LATE NIGHT AFFAIR IN MINNESOTA: MANUEVERING QUICKLY ALL NIGHT AT “THE HOME OF THE BIG O” BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE SCOTT BOYD FAMILY #41 MAXIM, MACEDO CROSSES THE FINISH LINE WITH A RUNNER-UP FINISH!

OGILVIE, MINNESOTA (August 21, 2026) – Leaving Iowa in August after the Knoxville Nationals is never easy. But every one of these race teams departs carrying with them a different type of memory – some good, some bad, or some indifferent. After getting off to a slow start in time trials during his qualifying night on Thursday night, Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team put together a solid week surrounded by speed and noticeable progress. That momentum carried them forward in Saturday’s A-Main until they had an engine expired running inside the top ten. They had to quickly put that in the rearview mirror as they headed to Minnesota for two races starting Friday night at Ogilvie Raceway at the Big O Showdown presented by Wagamon Brothers. Carson and the forty-one team have had success here in the past, including wins here in 2023 and 2025 with a runner-up finish sandwiched in between in 2024, as they looked forward to continuing that type of trend on Friday night at the 3/8-mile dirt oval located just off Highway 23. There were 29 sprint car teams lining the pit area joined by the UMSS Winged Sprints, all ready to put on a show in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” – World of Outlaws style.

Following the completion of Race//Ready Hot Laps, the cars in attendance began to line up in the staging area for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. The order was determined randomly during the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw that took place at the World of Outlaws Command Center. David Gravel #2 was set to be the first driver out on the track and turned a lap in 11.787 seconds to establish the early mark with 28 cars remaining with time on the clock. Carson would be the 21st speedster out in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Team Jack Foundation/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication #41 Maxim. Joining him on the track in two car qualifying was Sanborn, Minnesota’s Christopher Thram #24T. When Dominic Dobesh #9 and Logan Schuchart #1s completed their circuits, it was the driver out of Lemoore, California time to make speed racing against the fast moving numbers on the stopwatch. He dropped his right K1 Race Gear boot on the gas pedal and bult up his speed as he raced under the waving green flag at the flagstand. He was rocking and rolling around this racy place completing lap one in 11.937 seconds. Carson stayed on the hammer the next time around looking to find any speed he may have missed the first time. This time when he came out of turn four the black and white checkered cloth was flying ending lap two in 12.054 seconds. The best of Carson’s two attempts was the first one, which was fourth quick overall on the night. Topping the speed charts, staying there from start to finish at Ogilvie Raceway, to earn his 18th Simpson Quick Time Award of the season was David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 with that lightning quick lap of 11.787 seconds.

Based on the car count there were three 8-lap Heat races on tap for the competitors with each securing six transfer positions into the A-Main. The top two finishers would also get the opportunity to race for their starting spots in one of the first three rows of the feature by dueling in the Toyota Dash. The final qualifying race lineups used each driver’s best time trial lap time with the fastest guys up front. That put the Tarlton and Son/Saldana Racing Products/ Motor State Distributing #41 Maxim of Carson Macedo in NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1 where he would line up on the outside of the front row beside quick timer David Gravel #2 with Emerson Axsom #27 and Kasey Jedrzejek #6 trailing behind in row two. Skylar Gee #16c and Buddy Kofoid #83 pulled up alongside each other in row three with Conner Morrell #28M and Scotty Broty #33 staring at their rear fuel tanks from row four. The two drivers in the fifth and final row representing Minnesota and South Dakota respectively were Jeremy Snow #4s and Ryan Bickett #17D.

It was time to continue the high speed show at Ogilvie Raceway. The green flag was out, and the first race of the night was on. David Gravel seized the early race lead over Macedo and Jedrzejek. Carson was trying his best to stay with the race leader who was sailing at speed at the front of the pack in clean air. Gravel was flying around this place and just after the halfway point of the race had the slower cars at the back of the pack in his sights. Carson was hoping to use that to his advantage, but the two-time and defending World of Outlaws champion would have none of it. Gravel raced to the qualifying race victory over Macedo by 1.121 seconds. Those two drivers advanced onto the Toyota Dash and would be joined by the remaining two Heat race winners and runner-up finishers. The other qualifying race winners were Steven Snyder Jr. in the Three Stooges Racing #51 (Heat Race #2) and Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing #18 (Heat Race #3).

The top two finishers in each Heat race headed to the frontstretch to redraw for their starting positions in the 6-lap Toyota Dash. Carson would pick fourth out of six drivers. There were three numbers remaining in the oversized NOS Energy Drink Can – one, two, and five. Fairly good odds to start on the front row, right? Unfortunately, not. He selected the highest remaining number and would start from the inside of row three in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 alongside Steven Snyder Jr. #51. That talented duo paced behind row two starters David Gravel #2 and Sheldon Haudenschild #18 with Garet Williamson #23 and Bill Balog #17B perched on the front row. When the green flag waved, Carson went three wide into turn one looking between Gravel and Haudenschild hoping to make something happen early to no avail. He got shuffled back to sixth place with Bill Balog out front. These guys were all ripping around this place until lap five when the caution flag came out to slow the action for Carson who rolled to a stop out of turn four with apparent engine issues. He headed to the pits where Philip, Robby, and Adam started to change the motor. Back on the racetrack, Balog raced back up to speed and collected the Dash win ahead of Williamson and Gravel with Haudenschild, Snyder Jr. and Macedo completing the finishing order.

When all the qualifying action finished, the crew members of the 24 cars that made the field for the 30-lap Big O Showdown presented by Wagamon Brothers feature began to finish their preparation work as the air horn sounded throughout the pit area. The cars began to stage out on the track for the start of the pre-race activities where the crew members turned the remainder of the work over to their drivers. After coming out on top of the Toyota Dash, Bill Balog #17B sat on the pole with Garet Williamson #23 to his outside of the front row. Following in row two was David Gravel #2 and Sheldon Haudenschild #18 with Steven Snyder Jr. #51 and Carson Macedo #41 ready to roll from row three. Behind the six Toyota Dash drivers in row four were Kasey Jedrzejek #6 and Logan Schuchart #1s with Donny Schatz #15 and Buddy Kofoid #83 in row five.

Ready to wheel the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Engler Machine & Tool, Inc./PWR Advanced Cooling Technology #41 Maxim, Carson climbed into his Fibreworks Composites carbon fiber fitted seat with a Sharp Advantage custom fitted insert as he finalized his competition strategy for the race. When his buckles clicked in on his Crow Enterprizes safety harness he cinched the belts tight for the high speed adventure. After the JJR team changed the power plant under the hood, Carson was set to get the feature started from the sixth position in row three beside Steven Snyder Jr.

After going four-wide to salute these great fans in the stands, the drivers raced back into their starting positions in the two-by-two formation. The yellow lights dimmed around the track in anticipation of the green ones illuminating. When the front row starters arrived at the chalk stripe laid down across turn four the calmness turned to high speed controlled calamity.

Garet Williamson led the opening lap in the Fischer Motorsports machine with Bill Balog, Sheldon Haudenschild, and David Gravel all pacing right behind him. Scored in fifth place, Carson gained a spot on the opening circuit and raced with Gravel and Schuchart for position early.

By lap 3, Haudenschild moved by Balog into the runner-up spot and was in hot pursuit of the leader. Carson closed in on fourth running David Gravel and the next time by moved the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 by the current series point leader at the line into the fourth spot before the rain started to fall. And it was falling fast. Race officials threw the yellow flag quickly and replaced it with the red one instructing the drivers to take their cars back to the pit area.

After a long rain delay, the SLS Promotions team and track officials did a tremendous job getting the surface ready for the remaining 26 laps of the feature. The top five when they resumed racing was Garet Williamson, Sheldon Haudenschild, Bill Balog, Carson Macedo, and David Gravel with Logan Schuchart in the sixth position. The green lights around the track were back on with Williamson leading the charge ahead of Haudenschild and Macedo who raced ahead of Balog when they restarted the race.

Sheldon Haudenschild did not allow the leader to get too far ahead and on lap 11 snuck underneath him as he claimed the race lead in the NOS Energy Drink/KCP Racing #18. Carson continued to stay in their tracks left behind from their Hoosier Racing Tires. As the leaders navigated through slower traffic on lap 16, Macedo snuck by Williamson to take over the runner-up position behind the race leader in the orange and blue car.

Carson had a fast hotrod and was closing in on the leader. The track was still incredibly fast and very racy. With six laps to go, Carson was within striking distance and attempted a slide job for the lead when the opportunity presented itself, but Haudenschild stayed the course and methodically crossed back over taking the lead back. Garet Williamson was directly behind them smiling like a Cheshire cat under his helmet as he sensed opportunity evolving where he could become a player for the lead. He was all over Carson for the runner-up position, but Macedo relentlessly held him off.

Sheldon Haudenschild raced to his eighth win of the WoO season racing across the finish line ahead of Carson Macedo with Garet Williamson coming home third. Bill Balog was fourth with Logan Schuchart rounding out the top five. Finishing in positions six through ten were Spencer Bayston (KSE Hard Charger after starting 12th), David Gravel, Buddy Kofoid, Donny Schatz, and Emerson Axsom. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Carson and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series traveling tour of stars stay in Minnesota on Saturday as they head to Jackson Motorplex on Saturday night for the FENDT Showdown. This beautiful facility always puts on a great show when the 410 sprint cars come to town, so be sure to watch DIRTVision if you are not in the area or have plans to be at the racetrack. #FENDTShowdown

Scooting Around Ogilvie Raceway to a Podium Finish in the Big O Showdown Aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

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.