ELBOWS UP IN IOWA: CARSON MACEDO POWERS THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 TO A SEVENTH FINISH DURING PRELIMINARY ACTION IN IOWA LOTTERY QUALIFYING NIGHT ACTION ACCUMULATING 426 EVENT POINTS

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 13, 2026) – After Wednesday night’s qualifying show where Sheldon Haudenschild ducked underneath James McFadden coming out of turn four to win by a scant 0.0006 seconds at the line to capture the checkers over McFadden and Jace Park, this small town woke up craving for more racing at the 65th Annual Knoxville Nationals. The top eight drivers in event points following BRANDT Professional Agriculture Qualifying Night #1 were: (1) Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing #18 (481 points); (2) James McFadden in the Tarlton and Son #21 (478 points); (3) Kasey Kahne in the KKR #4 (477 points); (4) Justin Henderson in the Sam and Mike McGhee Racing #11 (463 points); (5) Chase Dietz in the Stehman Motorsports #23D (460 points); (6) David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 (460 points); (7) Rico Abreu in the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) #14TSR (460 points); and (8) Cole Macedo in the TwoC Racing #2c (457 points).

As the diurnal arc of the sun evolved hour by hour, even though no one in Knoxville could see it because it was overcast and raining cats and dogs, the conversations and focus started to shift to Iowa Lottery Qualifying Night #2 at the 65th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s. These split field qualifying nights are all about the points tied to each driver’s performance every time they hit the track. On Thursday night there were 49 stout teams parked in the pit stalls with their haulers and 900+ horsepower speed machines at the center of attention. Some of the notable competitors set to go to work were Logan Schuchart #1s, J.J Hickle #2M, Tyler Courtney #7BC, Daison Pursley #9, Brent Marks #19, Brian Brown #21, Garet Williamson #23, Anthony Macri #39M, Carson Macedo #41, Kerry Madsen #55, three-time Knoxville Nationals champion Kyle Larson #57 (2021, 2023, and 2024), Daryn Pittman #69k, Parker Price-Miller #71, Buddy Kofoid #83, Aaron Reutzel #87, and Austin McCarl #88W.

For the 2026 edition of the Knoxville Nationals, Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) owners Philip and Brooke Dietz unveiled a new event paint scheme celebrating the tenth anniversary of Jason Johnson’s wildly popular victory at this event back in 2016 that featured the beloved Johnson orange, red, and yellow on the base color of black carbon fiber for Carson Macedo to wheel. On top of the hood there was an image of “The Ragin’ Cajun” celebrating that momentous night in Iowa etched in all our hearts. A forever memory as the team was hungry to earn another win with Carson behind the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Saich Family #41 Maxim. The Dunkin family was busy working in the black gumbo clay surface in preparation for another night of high speed entertainment around the famous half mile oval on the Marion County Fairgrounds.

The format for the Knoxville Nationals on both qualifying nights award points every time a driver is out on the track based on where they finish in time trials, their qualifying Heat race, and then the A-Main if they are fortunate enough to make it that far. The maximum points any driver/team can earn throughout the night is 500 points, which is achievable but extremely rare. The last driver to accomplish that feat was David Gravel in the orange CJB Motorsports/Go Muddy #5 back in 2017. Steve Kinser also hit that mark setting the standard in 1992.

There are 200 points awarded to the quickest driver in time trails each night with the points reduced by two for every position in the finishing order behind the quick timer. Then there are 100 points awarded to each Heat race winner reduced by three points for each position from second on back to the last place finisher. The final 200 points are earned by the winner of the A-Main on each preliminary qualifying night with a two point drop off for each position on back through twenty fourth place.

The goal is to accumulate as many points as possible throughout their preliminary night to lock-in to the prestigious A-Main on Saturday night. While 500 points is exemplary, it is certainly not required. For a driver/team to secure their place in the 65th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s A-Main on Saturday night a driver must end up in the top 16 overall in points when points from both preliminary qualifying nights are combined and sorted from highest to lowest. Drivers in the 17th through 26th point positions secure the first ten starting spots in Saturday’s B-Main with everyone else discarding their points to compete in Friday’s FVP “Hard Knox” Qualifying Night.

After getting a few laps around the track in Race//Ready Hot Laps, the competitors began to stage for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. Unlike the World of Outlaws normal time trial format, the field is not split into separate groups when there are greater than 38 or more entries. They qualify against each other as one group. The order which each driver hits the track is determined by random pill draw when the teams sign in at the Pit Shack located outside of turn four gates as the teams loaded in the pits.

The time trial order posted, Carson looked through the listing to find the #41. He drew the ‘60’ pill and would go out relatively late as the 37th driver to fly around Knoxville Raceway two times in his race against time piloting the Tarlton and Son/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Vortex Racing Products entry. Joining the California wheelmen out on the track for time trial qualifying was Carson McCarl #27 from Altoona, Iowa. The speed formula equals setup plus focus times relentless balls to the wall courage with tire grip added into the mix to make speed.

Carson sat comfortably in his Fibreworks Composites carbon fiber seat with a Sharp Advantage custom fitted insert waiting for his turn to blast off in the forty-one at The Sprint Car Capital of the World. When the race official waved him onto the track the Kistler Engines power grumbled and quickly went to work. He made his way around the track as he built up momentum to take the green. He turned left entering the first turn and muscled his way by the Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower before racing down the back straightaway. He completed his first lap in 15.969 seconds. With his right K1 Race Gear boot mashed on the gas he continued around the half mile oval the second time in 15.897 seconds. The quicker of his two timed attempts stood as only the 32nd fastest lap overall when qualifying concluded earning him 138 points for the solo speed portion of the show. Tanner Thorson in the CHAOTIC/SmithTI #88 was at the top of the speed charts at the end of the session speeding around Knoxville in 15.299 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award and collecting the maximum 200 points in time trials.

This race format is not designed to encourage or highlight failure. Quite the contrary. The format is architected to demand and measure excellence out of every driver and team who chooses to compete from start to finish. From the performance points awarded every time the drivers are on the track to the inversion of the fastest eight cars in each of the qualifying races, this race is not good for the faint of heart. In fact, if you are a worrier you are in luck – I guess – because you will have plenty to fret over watching your favorite driver’s night unfold or hopefully come together.

The next opportunity to add to those precious event point totals was on deck with the five 10-lap Heat Races where the driver who wins gets 100 points with a three point drop off for every finishing position behind the victorious car. The inversion of the fastest eight drivers in each race put the quickest driver back on the outside of row four to start the race. As icing on the cake only the first four finishers across the finish line in each qualifying race transferred into the A-Main. Yikes! After timing in thirty-second overall, Carson paced around in the Scott Boyd Family/Border International/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim from the second starting spot on the front row with Josh Schneiderman #49 to his inside on the pole.

Behind the front row starters in row two of Toyota Heat Race #2 were Jack Anderson #17A and Kaleb Johnson #19HM with Derek Hagar #45D and Buddy Kofoid #83 tucked succinctly in behind in row three. Row four featured Chase Randall #9R and Tyler Courtney #7BC with Will Armitage #6DC and Garrett Benson #27B rolling slowly in row five awaiting the green flag to wave.

The yellow lights turned off. The cars were nose to tail creeping down the backstretch at a snail’s pace. You could sense the adrenaline beginning to rise. Out of turn four the engines all roared to life with polesitter Josh Schneiderman jumping on the gas simultaneously with Carson as the two drivers raced down the front straightaway. Carson raced into the early race lead down the front straightaway.

Carson took advantage of his starting spot and led the opening lap with Schneiderman scored in second place followed by Kofoid, and Johnson. They each held one of those coveted transfer position early with Carson setting the race pace out front in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41.

Carson Macedo exited turn four for the final time with the race lead as he darted across the finish line 3.454 seconds ahead of second place finisher Buddy Kofoid (97 points). Josh Schneiderman (94 points) raced home third with Kaleb Johnson (91 points) locking down the fourth and final transfer spot out of the fourth qualifying race. Tyler Courtney (88 points) completed the top five. Jack Anderson came home sixth (85 points), with Chase Randall (82 points) in seventh, Will Armitage (79 points) eighth, Derek Hagar (76 points) in ninth place, and Garrett Bensen (73 points) completing the top ten.

Carson now had accumulated 238 total event points and following time trials and the Heat race action.

With the qualifying action recorded and the points sub-totaled at this point of the night, the 24 drivers who earned their rightful spot in the field for the 25-lap Toyota Iowa Lottery Qualifying Night preliminary A-Main started to climb into the cockpits of their high speed missiles prepared to battle to an end. The lineup was set based on the number of event points accumulated by the drivers who transferred out of the qualifying races. The top eight drivers in points invert to place the highest point earner back on the outside of row four with the eighth highest point earner sitting in the pole position for the start of the feature.

The race format placed Garet Williamson #23 and Austin McCarl #88W on the front row with Tasker Phillips #1TZ and Buddy Kofoid #83 paired together in row two. Tied together in row three were Parker Price-Miller #71 and Brian Brown #21 with the two highest point earners that transferred Daryn Pittman #69K and Kyle Larson #57 in row four. Carson climbed into his high speed office in the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Saich Family #41 Maxim and cinched his Crow Enterprizes safety belts tight as he would get his competition started from the 15th starting spot.

After going four-wide, the drivers pulled back into the two-by-two starting formation as the yellow lights dimmed in anticipation of Justin Clark waving the green flag the next time by the packed front stretch grandstands. Garet Williamson darted into the race lead with McCarl and Kofoid hounding him from behind throughout the early stages of the race. Carson dropped back one spot early before the first caution of the race occurred for a three car melee involving Kaleb Johnson, Carson McCarl, and Matt Juhl over in turn three.

Garet Williamson stepped back on the gas and led McCarl, Kofoid, Brown, and Larson back up to speed around the half-mile track. Carson began to find his mojo and was running in 13th place behind Brent Marks and Spencer Bayston. He had speed and was on a mission. He moved the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 by the NOS Energy #17 of Bayston.

On lap 10, the yellow flag displayed for sixth place running Tasker Phillips #1TZ who spun in turn two. The restart order would be Williamson, McCarl, Kofoid, Larson, and Parker Price-Miller with Carson restarting from the eleventh spot. The green was back out. Larson raced into the show position moving by the Roth Enterprises #83. It took Carson a few laps to build up his momentum and get in sync again, but five laps later he was now running in the eighth spot applying pressure on seventh place running Brian Brown.

One lap later, Carson moved the forty-one by Brown into the seventh spot right behind Parker-Price Miller and Brent Marks vying for a spot in the top five. The three drivers were nose-to-tail when the red flag brought an abrupt stop to the speed when Tasker Phillips flipped over in turn two.

With three miles of racing remaining, the green lights turned on with Garet Williamson out front with Kyle Larson and Buddy Kofoid now chasing the leader. They were breathing down his neck with Larson diving under him entering turn one as he exited turn two with the leader.

When the checkered flag waved to end the race, it was Kyle Larson taking the preliminary night victory along with the 200 points awarded to the feature winner with Garet Williamson (198 points) close behind in second place and Brent Marks (196 points) finishing in the third spot to round out the podium. Buddy Kofoid (194 points) crossed the finish line in fourth place with Austin McCarl (192 points) completing the top five.

Carson raced the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to a seventh place finish to earn another 188 points. Removing his fire protectant head sock with sweat beading off his forehead and the heat still coming off his Schoenfeld Headers the Californian climbed out of his racecar to download with his crew members. His accumulate point total based on his performance added up to 426 points, which ended up being 14th overall on his preliminary night and 26th overall in combined preliminary points. He and the team’s hard work and relentless efforts throughout the night of racing locked the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) car into Saturday night’s B-Main at the 65th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s.

The sixteen drivers that locked into Saturday night’s A-Main were: (1) Kyle Larson #57 (485 points); (2) Sheldon Haudenschild #18 (481 points); (3) James McFadden #21T (478 points); (4) Kasey Kahne #9 (477 points); (5) Buddy Kofoid (469 points); (6) Justin Henderson #11 (463 points); (7) Parker Price-Miller #71 (461 points); (8) Daryn Pittman #69K (461 points); (9) Chase Dietz #23D (460 points); (10) David Gravel #2 (460 points); (11) Rico Abreu #14TSR (460 points); (12) Logan Schuchart #1s (459 points); (13) Garet Williamson #23 (458 points); (14) Cole Macedo #2c (457 points); (15) Corey Day #14 (457 points); and (16) Brian Brown (457 points).

Generating Speed While Tallying Up Points During Toyota Iowa Lottery Qualifying Night at the Knoxville Nationals! 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.

Go to ShopJJR.com to look at all our offerings and buy your new JJR and Carson Macedo gear and merchandise.