AMERICA’S DAIRYLAND DUEL: AFTER SOME HARD FOUGHT LAPS AT WILMOT RACEWAY, CARSON MACEDO RACES THE TARLTON AND SON #41 MAXIM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN SIXTH PLACE AT THE 5TH ANNUAL LARRY HILLERUD MEMORIAL FINALE

WILMOT, WISCONSIN (July 11, 2026) – After being the eleventh car to cross the finish line during the A-Main feature on the opening night at Wilmot Raceway, Carson Macedo and his JJR teammates looked to up their game during the finale of the 5th Annual Larry Hillerud Memorial presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at the track. This southeastern Wisconsin 3/8-mile track has been creating memories for generations of passionate dirt racing fans since 1951. Located minutes from the Illinois border, the leaders at the track focus on two main things: (1) commitment to great racing; and (2) creating a great fan experience. As the fans mingled throughout merchandise row looking to purchase their favorite drivers’ gear, the teams were busy preparing for another entertaining night of action. There were 30 sprint car race teams registered and back that pulled through the pit gates for the second night of racing at Wilmot Raceway – World of Outlaws (WoO) style! They were joined in the pits by the Non-Winged Crate Sprints and the grandstands were packed with race fans. They announced that it was a sold out crowd I the house at Wilmot Raceway. Race day again in the great state of Wisconsin again!

The drivers throughout the pit area all began to refocus following Race//Ready Hot Laps for their two all-important laps around the clay, semi-banked oval during Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying time trials. While these two laps do not necessarily “make or break” your night, a good lap at or near the top of the speed charts certainly reduces the pressure and friction required to fulfill your success goals. After randomly drawing for their qualifying positions, the cars began to stage for time trials. Jereme Schroeder #43 from Lake Villa, Illinois was the first driver out on the track looking to make speed. The driver of the forty-one had some time as he was set to be the last car out for his two lap seed tests around Wilmot Raceway. Set to push off 30th in the Scott Boyd Family/BMRS Brown & Miller Racing Solutions/Motor State Distributing #41 Maxim, Carson waited patiently secured in his Crow Enterprizes safety belts. After the ten-time World of Outlaws (WoO) champion, Donny Schatz in the Hi-Plains Building Division/ECYNBRO Trucking/CJB Motorsports #15 completed his two laps, the Lemoore, California native was ready to get his elbows up at Wilmot. Making speed in these sprint cars seems so simple on the surface, but there are a lot of contributing parts to the “go fast” formula. If the driver or team misses any one of them it impacts on the optimization strategy and these field of stars are only separated by a few tenths of a second at the end of the night in time trials. Extraordinarily little margin for error. Carson stood on the accelerator and was off to the races. He cruised around the 3/8-mile oval for the first time around in 12.704 seconds. He continued to dig hard the next time around looking to shave off any time during lap two. This time when he rolled by the waving checkered flag to end his timed session, the clock recorded his work in 12.763 seconds. The faster of his two laps was tenth quick overall when the time trial qualifying concluded. Proving to be the quickest driver of the night was Brady Bacon #21H racing around Wilmot in an impressive 12.459 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award.

World of Outlaws timing and scoring officials quickly consolidated the starting lineups for each of the three 10-lap Heat races based off each driver’s best qualifying lap time. When the lineups posted it revealed the forty-one would get started from the outside of row two in NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1 alongside Friday night’s winner Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Enterprises/Toyota #83. Those two speedsters would slowly pace behind front row starters Brady Bacon #21H and Spencer Bayston #17 with Ashton Torgerson #51 and Conner Morrell #28M trailing them in row three. Together back in row four were Skylar Gee #16c and Scott Neitzel #6, subbing for the injured Kasey Jedrzejek who is taking some time to heal up after a rough stretch, as Brayton Lynch #29 and Jereme Schroeder #43 rolled into the fifth and final row. There were only six transfer spots up for grabs, so when the green flag waved it would mean all business for these competitors.

The yellow lights slowly dimmed around the track as the field made their way by the flagman one last time at slow speeds. Out of turn four the action sped up quickly. The first lap was just a test though as the red flag came out for Skylar Gee who was laying on his side with Brayton Lynch sitting sideways in turn three. Both headed to the work area and made the necessary repairs to rejoin the field.

The field re-aligned and when the green flag came back out it was Brady Bacon sprinting out into the early race lead ahead of Spencer Bayston and Carson Macedo with the remaining speedsters looking to stay close to the front runners. Carson showed some early speed racing from the third position as he closed in on Bayston while fending off Kofoid who was applying pressure from behind.

The field settled in and started to put some space between themselves and those around them. But Bayston was stalking Bacon and closing in on the Oklahoma native as the laps began to dwindle down. He caught him and drove underneath him exiting turn two. The flagman unfurled the white flag indicating to the drivers that they only had one more lap to complete their business.

Spencer Bayston stole the lead late and maintained it to the end racing under the waving checkered flag to end the race. Finishing second was Brady Bacon who would join Bayston in the Toyota Dash out of the first qualifying race. Carson came home third with Buddy Kofoid and Conner Morrell completing the top five. Earning the sixth and final transfer position out of this Heat race was Ashton Torgerson with the remaining finishers moving into the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown (LCS).

The eight minute horn sounded throughout the pit area to summon the drivers out onto the track for the start of the 35-lap 5th Annual Larry Hillerud Memorial presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main. Getting here was only half the battle and the drivers still had not earned a penny yet. The remaining work to earn a share of the purse money was still in front of the drivers and teams during the feature. The further you finish towards the front the more money you earn. Win it all and the driver and team get to share $20,000. All risk but there are a lot of potential rewards based on how good each driver and team performs in the feature event. That is what makes the sport of sprint car racing so tough, but also why it is rewarding throughout the season for all the higher performing teams. The drivers and teams earn everything they get. Nothing is given to them.

The engines began to fire as the drivers slowly made their way around Wilmot Raceway and into their starting positions. They all fanned out into the World of Outlaws traditional four-wide to salute these enthusiastic and great fans in Wisconsin. The drivers then raced back into the two-by-two starting formation as they readied themselves for green flag racing to begin.

Slated to start from the seventh position on the inside of row four in the Albaugh – Your Alternative hotrod pulling in beside Logan Julien #85J, Carson was ready to go. The front row starters were Sheldon Haudenschild in the NOS Energy Drink #17 and Garet Williamson in the Fischer Motorsports #23 after finishing in the first and second spots in the Toyota Dash. Bill Balog #20 and David Gravel #2 pulled in behind them in row two with Spencer Bayston #17 and Brady Bacon #21H tucked into row three.

Polesitter Sheldon Haudenschild led the field up to speed with Garet Williamson stalking him from behind and taking the lead before the end of the first lap with Balog, Gravel, and Bayston following the top two. Scored in the sixth position after the opening circuit and looking forward to moving ahead, Carson was part of a three car tussle for position racing with Bayston and Bacon as they were all right together on the track. He had the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Factory Kahne (FK Shocks)/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim on the move.

On lap 8, the first race interruption occurred when Matt VanderVere #10V spun right in front of the leader on the inside of turns three and four after contact with Alex Pokorski #4. Garet Williamson showed the way up to this point with Haudenschild, Balog, Gravel, and Bayston all in the mix. Running in the sixth spot, Carson would restart from the inside row when the race leader elected to go up top putting the drivers in the odd numbered positions on the high side.

The green flag waved with the driver of the Fischer Motorsports #23 staying in the lead with Haudenschild hounding him. Garet Williamson was doing a masterful job driving his way around Wilmot Raceway. He was closing in on lap traffic allowing Haudenschild to re-enter the mix.

On lap 14, the second caution flag of the night displayed for the slowing car of Bryce Norris #37 who stopped out of turn two pausing the action. The top five was the same with Carson settled into the sixth spot with his hands full trying to hold of challenges from Logan Schuchart, Buddy Kofoid, and Brady Bacon from behind.

The green lights came back on and Garet Williamson continued to do his thing out in front of the pack. There was little movement in the top ten, but the racing action was intense, and changes could occur at any moment in the running order.

The racing halted on lap 16, when there was a multi-car melee in the higher numbered turns involving Emerson, Axsom #27, Ashton Torgerson #51, Parker Scott #AU55, and Logan Julien #85J leaving Julien’s car crunched in the middle and laying on its side. Race officials used the mid-race stoppage to call an “Open Red” allowing the teams to fill the fuel and make minor adjustments as they see fit for their driver.

The yellow lights turned back on as the engines began to refire for the remainder of the race. The drivers pulled back into their positions for the restart with 19 laps remaining at Wilmot. When the green lights came back on around the track the race was in full motion. Carson lost a position early as Logan Schuchart drove by relegating Macedo back to seventh place. But the high speed racing was brief as the caution flag was back out on lap 17 for Brady Bacon who got some air in turn four resulting in a broken front axle ending his night.

The drivers were back under green flag conditions soon enough with Garet Williamson still commanding the lead ahead of Sheldon Haudenschild. On the restart, two-time and defending WoO champion David Gravel moved into the show position with Bill Balog and Spencer Bayston close behind. Carson continued to battle with Schuchart for sixth place and on lap 19 stole that position back with his sights now set on Bill Balog for the last position in the top five with 11 laps to go.

Carson continued to work on Balog, but his efforts were thwarted on lap 27 when the caution flag was again waving in the air for Matt VanderVere #10V who spun in a circle in turns three and four to slow the racing. It was Williamson, Haudenschild, Gravel, Bayston, and Balog holding down the top five positions with Carson sitting in sixth place.

It would be a single file restart with eight laps remaining and when they went green Williamson maintained the lead over Haudenschild but was under heavy assault. Haudenschild was right there and on lap 34 took the lead. Williamson fought back, but Haudenschild held the lead.

Behind them Logan Schuchart moved by Carson again on the restart to take over sixth as he eventually disposed of Bill Balog too. The driver of the Shark Racing #1s was now running fifth. Carson closed in on Balog and made the pass on him to regain the sixth spot. Sheldon Haudenschild raced to another win in the KCP Racing #18 followed across the finishing stripe by Williamson and Gravel with Bayston and Schuchart completing the top five. Carson raced home sixth with Balog, Schatz, Kofoid, and Cole Macedo rounding out the top ten. A better run for Macedo and the forty-one to end the 5th Annual Larry Hillerud Memorial!

After pushing the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 back into the trailer at the end of the night in The Badger State, Philip Dietz guided the JJR team to The Buckeye State for five ultra-competitive nights of racing starting at Attica Raceway Park for the 38th Annual Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic on Tuesday night. This Ohio bullring creates excitement that commences way before the green flag waves and lasts until the last speck of dust settles back to the ground after the checkers. If you cannot be at the track to watch all the action live, tune into DIRTVision so you do not miss any of the entertainment. #BradDotyClassic

Battling Hard in the Badger State Throughout the Finale of the 5th Annual Larry Hillerud Memorial! 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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