BATTLING IN BAKERSFIELD: CARSON MACEDO SLUGGED IT OUT ALL NIGHT AT THE NASHVILLE WEST SHOWDOWN IN THE MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (MVT) #41 MAXIM TO SALVAGE A TOP 10 FINISH AFTER A SLOW START TO THE NIGHT

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (September 25, 2026) – After collecting his sixth win of the season at the Central Valley Clash on Tuesday night in Hanford, California, the home state hero Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team pointed their Border International rig south for their trip to Bakersfield for a Friday night showdown at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. The team headed down Interstate 5 and pulled into the pit area at what is dubbed “The West’s Fastest 1/3-Mile High Banked Clay Oval.” Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman dropped the back door of the hauler and rolled out the also glistening Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 for the night of high speed entertainment during the Nashville West Showdown. The fans were already out buying their favorite driver’s merchandise and enjoying the pre-race festivities, while the drivers and teams were back in the pit area busy preparing for a night of success. There were 25 drivers suited up and ready to compete to see if they could be the only one holding the checkered flag at the end of the night in Bakerfield. The 410 sprint field was joined by the competitors of the California Lightning Sprints who were also ready to add to the show’s value. Let’s go racing – World of Outlaws (WoO) style!

After navigating around the track in Race//Ready Hot Laps, the drivers began to line up in the staging lane for the start of Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. Each of the drivers would get two laps on the wet and narrow racing surface to attempt to lay down their quickest lap around this racetrack. Austin McCarl holds the one lap track record here circling this place in an impressive 12.021 seconds back on March 21, 2025. Skylar Gee in the Greg Wheeler Motorsports/Gibbsville Cheese #16c was the first speed demon to hit the track. His best lap was 12.244 seconds. The Tarlton and Son/Durst Inc./Sander Engineering #41 Maxim was the twelfth car to push out onto the racetrack for Carson’s two speed circuits. He lowered his right K1 Race Gear boot on the gas pedal and was off to the races. The ponies were stretching their legs creating horsepower as the native Californian shuffled under the waving green flag. The red numbers on the stopwatch were scrambling quickly as Carson laid down his first lap. When they stopped his lap time was 12.676 seconds. Carson continued his speed attempt without hesitation as he was already heading down the backstretch with a full head of steam. This time when he raced underneath the waving checkered flag the clock recorded his effort in 12.738 seconds. His first lap was the best of his two attempts only placing him 22nd quick overall on the final speed charts. A slow start to the night in Bakersfield, but there was a lot of racing left to do. The name at the top of the speed chart when time trials ended was California’s own Corey Day in the Jason Meyers Racing/Sander Engineering #14 at 12.239 seconds earning him the Simpson Quick Time Award for his speed display.

The show continued as the race officials in the World of Outlaws Command Center wrapped up their work pulling together the starting lineups for the three 8-lapHeat races. When scanning the lists, the forty-one of Carson Macedo would start from the eighth position in NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1 alongside Bryce Lucius #6 in row four. Leading the first and fastest qualifying race on the front row was quick timer Corey Day #14 and Bill Balog #17B with the talented duo of Chris Windom #7s and Kaleb Montgomery #3 right behind them in row two. Cole Macedo #2c and Garet Williamson #23 filled the spots in row three with Carson and Bryce Lucius looking forward from row four. Pacing alone in row five was Carson and Cole Macedo’s cousin Gauge Garcia #5K as he prepared to stomp on the loud pedal when the flagman gave the signal.

The track was still wet and narrow, which would make passing extremely difficult. But without further ado, the flagman went to work showing the green flag to the field. The previous neat and orderly lineup now spread out as they all searched for a clear lane ahead to make a pass for position. Corey Day was the first driver into the clean air followed by Balog and Windom who were keeping the leader within striking distance as they entered turn one. Carson was back in dirty air in the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Greber Racing Components (GRC)/CASM Safety Products #41. He got sideways in turn one, almost spinning, before slowing to a stop to bring out the caution flag.

He would tag the rear of the field in the ninth spot for a complete restart. The green lights turned back on with Day showing the way ahead of Balog, Windom, and Cole Macedo. Racing in ninth place after the first lap, Carson continued to search for a way to move forward which proved to be almost impossible. Throughout the duration of the race, he was able to squeak by his cousin late to regain the eighth spot, but that was it.

The flagman now had the checkered flag in his hands looking to wave it to end the qualifying race. The race leader, Corey Day, raced off turn four to take the win followed by Chris Windom in the runner-up slot. Those two drivers advanced onto the Toyota Dash with Bill Balog coming home third, Cole Macedo in fourth place, as Kaleb Montgomery rounded out the top five in Heat #1.

With no Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown (LCS), all 25 cars that entered at the pit gate began to roll out onto the racing surface for the start of the 30-lap Nashville West Showdown feature event at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Up until this point of the show card these drivers had delivered entertainment worth the price of admission but there was more to come. Buddy Kofoid #83 won the Toyota Dash and would start from the pole position with Corey Day #14 sharing the front row with him. Right behind them in row two was Spencer Bayston #17 and Chris Windom #7s with Donny Schatz #15 and Skylar Gee #16c poised and ready in row three. Showing off their cool sprint cars in row four were Bill Balog #17B and Emerson Axsom #27 with Tim Kaeding #0 and Cole Macedo #2c in row five.

Carson and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team struggled so far throughout the evening in the Albaugh – Your Alternative/PWR Advanced Cooling Technology/Boltz Family #41, but they are a gritty bunch and certainly were not about to surrender. The Lemoore, California born speed specialist climbed into his Maxim Racing office ready to put in a good night’s worth of work starting from the 22nd starting position. A quick bump of fists with crew member Robby McQuinn followed by a tap on the rear bumper by the push truck to fire the engine and he was off. While slowing pacing, Carson began to visualize his early race strategy.

After the field went four-wide to say “thank you” to these awesome fans who packed the stands, the drivers pulled back into the two-by-two starting formation in preparation of the start of the race. The yellow lights turned off around the racetrack. The engines purred quietly. The drivers took one last deep breath followed by a long exhale to slow their heart rate as they made their way down the back straightaway.

When the front row starters peeked out of turn four, the flagman was already hard at work fluttering the green flag in the air. The engines awoke with Buddy Kofoid leading the opening lap ahead of Day with Schatz who raced up to third place with 29 laps to go. Carson lost a spot in the early scuffle and was now in 23rd place dueling with Max Mittry #24 and Gauge Garcia #5K while these stars put on a show for the fans in the stands.

The first of many cautions in the race flew for Conner Morrell as his Tub O’ Towels #28M who was off the pace on the backstretch ending his night of competing. The driver of the Roth Motorsports #83 jumped back on the gas and brough the remaining field back up to racing speed. But before a lap could complete, the yellow flag was back out as there was debris on the track and D.J. Netto slowing to a stop.

Before you knew it they were back at it with Buddy Kofoid dominant up front as Corey Day maintained his speed and strategy trying to keep the pace with the driver of the Roth Enterprises #83. They recorded two more laps, but on lap 5 the race paused again when sixth place running Tim Kaeding got into Logan Schuchart. Two other drivers were also involved as they had nowhere to go. Those drivers were Sheldon Haudenschild and Kaleb Montgomery whose car was lying on its side. Those two along with Schuchart headed to the Federated Car Care Work Zone rejoining the back of the pack after repairs were done on their cars.

With 25 laps to go, Buddy Kofoid stood on the accelerator again when the green flag came out and was hustling out front again with Day and Schatz chasing. They were able to get four more laps in the books before the yellow flag was back out, this time for the series’ current point leader David Gravel who slowed to a stop on the frontstretch on lap 9. He headed to the work area too and rejoined the field after replacing the mag box.

They restarted again but the action was short-lived because Tim Kaeding flipped hard, nose-to-tail and end over end, over in turn two abruptly bringing out the red flag. The seasoned and accomplished driver was ok, but his car was destroyed. Race officials used this as an opportunity to call for an “Open Red” so teams could fill up their fuel tanks and make minor adjustments after all the early race interruptions.

Carson took advantage of all the misfortune to this point of the race to move up through the field with 21 laps remaining. Philip, Adam, and Robby made changes during the “Open Red” period. The engines began to re-fire with Buddy Kofoid leading them back up to speed. The Penngrove, California driver was the class of the field and displaying his speed in the Toyota Racing/Mobil 1 #83.

On lap 12, the yellow flag was out. This time for the race leader. Buddy Kofoid rolled to a stop and had to be assisted back to his trailer as his issues were terminal ending his night with Donny Schatz assuming the lead after he raced by Corey Day into the runner-up position.

Carson would restart from the 14th spot as the ten-time WoO champion lowered his right foot to resume the race. The driver of the CJB #15 was now showing the way with Corey Day hounding him lap after lap. Donny Schatz had the lead. Corey Day wanted it. They cleanly dueled for the spot while being aggressive lap after lap.

On lap 18, the race again paused under yellow flag conditions when sixth place running Skylar Gee spun into the infield to a stop just before turn three. Schatz was still the race leader followed by Day, Windom, Bayston, and Cole Macedo. Carson started again from 13th behind Dominic Scelzi, Garet Williamson and Dominic Gorden looking to continue to gain ground.

The green lights came back on with Schatz maintaining the lead ahead of Day and Windom with twelve laps to go. They successfully recorded three more laps as the drivers continued to work hard to improve their positions. Carson moved up another spot in the running order after racing by Steven Snyder Jr. on lap 21 with his sights set on more. Macedo now scored in 12th place race hard with Dominic Scelzi directly ahead of him.

With five laps to go, Donny Schatz was valiantly fending off the hard-charging Corey Day as the leaders put some distance between themselves and everyone else. Third place running Chris Windom tried to stay in the mix, but the leaders were quite a bit ahead of him. Up on the wheel, Carson grappled by Scelzi into 11th place with Logan Schuchart just ahead. He caught the driver from Hanover, Pennsylvania and made a last lap pass for position moving by the Shark Racing #1s to secure a tenth place finish.

When the racers darted under the checkered flag it was Donny Schatz taking the win over Corey Day and Chris Windom with Spencer Bayston and Emerson Axsom rounding out the top five. Cole Macedo drove the TwoC Racing #2c to a sixth place finish with Sheldon Haudenschild racing back to a seventh place finish after spending time in the work area early in the race. Racing home in eighth place was Bill Balog followed by Garet Williamson who just beat Carson across the finish line to finish by 0.090 seconds in ninth and tenth place, respectively.

The final weekend of World of Outlaws racing had only just begun at Bakersfield. After the race concluded and the fans met their favorite drivers and collected autographs, all eyes now turned to another one that they have been waiting for since the season schedule came out . . . Venture Raceway. The fans, drivers, and teams were all excited about this one and it was about to go down on Saturday night over at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. This is one event you are definitively not going to want to miss, so if it is not in the cards for you to be at the racetrack to catch this race in person, tune into DIRTVision!

Buckling Up and Battling All Night in Bakersfield at the Nashville West Showdown! Photo Credit: Amanda Revels

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.

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