NEW TEMPORARY WHEELS IN GRAND FORKS: AFTER THE TEAM ENCOUNTERED ISSUES HEADING TO NORTH DAKOTA, CARSON MACEDO JUMPS INTO THE BACKUP TWOC RACING MACHINE AT RIVER CITIES SPEEDWAY TO START THE SECOND LEG OF THE NORTHERN TOUR

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA (April 28, 2026) – Back in May when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series made their first stop at River Cities Speedway’s “World Famous Bullring” in Grand Forks, Carson Macedo started ninth eventually making a late race pass for the lead with four laps to go to win the Don Mack Classic. After two consecutive podium finishes in Minnesota last weekend at Ogilvie and Jackson, Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman set the GPS to head towards North Dakota for three nights of racing after departing the shop in Rocky Mount, Missouri on Thursday. While in route they encountered some mechanical issues with the truck that slowed their progress and eventually stopped them in their tracks. Not good. They were fighting repair logistics and timelines related to the completion of repairs while trying to find a replacement truck, which disabled them from making the remainder of the trip and ability to compete in Friday night’s race.

Todd Carlile, Kelly Carlile, and Wayne Johnson from the TwoC Racing team graciously stepped up by offering Carson the opportunity to drive their backup car with a temporary and well-done white #41 taped on the wing for the night. Their actions are reflective of genuine thoughtfulness and kindness the people in this sport truly represent. Not to mention the level of sportsmanship was off the charts. Sure, everyone on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series tour is fierce competitors, but actions and blessings like this make you pause to reflect with gratitude. Some call grassroots fans of the sport “Salt of the Earth” . . . the truth is the people surrounding and involved in sprint car racing are pure gold. Truly national treasures that support the sport, the teams, their favorite driver(s), and are fiercely loyal to supporting the sponsorship partners that support the sport. While a thank you never seems to be enough to show our appreciation, it is always the best place to start. Thank you very much to everyone at TwoC Racing!

The TwoC Racing team rolled the backup car out of the trailer in preparation for a night of show stopping entertainment at the always exciting Greater Grand Forks Fair bullring facility. From the vintage covered grandstands with a brick facade and yellow awnings to the welcome signs and billboards surrounding the racetrack, this place is inviting for the race fans and visiting race teams alike, and both usually leave fulfilled because the entertainment value is simply off the charts. There were 36 competitive race teams and drivers eager and ready to kick off the Second Leg of the Northern Tour in North Dakota at River Cities Speedway – World of Outlaws style!

After a few quick tours around the track in Race//Ready Hot Laps the drivers began to line up in the staging area outside of turn four prepared to compete in the first, and maybe the most important, official order of business to start the show – Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. Each of the drivers would get two laps alone out on the track to turn their quickest lap, which would be used to place them into the starting lineup in one of the Heat races. If the driver or the car is off the pace, even just a smidge, they have just increased the angle of the hill they have to climb throughout the night. Carson, wearing a borrowed Spencer Bayston NOS Energy Drink fire suit – thank you Spencer Bayston that was kind and “NOSome” of you, would be the 23rd speed chauffeur to face the task at hand. After Spencer Bayston in the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing #17 completed his timed session, the driver out of Lemoore, California was ready to make speed behind the wheel. When the engine fired under the carbon fiber hood, he stepped on the gas and released the ponies to run free. He darted underneath the waving green flag and navigated around the banking of the quarter mile dirt bullring. Carson’s work during lap one was completed in just 9.939 seconds. He followed that up circuit up with an equally impressive lap in 9.939 seconds during lap two. The faster of his two speed moments ended up 17th quick overall on the night. Not a bad start for the forty-one driver with the TwoC Racing team behind him, but no time to celebrate over at Happy Harry’s Bottle Shop which would have been understandable after the crazy day. David Gravel in the Bog Game Motorsports #2 was the driver who made his way around this place the quickest turning a lap in 9.739 seconds to earn his 19th Simpson Quick Time Award of the season to start the night at River Cities Speedway. All the qualifying times were tight with twenty-one drivers in the nine second bracket separated by a scant .248 seconds as reported by Johnny Gibson.

When the lineups posted for each of the four 10-lap Heat races they each were stacked with talented racers. Carson would start mid-pack in the field from row three of NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1 in the red and black Rod End Supply/Outlaw Wings/WEDG Performance #41 Maxim alongside Dominic Dobesh from Brookings, South Dakota. The row three starters paced behind front row starters David Gravel #2 and Bryce Lucius in his first night driving the Bill Rose Racing #6 with Logan Schuchart #1s and Sam Henderson #83JR behind in row two. Grand Fork’s own Mark Dobmeier #13 and Ryan Bickett #17D would begin the race from row four followed by Zach Omdahl #17K alone in row five.

They were all racing for one of the five transfer positions when the green flag dropped to commence the speedy duel. Bryce Lucius dropped his right foot and jumped into the race lead during the opening lap with David Gravel following in his tire tracks keeping pace early. Carson used the low side of the speedway through the first set of turns to drive forward into the third spot with Logan Schuchart and Mark Dobmeier in tow.

Lucius was fast and the track was moist and tacky creating a speed formula that was going to be difficult to beat. The field began to spread out from the leader to the last place driver with each completed lap. When the black and white cloth ended the on track pursuit in this qualifying competition, Bryce Lucius made a terrific debut as he hustled to the win dominating the race to earn the win over David Gravel as they both advanced into the Toyota Dash. Carson wheeled his temporary forty-one across the finish line third followed by Logan Schuchart and Mark Dobmeier who completed the top five. Each of those drivers locked into the A-Main and would be joined by the 15 other drivers from the remaining three Heat races.

After a long rain delay for the second week in a row, the engines finally began to fire for the start of the 40-lap Second Leg of the Northern Tour feature at River Cities Speedway. The action up to this point of the night had been captivating and exciting, but it was about to get even better. The fans in the stands were on their feet proudly wearing their favorite drivers gear ready to cheer them on. An oversized check and a beautiful event trophy were waiting for the winner in Victory Lane as the drivers slowly rolled into their starting positions on the grid. David Gravel #2 was set to lead the field to the green flag after winning the Toyota Dash with Garet Williamson #23 to his outside on the front row. Spencer Bayston #17 and Buddy Kofoid #83 pulled into row two with Chris Windom #7s and Emerson Axsom #27 in row three and Bryce Lucius #6 and Cole Macedo #2c ready to go from row four as they were all prepared to battle.

The driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Brown & Miller Raving Solutions (BMRS)/PWR Advanced Cooling Technology #41 Maxim masked behind the TwoC Racing red and black team colors – you must use your imagination – was locked and loaded for the work ahead around this bullring. He was confident Wayne Johnson and the TwoC Racing boys gave him a fast racecar. He just needed a little Lady Luck sprinkled over top of some opportunities between the green flag flying and the checkers to achieve his goal. When his Kistler Engines power came to life he accelerated and aligned himself on the inside of row five sharing the space with Felton, Minnesota’s Andy Pake #64.

Primed and ready to go, these talented athletes of the sport were chomping at the bit to put on a tremendous show in front of a packed house at River Cities Speedway. The yellow lights around the track dimmed in anticipation of the flagman showing the green flag out of run four. After the initial start went under caution when Kelby Watt #3 got over the banking in the first set of turns, David Gravel stepped on the ‘go fast’ button and roared up to speed. He led the opening lap followed by Garet Williamson and Buddy Kofoid with Carson moving into the eighth spot.

The leaders caught up to lap traffic by lap four as the surface was lightning quick. They got nine laps in the books before the next caution came out. This time it was for Bryce Lucius who rolled to a stop with a broken rear end bringing his night to a quick end.

David Gravel brought the field back up to speed, but things were about to get a little chaotic. Fifth running Chris Windom bicycled the NOS Energy Drink #7s in turn one clogging up the lanes as everyone behind him got on the brakes to avoid contact. That bunched the next seven cars up nose to tail with nowhere to go as Carson got sideways after getting into Cole Macedo’s rear nerf bar. Bill Balog and Donny Schatz piled in as they had nowhere to go sending Carson onto his side at the exit of turn two bringing out the red flag. He headed to the Federated Car Care Work Zone but the damage to the car was too much to repair in two minutes so his night ended with a twenty-second place finish.

An unfortunate end to a difficult and challenging but character building type of day for Carson and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team. These are the types of days that if you allow them to they will make you better. In many ways though all the bad was more than offset by the kindness and generosity shown by the TwoC Racing team and the fellow competitors. A sincere thank you to all who contributed to make the day better.

When the racing resumed, it was just as exciting as it was before the red flag came out. David Gravel was still in command out front with a fast and hungry Garet Williamson right behind stalking him. The 2025 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year was sitting up in his seat keeping the black and orange number two close.

On lap 13, the yellow lights turned back on as Sam Henderson and Brendan Mullin were both over the banking in turn one. Because of track conditions race officials made the decision that all restarts would be single file. Gravel was back on the gas with Williamson and Kofoid right behind. It did not take too long for the leaders to catch the back of the pack. They now had to weave through the traffic at speed.

That gave Williamson the opportunity he was looking for to take the lead. On lap 26, David Gravel got caught up behind a slower car opening the bottom lane up. The young speedster from Columbia, Missouri saw it and took advantage of the space provided to slip underneath and take the lead. Garet Williamson never looked back and collecting his first career World of Outlaws win over David Gravel and his good friend Buddy Kofoid. Spencer Bayston brough the NOS Energy Drink #17 home fourth with Logan Schuchart completing the top five. Emerson Axsom finished sixth with Chris Windom, Cole Macedo, Mark Dobmeier, and Sheldon Haudenschild rounding out the top ten.

Carson signed autographs for the fans before his trip down I-29 South in route to Fix It Forward Speedway in West Fargo for the second night of racing in North Dakota. This was a special one for all the drivers on the tour as they were racing to honor Danny Schatz, ten-time WoO champion Donny Schatz’s father, in the Danny Schatz Memorial event. Make plans to show up and show out Saturday night to celebrate a true hero of the sport and throughout the community right here in North Dakota. If catching the action in person is not in the cards, tune into DIRTVision to watch all the action unfold. #DannySchatzMemorial

An Eventful Day/Night at River Cities Speedway’s Demanding Little Bullring of Entertainment! Photo Credit: Cole Macedo

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.