HUNTING SEASON IN IOWA: THE COMPETITIVE WEEK OF RACING AT KNOXVILLE RACEWAY FOR CARSON MACEDO AND THE JJR #41 TEAM OPENED SUNDAY NIGHT AT THE 14TH ANNUAL AVANTI WINDOWS AND DOORS CAPITANI CLASSIC
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 9, 2026) – After a long drive following the checkered flag flying at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park, where Carson cruised home with a third place finish in the Ironman 55, weary eyed and tired, the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team parked the hauler in the infield pit area at Knoxville Raceway. This place is known throughout the racing community as The Sprint Car Capital of the World. And on Sunday night the racers were there to start an important week of 410 sprint car competition beginning with the 14th Annual AVANTI Windows and Doors Capitani Classic. This race honors a true legend of the sport – Ralph Capitani. For those who knew him, as well as to everyone throughout the sprint car community, they simply called him Cappy. He was the long-time promoter of the Knoxville Raceway that started to bring his vision to life back in 1978 when he arrived to build this racing venue into a true national treasure. Capitani succeeded as evidenced by the towering grandstands that surround this place as well as by the incredible field of cars on hand for the event that honors him each year since his passing. There were 87 top-notch race teams registered to race, an event record, as the crew members were busy working on their equipment. It was race day at Knoxville Raceway in the non-sanctioned 14th Annual AVANTI Windows and Doors Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank!
Slated on the agenda was Hot Laps before the official gavel fell summoning the first order of business for the night – time trials. The large field of entries would be equally split into two qualifying groups. Which group each driver got assigned to was determined by random pill draw when they signed into the pit area outside of turn four. Three cars would be out on the track at the same time racing against time. They were not trying to get ahead of each other out on the track, but rather just attempting to record the lowest time possible during each of their two laps on the clock.
Carson climbed into the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Factory Kahne Shocks/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication #41 Maxim to prepare for battle. He was hunting time down to the thousandths of a second. After selecting the ‘74’ pill, the California born speed demon would be the twenty-third driver out on the track in Qualifying Group Two along with Tanner Thorson in the CHAOTIC/SmithTI #88 and Brian Brown in the Casey’s/FVP/Andy’s Frozen Custard #21. The cars rolled into the staging lane midway down the front straightaway in the infield as they waited for their turn to enter the historic half-mile oval. They slowly moved to the front of the line. Carson flipped the shield down on his Real-Geese Decoys/Expert Gate Repair/Durst Inc. custom painted Bell Racing lid. He had a full lap to crank up the power in his Kistler Engines Ford Racing power as he made his way to the flagstand in front of the towering main grandstands. He flew by the green flag and aggressively sprinted through the first two turns. Carson guided the forty-one down the backstretch and just like that he was coming out of turn four as the flagman dropped the white flag. He completed his first circuit in 16.010 seconds. Throughout his second lap he wanted to pick up any time he may have left behind the first time around. He drove out of turn two by the Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower with his sights set on turn three. Macedo made quick work of the last set of turns completing lap two in 15.738 seconds. The fastest of his two laps was 14th quick overall in Qualifying Group Two. Brady Bacon #21, who went out third in the time trial order in Qualifying Group Two, set quick time in that group at 15.248 seconds. The quickest driver out of Qualifying Group One and overall was David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports/J.R.C. Transportation #2 circling the black surface in 15.205 seconds.
The fastest four drivers inverted in each of the six Heat races, which put the driver of the Tarlton and Son/Sander Engineering/CASM Safety Products #41 Maxim on the inside of row three with Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing/Drydene #1s to start the fifth qualifying race. Carson only had eight laps to work his magic at speed in search of one of the top three transfer spots. Tough task. This race is loaded and the lineup for this Heat race was stout featuring Sam Hafertepe Jr. #15H and Rico Abreu #14TSR on the front row with two high speed studs, Tanner Thorson #88 and Daryn Pittman #69K, pacing behind them in row two. Row three featured Carson Macedo #41 and Logan Schuchart #1s. It did not get any easier as row four was also stacked with Jy Corbet #25 and Darin Naida #11N pulling up beside each other as Brock Zearfoss #17GP and Cale Thomas #31 lined up in row five. D.J. Christie #0D and Christopher Thram #24T rolled into row six with Gage Pulkrabek #G5 and Dylan Bloomfield #8N together in row seven with a lot of cars ahead of them.
The top three finishers in each qualifying race secured transfer positions into the Capitani Classic A-Main, so there was no time for lollygagging when the green flag waved. Justin Clark shut the yellow lights off around the track and when the polesitter Sam Hafertepe Jr. arrived in turn four he dropped the hammer with the green flag waving. The race was on with Rico Abreu driving into the early race lead followed by Hafertepe Jr. and Pittman. Logan Schuchart took the long way around Knoxville Raceway driving around Macedo and Thorson into the fourth spot.
Rico Abreu led the opening lap with Hafertepe Jr., Pittman, and Schuchart in full chase mode. Carson was running in the sixth position behind the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 with Tanner Thorson within striking distance in front of him as Jy Corbet chomped at his heals from the seventh spot.
On lap 3, Carson moved by Thorson into the fifth position with five laps to go. Logan Schuchart continued his trek forward using the top side to race into third place disposing of Daryn Pittman. Carson was just behind Pittman now and closing in with the remaining laps winding down.
When the checkered flag flew it was Rico Abreu securing the dominant victory over Sam Hafertepe Jr. by 4.338 seconds with Logan Schuchart racing home third. Daryn Pittman crossed the finish line fourth with Carson rounding out the top five. Tanner Thorson, Jy Corbet, Darin Naida, Cale Thomas, and Brock Zearfoss completed the top ten.
After a valiant effort in his qualifying race, Carson would have to attempt to make his way into the A-Main through the second of two B-Mains. Each would be twelve laps in distance with the top three transferring into the A-Main out of each one. Starting on the front row of the second B-Main was Chris Windom in the Sides Motorsports #7s and Daryn Pittman #69K with Justin Henderson #11 and Ashton Torgerson #87X trailing behind in row two. Carson Macedo would line the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/FK Rod Ends/Wilwood Racing #41 up on the inside of row three with Donny Schatz #15 to his right side. Starting together in row four was Carson McCarl #27 and Tanner Thorson #88 as Rees Moran #45X and Brooke Tatnell #14T tucked in behind in row five.
When the green lights turned on Chris Windom immediately took the race lead ahead of Daryn Pittman, Donny Schatz, and Ashton Torgerson with Carson running in fifth place pacing in front of Justin Henderson. With one lap in the books the caution flag flew for Austin Wood #2A who got into the wall in turn two before heading to the work area.
When the green flag waved again Windom maintained the lead over Pittman and Schatz as Carson was sandwiched between Henderson and Torgerson at the line. Three wide racing at Knoxville Raceway. They were side-by-side at the line with Carson being scored in sixth place when the red flag flew for Austin Gossel #16G who flipped in turn one after Brock Zearfoss got sideway right in front of him leaving him nowhere to go. Both drivers were ok.
Carson would restart in sixth place hoping for some speed and a little luck when the field got back up to speed. Chris Windom pedaled down again and the race was resumed. Macedo railed around the cushion moving by Torgerson to take over the fifth spot with Tanner Thorson following him by the #87X. Behind both though Scott Bogucki #1X was on the move and chasing them down coming on like a freight train around the bottom.
On lap 5, Bogucki raced by both Thorson and Macedo into fifth place. They would continue to chase each other as Windom showed the way at the front of the field with Donny Schatz running second and Daryn Pittman holding on for third.
With one lap to go, the driver of the NOS Energy Drink #7s had the lead secured over Schatz, but Justin Henderson closed in on the third and final transfer spot that Daryn Pittman held. On the last lap as they entered turn three, Henderson made the pass for position underneath Pittman to take the show position as Chris Windom and Donny Schatz crossed under the waving checkered flag. Daryn Pittman would finish fourth with Scott Bogucki coming home fifth. Carson settled for sixth place with Tanner Thorson, Rees Moran, Ashton Torgerson, and Hank David rounding out the top ten in B-Main #2.
The eight fastest drivers that transferred through their qualifying races moved into the K1 Pole Shuffle. Those eight drivers were: (1) David Gravel #2; (2) Brent Marks #19; (3) Austin McCarl #88W; (4) Kyle Larson #57; (5) Aaron Reutzel #87; (6) Kelby Watt #1K; (7) Parker Price-Miller #71; and (8) Rico Abreu #14TSR. It would be two cars at a time dicing twice around Knoxville Raceway with the winner advancing into the next round.
Round #1: Parker Price-Miller #71 versus Rico Abreu #14TSR – Rico Abreu wins/Parker Price-Miller starts 8th in A-Main
Round #2: Rico Abreu #14TSR versus Kelby Watt #1K – Rico Abreu wins/Kelby Watt starts 7th in A-Main
Round #3: Rico Abreu #14TSR versus Aaron Reutzel #87 – Aaron Reutzel wins/Rico Abreu starts 6th in A-Main
Round #4: Aaron Reutzel #87 versus Kyle Larson #57 – Kyle Larson wins/Aaron Reutzel starts 5th in A-Main
Round #5: Kyle Larson #57 versus Austin McCarl #88W – Austin McCarl wins/Kyle Larson starts 4th in A-Main
Round #6: Austin McCarl #88W versus Brent Marks #19 – Brent Marks wins/Austin McCarl starts 3rd in A-Main
Round #7: Brent Marks #19 versus David Gravel #2 – David Gravel wins/Brent Marks starts 2nd in A-Main
David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 won the K1 Pole Shuffle and earned a $2,500 check and the pole position on the inside of the front row beside Brent Marks #19 for the 25-lap 14th Annual AVANTI Windows and Doors Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank A-Main with a $13,000 check and a really cool trophy awaiting the winner in Casey’s Victory Lane. The cars began to fire their engines with assistance from the push trucks. No matter where you looked throughout the starting lineup you could not help but to be impressed. The field was loaded with stars from the first row all the way back through row twelve. The drivers prepared to entertain the fans while they honored a tremendous ambassador and legend of the sport – Ralph Capitani.
With all the pomp and circumstance completed, the driver’s brimmed with anticipation and excitement. They were ready to go racing at Knoxville Raceway! The green flag was out with David Gravel seizing the early race leads. Up on the wheel in second place was Brent Marks with Austin McCarl and Rico Abreu following behind closely in third and fourth place, respectively as they made their way around on lap one.
David Gravel looked dominant early as he was in clean air. But behind him there were a lot of tremendous speedsters chasing him down as the track evolved lap after lap. Rico Abreu was coming in the Tony Stewart Racing # 14TSR. Aaron Reutzel was on the gas on the Power Plus #87. And Kyle Larson continued to dig in Paul Silva’s JVI Group #57.
With each completed lap the complexion of the race changed. Who would win? David Gravel led the first 16 laps of the race before surrendering it to the hard charging NASCAR champion Kyle Larson. The driver of the Big Game Motorsports #2 now was fending off Rico Abreu. He did so for five more laps before the Californian passed the driver from Connecticut for the runner-up spot.
Kyle Larson roared to the race win over Rico Abreu with David Gravel taking the last step of the podium. Aaron Reutzel raced home fourth with Austin McCarl completing the top five. James McFadden hustled home sixth followed by Brent Marks, Giovanni Scelzi, Parker Price-Miller, and Donny Schatz who rounded out the top ten.
With the heat starting to cool on his Schoenfeld Headers after his sixth place finish in the second B-Main, Carson turned his attention to the week ahead. Disappointing results, but lessons learned that can be applied throughout the week. There was no time to spend fretting the results for the team because they had another race to prepare for and compete in on Monday night to be held over at Southern Iowa Speedway – the McKay Group 31st Annual Front Row Challenge presented by Country Builders Construction, Inc. and DKW Transport.
A Night of Competition at the 14th Annual AVANTI Windows and Doors Capitani Classic for Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 Team! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions
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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