BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN: CARSON MACEDO LEADS THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 MAXIM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE TO A VICTORY IN THE DANNY SCHATZ MEMORIAL AT FIX IT FORWARD SPEEDWAY AFTER 35 LAPS OF SPEED

WEST FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA (August 29, 2026) – Following a crazy start to the weekend in North Dakota for Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team, another “worth the price of admission” type of show at the entertaining River Cities Speedway bullring on Friday night was signed, sealed, and delivered. Driving a backup TwoC Racing machine with a white taped with black outlined #41 on the wing after the team could not make it to the track due to mechanical issues with the truck, Carson had a good night going running in eighth place until it turned in a different direction after a lap nine restart and resulting accident. The Lemoore, California driver was scored as the twenty-second place finisher at the end of the night. His JJR teammates finally arrived in North Dakota as they ventured into West Fargo to meet up with their driver at Fix It Forward Speedway, formerly known as Red River Valley Speedway, for the second of three races in North Dakota this weekend. This 3/8-mile racetrack located on the western side of town has produced some exciting doozies in the past. Most recently at the track, in August of last year, Carson Macedo and Sheldon Haudenschild raced wheel-to-wheel late in the race with Macedo capturing the win at the line at the Duel in the Dakotas event that was in the running for the 2025 race finish of the year. The drivers and teams looked to replicate that type of energy and excitement as they honored one of the true legends of the sport from this state, Danny Schatz, at Fix It Forward Speedway in the Danny Schatz Memorial. Under overcast skies, the crew members were busy working on their speed chariots in preparation for the night of action as 33 race teams lined the pit area ready to put on a show. It was race day in North Dakota for the second night in a row this weekend.

The drivers began to roll out on the track for Race//Ready Hot Laps to get their first exposure to the racing surface at speed before time trials. The first driver out for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying was Blake Egeland #26 setting the mark at 12.733 seconds. The Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/FK Shocks/Winters Performance Products #41 Maxim of Carson Macedo was the 19th car to push off for his two timed laps after drawing the ‘35’ pill at the start of the night. He stomped on the loud pedal and took off building up his speed and momentum. He buzzed by the waving green flag looking to make quick work around Fix It Forward Speedway. The California wheelman made his way around the first time in 11.923 seconds. He immediately followed that up with an even better lap the next time crossing the finish line in 11.813 seconds. Carson’s best lap time was the fourth fastest time overall when time trials ended. David Gravel, who went out third from last in the order, sat at the top of the speed charts again in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying with a time of 11.628 seconds earning his unmatched 20th Simpson Quick Time Award this season.

World of Outlaws Timing and Scoring officials put together the staring grids for each of the four 8-lapHeat races. There were only five transfer spots up for grabs in each one, so it was ‘gas and go’ time for the competitors. Based on his solid time trial lap, Carson lined the Sander Engineering/Xtreme Body and Paint/Smiley’s Racing Products #41 Maxim up on the inside of the front row with fellow Californian Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Enterprises/Mobil 1 #83 to his outside in Golf Cart Services Heat Race #4. Chris Windom #7s and Tim Estenson #14T pulled their colorful cars into row two with Dominic Dobesh #9 and Sheldon Haudenschild #17 raring to go from row three. Ryan Bickett #17D and Reed Alex #91 were set to start side by side in row four before Allex scratched from the race.

Ready to see some high speed action, the fans in the stands watched intently as the field paced slowly towards the chalk line laid across turn four. That boundary line coupled with the green flag were the two markers that guided when it was time to go racing at Fix It Forward Speedway. The polesitter responded and darted down the frontstretch with Kofoid trying to keep pace through the first set of turns. When they exited turn four on the first lap the running order found Carson out front in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 leading Kofoid, Windom, Estenson, and Dobesh.

The speeds were fast and the drivers were working their tails off. The laps quickly started to dwindle down with Macedo still out in front of the pack followed by the Roth Motorsports entry. Time was running out for the drivers, especially those not in one of those top five positions on the scoreboard. There was some distance between each of the positions out on the track when the white flag flew indicating one more lap of competition. Carson never looked back though as he raced to the qualifying race victory by 2.118 seconds over Kofoid. Those two drivers would advance into the Toyota Dash where they would get to race for their starting spots in the A-Main. Chris Windom came home third with Tim Estenson and Dominic Dobesh picking up the remaining transfer positions out of the fourth Heat race.

After all the numbers were gone in the oversized NOS Energy Drink Can to determine the starting lineup for the 6-lap Toyota Dash, Carson would get started from the inside of row three with David Gravel #2 to his outside. That speedy duo would pace behind front row starters Bill Balog #17B and Gage Pulkrabek #G5 and Buddy Kofoid #83 and Garet Williamson #23 in row two. Pacing behind in row four were Christpher Thram #24T and Sam Henderson #83. They were racing to earn their starting spots in the A-Main. When the green flag waved, Bill Balog darted into the race lead ahead of Pulkrabek and Williamson. David Gravel used his outside row starting position to race around Macedo into the fifth spot at the end of lap one. The North Pole Nightmare, Bill Balog, has a fast racecar and was showing off his speed in the Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup #17B. He raced to the Dash victory with Garet Williamson coming home second to earn the remaining spot on the front row in the feature. Gage Pulkrabek held off David Gravel at the finish line with Buddy Kofoid racing home fifth. Carson hustled the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 home sixth with Christopher Thram and Sam Henderson completing the finishing order.

With weather moving into the area, officials kept the show moving along as the sound of the air horn filled the air throughout the Danny Schatz Pit Area alerting the 25 race teams that were locked into the starting grid, Sheldon Haudenschild used a provisional to start the race, for the 35-lap Danny Schatz Memorial feature at Fix It Forward Speedway to stage on the track. This was the inaugural time the event would be sanctioned by the World of Outlaws (WoO). The drivers in the first four rows of the feature were determined by the finishing order of the Toyota Dash. That put Bill Balog #17B on the pole with Friday night’s first time WoO winner Garet Williamson #23 to his outside on the front row. Pacing behind them in row two were Gage Pulkrabek #G5 and David Gravel #2 with Buddy Kofoid #83 and Carson Macedo #41 slowly rolling behind in row three. Christopher Thram #24T and Sam Henderson #83 were together in row four.

Carson climbed into the cockpit of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/CASM Safety Products/Jansen Transportation #41 Maxim before buckling into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts. Primed and ready to go from his sixth starting spot, the Californian visualized his early race strategy and had confidence he could execute the plan.

The drivers raced back into their starting positions behind the Toyota Pace Truck after saluting the great fans in the packed stands during the traditional World of Outlaws four-wide salute. It was now time to go racing at Fix It Forward Speedway to honor Danny Schatz. The next time by the grandstands, the green flag flew with Balog being the first driver into the clean air out in front of the hungry pack of high flying competitors. He was followed by Williamson and Pulkrabek at the end of the first circuit with Carson scored in fifth place right behind David Gravel.

Philip Dietz and Robby McQuinn gave Carson a really good Maxim Racing machine to race. On lap 3, he used that speed to his advantage moving by the Big Game Motorsports #2 into fourth place. He was closing in quickly on Pulkrabek in third when the yellow flag came out when 16th place running Andy Pake spun out of turn four into the infield.

After the race leader chose the inside lane for the restart, Carson pulled the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to the outside on Pulkrabek in row two. The green flag was flying again with Balog maintaining the top spot over Williamson as Carson darted into the show position.

On lap 5, the second caution of the night came out for Steven Snyder Jr. #51 who slowed with a flat rear tire. He headed to the Federated Car Care Work Zone and rejoined the field. With 30 laps remaining, the green lights turned back on, and the race was on again in West Fargo. The top three in the running order stayed the same, but the two time, defending World of Outlaws champion, David Gravel, moved by Pulkrabek into fourth place.

Carson was able to move around and maintain his speed. He found a grip strip around the bottom and took a liking to it. As the race leaders began to weave through traffic, Carson used his speed to close in on second place running Garet Williamson who in turn was getting closer to Balog who was leading the race.

On lap 12, Carson ducked underneath Williamson to take over the runner-up position. Three laps later, on lap 15, he used the same low line to drive underneath Balog for the lead and set sail. He was navigating traffic like a taxi driver in New York City trying to get an executive to a deal closing meeting in Manhattan. Garet Williamson moved the Fischer Motorsports #23 by Balog six laps later to take over second place.

The driver of the forty-one was simply on a mission. An important one that the team needed as he raced to victory in the Danny Schatz Memorial at Fix It Forward Speedway 1,883 seconds ahead of Garet Williamson who was followed across the finish line by Bill Balog. David Gravel raced home fourth with Buddy Kofoid rounding out the top five. Emerson Axsom finished sixth as Christopher Thram, Gage Pulkrabek, Sam Henderson, and Cole Macedo completed the top ten.

The smiling winner from Lemoore, California climbed out of the cockpit to celebrate with his JJR team under the falling confetti. He walked around the front of the car to speak with Conner Wade. Exhaling he stated, “I think we’ve been on a stretch of every time we seem to get a good run together, we get a little bit of bad luck.” He paused and recalled some sage advice he received from Jason Meyers, two-time World of Outlaws champion. When it’s hot, it’s hot. When it’s cold, it’s tough to get out of winter.” Turning attention to his car owner and crew chief as he emphasized, “That was Philip Dietz right there. That car was absolutely unbelievable. It was the best one on the track, I think, by a pretty large margin. I could just move to a different lane a drive by guys. Hats off to him. He just kept getting better and better as the night went on.” A great win for Macedo and the forty-one team!

With two of the three races during the Second Leg of the Northern Tour now in the books, the final stop of the weekend in North Dakota is the Magic City Showdown race at Nodak Speedway that was postponed back in May due to weather. Make plans for your Sunday Funday to watch some of the best sprint car drivers in the country do their things right in your own backyard. If you live in the area come out and catch the action at the track or tune into DIRTVision so you do not miss a lap of exciting, high speed World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series competition! #MagicCityShowdown

Celebrating Win in the Danny Schatz Memorial at Fix It Forward Speedway! 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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