is another one on Saturday night. Tune into DIRTVision to watch all the side-by-side competitive racing in the finale of the Independence Day Spectacular on Saturday night. #IndependenceSpectacular
Incredible Fireworks at Cedar Lake Speedway to Open the Federated Auto Parts Independence Spectacular! 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.
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