TALE OF TWO NIGHTS: THE TRAVELING TOUR OF STARS WERE BACK AT TEXARKANA 67 SPEEDWAY TO ENTERTAIN THE FANS WITH THE DRIVER OF THE FORTY-ONE RECOVERING TO A 13TH PLACE FINISH AT THE 39TH ANNUAL SHORT TRACK NATIONALS
TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS (October 24, 2026) – The sun came up over the eastern horizon on Saturday morning following the 7th Running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends the night before. No travel was required to get to the next race, so the teams used the day for maintenance on their equipment in preparation for night two at Texarkana 67 Speedway in Arkansas for the 39th Annual Short Track Nationals, a race Jason Johnson won back in 2006. After winning a sentimental filled Jason Johnson Classic Friday night, Carson Macedo and the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 team looked to continue their success when the engines fired up again on Saturday night. The crystal blue skies and warmth from the sun were so refreshing as a slight breeze made it a perfect day for some more World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series racing. There were 40 race teams parked throughout the pit area aiming for the top prize at the end of the night. It was time to go racing again at Texarkana 67 Speedway again – World of Outlaw style!
This two-day appearance in Arkansas for the traveling tour of World of Outlaws speed stars represents the only visit to the state for “The Greatest Show on Dirt” this season. This racy three-tenths mile facility, located between U.S Highway 67 and Interstate 30 just northeast of Texarkana, has put on some good racing in the past for the fans in the area. It was time for these speed athletes to get back out on the track, World of Outlaws style, at Texarkana 67 Speedway to add to the entertainment they had provided on Friday night!
If these teams want to optimize their chance of producing desirable results, it all starts in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. The time trial lineups posted with the position of each driver listed in the order of the numbers they pulled, lowest to highest, during the random draw when they signed in at the track. For Carson Macedo, that meant he would go out second in Flight B aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 entry to race against time after pulling the “219” pill. Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman always work hard to give their driver a fast race car and tonight it will be no different. Carson in return has done a respectable job so far this season getting the most out of each of his attempts. When Emerson Axsom #27 completed his two shots at speed, it was Carson’s turn to hop on the loud pedal aboard the Scott Boyd Family/Schoenfeld Headers/PWR Advanced Cooling Technology #41 Maxim. He responded favorably and was carrying speed through turn four before taking the green flag to start his opening lap. Carson powered his way through the first set of turns and arrived at the last set of turns in lightning quick time. When he raced through the timing stripe to end his first lap, the clock read 13.013 seconds. The Californian was unaware of what the numbers were on the stopwatch, so he just continued to gas it up and hit his marks. He exited turn four for the last time as he zipped under the waving black and white checkered cloth to end his time trial session. Carson’s second lap was slightly slower at 13.239 seconds, with the quicker of his two laps positioning him sixth quick overall on the final speed chart in Flight B when time trials concluded. David Gravel was the fastest driver in Flight B with a lap of 12.658 seconds. Out of Flight A, Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports #83 earned the Simpson Quick Time Award at Texarkana 67 Speedway for the Short Track Nationals with a lap of 12.557 seconds.
There would be four Heat races with each being ten laps in duration. The World of Outlaws Timing and Scoring officials compiled the starting lineups based off each driver’s quickest time trial lap. Set to be in Golf Cart Services Heat Race #4, Carson would roll the Tarlton and Son/Border International/Team Jack Foundation #41 Maxim from the third starting position in row two flanked on his right side by Brady Bacon in the Vermeer Motorsports #55. Ashton Torgerson #45X and Bill Balog #17B were on the front row while Cody Gardner #6C and Conner Morrell #28M made up row three. Tanner Thorsen #88 and Gage Montgomery #79 shared the fourth row as Rees Moran #22M drove to the inside of Garth Kasiner #21G in the fifth and final row.
The field of ten cars aligned nose-to-tail ready to turn jittery anticipation into organized calamity. Off the fourth turn, the drivers were literally off to the races with Carson driving off the bottom lane battling for the show position with Brady Bacon with Bill Balog taking the lead followed by Ashton Torgerson. Bacon had a slight advantage down the back straightaway with Carson executing a clean slider entering turn three to take the position back exiting turn four. Bacon turned back underneath with the forty-one on the outside as they raced down the frontstretch. This is where things changed. Brady Bacon pushed and came up the track clipping the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 left front sending Carson into a nasty series of flips down the frontstretch ending in turn one. He was ok, but the forty-one was heavily damaged. Just a racing deal, that is racing. That is what these tough racers say so they can mentally move on and compete again. The last qualifying race resumed with Ashton Torgerson collecting the win over Balog with Tanner Thorson, Cody Gardner, and Conner Morrell securing the final three transfer spots.
The JJR #41 crew immediately pulled down the spare car. They were scheduled to start on the outside front row in the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown (LCS) beside Brent Marks #19, but because the team had to change cars they had to start at the back of the pack in the 17th starting spot. There were only four transfer spots up for grabs, but the track time would give them valuable information to change the setup for the feature. Polesitter Brent Marks got on the gas to start the race with Skylar Gee #16c, Steven Snyder Jr. #51, and Bryce Lucius #6 running in the top four.
On lap 5, the first caution of the LCS waved for Colby Stubblefield #85 who slowed to a stop in turn two. Carson was racing one spot out of the top ten hoping to gain some more spots when they went back to green flag racing. Brent Marks fired off again ahead of Gee commencing the last seven laps of the race. The driver from Myerstown, Pennsylvania went on to win the LCS with Rees Moran coming home in second place as Skylar Gee and Bryce Lucius locked down the final transfer spots. Carson finished in ninth and would have to use his first provisional starting spot of the season.
It was now time to see who would get to stand on the top step of the podium under the falling confetti at the 39th Annual Short Track Nationals at Texarkana 67 Speedway. Almost nine months into the 2026 season these drivers were finally ready to put on a capstone show for the fans of Arkansas before they left the state. There was a $25,000 check waiting for the winner of the race and 25 hungry drivers all determined to do their best trying to win it when the checkered flag flew at the end of the race. The starters in the first four rows of the feature earned those spots based on where they finished the Toyota Dash. That put two deuces up front with Cole Macedo #2c and David Gravel #2 on the front row followed by Garet Williamson #23, Buddy Kofoid #83, Tyler Courtney #7BC, Logan Schuchart #1s, Bill Balog #17B, and Ashton Torgerson #45X in the three rows directly behind them.
After using his first provision of the season after the qualifying race incident and moving to a backup car, Carson was ready to go. So was everyone else that earned a starting spot in the feature, too. These warriors battle hard each race night as they tussle for the winner’s share of the purse. Victories against this type of talent do not come easily. Carson cinched down his Crow Enterprizes safety belts one last time before a push truck assisted getting his Kistler Racing Engines power to fire. He would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Motor State Distributing/BMRS #41 Maxim started from the 25th position. He was alone in the back row, but eager to race forward.
After the famous World of Outlaws four-wide salute, the flagman turned the yellow caution lights off in anticipation for green flag action. When they front row starters reached the chalk stripe temporarily laid down across turn four it was “go-time” at Texarkana 67 Speedway. Cole Macedo in the TwoC Racing/Rod End Supply #2c immediately seized the race lead head of David Gravel and Garet Williamson with Carson working hard early dueling back in the 22nd spot.
Throughout the first five laps, Carson gained two more spots and was running in 20th place with his younger brother Cole showing the way out front with everyone chasing the talented racer. The yellow lights turned on with five in the books for eight running Ashton Torgerson #45X who got into the wall hard in turn four. Simultaneously, but unrelated, Brent Marks also caught the mounting cushion in turn four and spun to a stop. Both rejoined the race at the back of the pack.
Cole Macedo was still leading the field when the green lighted turned back on with a bunch of hungry tigers tracking from behind looking for the driver in the red car. Carson moved into the top 15 before the red flag came out for Ashton Torgerson whose night just deteriorated even more when he flipped in turn two.
The engines began to re-fire with Cole Macedo still out front. When they got back up to speed, the always quick Buddy Kofoid vaulted his way into the runner-up spot ahead of Gravel, Williamson, and Courtney. Carson almost clipped the wall on the back straightaway and was all crossed up. He dropped back to 17th place, but regained control and commenced his forward march trying to regain his position. By lap 12, he was back up to 14th place racing between Blake Hahn #52 and Rees Moran #22M.
With half of the race recorded, Cole Macedo was out in front of Kofoid and Williamson with Gravel and Schuchart rounding out the top five. The driver of the TwoC Racing #2c was dicing and dueling through lap traffic with precision and speed. Carson was in a fierce battle with Donny Schatz trying to hold his position. The two talented racers swapped the position numerous times with Schatz coming out ahead with the leaders quickly closing on these two.
On lap 25 the red flag was back out, this time for Blake Hahn #52 who flipped after contact with Chris Windom #7s. Hahn was ok, but his solid night of competing was unfortunately over. Cole Macedo led the field back up to speed with fellow Californian, Buddy Kofoid, hungry for a shot at the top spot. Scored in 14th place, Carson continued to work hard.
The laps continued to wind down with Cole Macedo maintaining the lead. On lap 31, the racing action was paused again when fifth running Logan Schuchart was disabled after contact with Sheldon Haudenschild while racing for position. Cole Macedo could almost smell his first World of Outlaws win that he desired so much. But Buddy Kofoid had different thoughts on his mind.
They were back up to speed with Cole Macedo holding off Buddy Kofoid. They completed two more laps. Cole exited turn four with his right rear catching the outside wall. He collected himself and maintained the lead over Kofoid. Chris Windom also hit the outside wall in turns two and four bringing out the caution flag with six laps remaining.
Cole Macedo stomped on the accelerator with Buddy Kofoid following suit. The driver of the Roth Motorsports #83 slid underneath the TwoC Racing driver to take the lead entering the first set of turns. Kofoid led the remainder of the race with Cole Macedo coming home second followed by Garet Williamson, Tyler Courtney, and David Gravel.
After significant barriers were added to their night of competition during their qualifying race, Carson and the JJR #41 team recovered and salvaged a 13th place finish at the 39th Annual Short Track Nationals. This sport is demanding and requires mental and physical strength. These teams are required to overcome obstacles both self-imposed and those that are involuntary. It requires patience and persistence. Carson and the forty-one team displayed both throughout the night. On to the next race.
Carson, the JJR #41 team, and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series competitors are off next weekend with no races scheduled before heading over to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the Dave Smith Motors World of Outlaws World Finals in Concord, North Carolina to end the season. Four nights starting with the qualifying on Wednesday (11/4) followed by three nights of wheel to wheel competition Thursday (11/5) through Saturday (11/7) on the red dirt clay. If your plans will not be taking you to The Tar Heel State of North Carolina, sit down and tune in to all the action on DIRTVision. #AllDirtRoads
Blasting Dirt in Arkansas Again at Texarkana 67 Speedway During the 39th Annual Short Track Nationals! 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.
Go to ShopJJR.com to look at all our offerings and buy your new JJR and Carson Macedo gear and merchandise.