AUGUST AT THE GROVE: A NEW MONTH OF RACING STARTS IN PENNSYLVANIA AT THE C&D RIGGING SUMMER NATIONALS FINALE WHERE CARSON MACEDO CROSSES THE FINISH LINE WITH A 13TH PLACE RUN IN THE BOLTZ FAMILY #41

MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (August 1, 2026) – Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team opened the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals on Friday night passing eight cars to earn the KSE Hard Charger Award to finish in 14th place in the forty-one. It was the last race scheduled in July, which was a busy month of racing for the team as they had 14 races scheduled to compete over the course of 23 calendar days. There was only one race canceled (Ohsweken on the opening night) and the team showed speed and had a challenging month with mixed results. After a day of washing and maintaining the car in preparation for another night of intense competition at the famous half mile dirt oval built in 1939, the team’s Border International truck and hauler pulled into the pit area and parked halfway down the front straightaway. Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman were already hard at work on the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. It was a humid August summer day in Central Pennsylvania with 42 sprint car teams unloaded and ready to roll on the last night of the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals at Williams Grove Speedway. It was race day – World of Outlaw style – in the Keystone State of Pennsylvania!

With greater than 38 cars registered to race, the field of competitors split into two equal Qualifying Flights for time trials. Each of the small groups of racers in both Flights A and B headed out onto the track in Race//Ready Hot Laps to evaluate their setups and expose themselves to the track. They were followed by subsequent groups before the official part of the show commenced with Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying as two cars would be on the track at the same time during qualifying. The same format would be followed for the drivers in Flight B. By the luck of the draw, Carson pulled the “256” pill and would be the 17th car out in Flight B aboard the Winters Performance Products/High Performance Lubricants/Wilwood Racing #41 Maxim. Two laps against the clock to generate speed and get around this unique place as fast as possible. It seems easy, but it is not. There is a lot that goes into it as engineering and mechanical prowess meets courage and talent. Plus, there is a little bit of luck thrown into the mix such as when and where a driver goes out in time trials can influence and impact on how a team performs. Carson inched close to the front of the staging lane line. The race official signaled to Carson and Cory Eliason #45 that it was their turn to chase time. The Kistler Engines power awoke, and the Californian powered his way under the bridge enroute to the flagstand to start his timed session. Elbows held high, Carson circled the half mile venue in 17.561 seconds the first time around Williams Grove following that up with an even better lap clocking in at 17.501 seconds the next time. The best of his two attempts ended up fifth quick overall in Flight B with the fastest driver in that group being David in the Big Game Motorsports #2 with a time of 17.273 seconds. Topping the speed charts in Flight A was the young emerging PA Posse star Logan Rumsey #71 at 16.927 seconds, which was also the quickest lap of the night overall earning him the Simpson Quick Time Award honors.

There would be four Heat races up next with the drivers from Flight A dueling in the first two races as the wheelman from Flight B competed in the last two qualifying races. The faster each driver clocked in during time trials, the further front they would start in each of the qualifying races where only the top five finishers transfer to the A-Main. Based on his speed test results, Carson would line the Tarlton and Son/Ben Cook Race Car Products/Sander Engineering #41 up in the third starting spot in a stacked WIX Filters Heat Race #3. The driver of the forty-one shared row two with Sheldon Haudenschild in the NOS Energy Drink/KCP Racing #18 to his outside as they paced behind David Gravel #2 and Danny Dietrich #48 in the front row. Right behind in row three were Spencer Bayston #17 and Williams Grove’s defending point champion Troy Wagaman Jr. who currently leads the points this season with Emerson Axsom #27 and Buddy Schweibinz #1W paired up in row four. Row five featured Samuel Miller #45s and Conner Morrell #28M as Cory Eliason tagged on to the tail of the field.

The engines fired and these gassers were ready to entertain at speed around the tricky surface at Williams Grove Speedway. They putted around slowly as the yellow lights dimmed around the track in anticipation of the “get after it” flag flying out of turn four. Polesitter David Gravel started to accelerate at the chalk strip as he drag raced Danny Dietrich down the front chute into turn one. It was Outlaw versus Posse with Gravel coming out on top at the end of lap one. Dietrich was in second place with Sheldon Haudenschild using the outside lane to take third ahead of Carson in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41.

The race leader checked out by lap three with Haudenschild chasing down Dietrich to take over the runner-up spot. Carson was still in fourth place with Spencer Bayston just behind the wheel of the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing NOS Energy Drink #17. Three laps later Gravel had an over two second lead ahead of the field.

The red flag came out when something broke on Samuel Miller #45s down the backstretch sending him into the outside guiderail careening off it and into the infield opening just before the bridge. He was ok, but track officials called for an “Open Red” while they tended to the accident scene.

David Gravel raced back up to speed when the green lights turned back on with Haudenschild, Dietrich, and Macedo chasing. The track was fast with very narrow racing lanes making passing very difficult. The driver of the Big Game Motorsports #2 drove to victory over Haudenschild and Dietrich with Carson coming home fourth. Spencer Bayston collected the fifth and final transfer spot.

The 28 car A-Main starting field was set in stone, including four drivers that elected to utilize provisional starting spots, for the 30-lap C&D Rigging Summer Nationals feature event at Williams Grove Speedway. The winner’s list at the track is a “Who’s Who” of sprint car racing. From Andretti to Kinser to Johncock and Schatz, the list is simply impressive and includes Carson Macedo as a two-time winner of the coveted National Open in 2021 and 2024. David Gravel #2 would lead the field from the pole position with Dylan Norris #17N sharing the front row with him after finishing in the top two spots in the Toyota Dash. Logan Rumsey #71 and Logan Schuchart #1s populated row two with Sheldon Haudenschild #18 and Justin Whittall #67G directly behind them in row three. Row four showcased two talented racers in Daryn Pittman #69K and Chase Dietz #23D with T.J. Stutts #11 and Danny Dietrich #48 side by side in row five.

Carson climbed into his Fibreworks Composites seat with a Sharp Advantage Safety Products custom fitted insert before buckling his Crow Enterprizes safety belts. The crew pushed his car backed away from the trailer as Robby used the four-wheeler to escort the Albaugh – Your Alternative/CS Productions/Vortex Racing Products #41 Maxim out onto the track to stage before the race. He sat on the track awaiting a push truck to help fire his engine so he could roll into the 14th starting spot in row seven beside Cameron Smith in Jacob Allen’s Shark Racing #1a.

When all the cars began to roll the field of talent aligned into the two-by-two formation before fanning out four-wide to express their appreciation to the incredible fans in attendance in the great state of Pennsylvania. They passed Beer Hill to salute them and continued down the front straightaway to say thank you to those that packed the house. It was the PA Posse against the World of Outlaws at Williams Grove Speedway!

After racing back into their proper starting spots, the yellow lights turned off and the green ones illuminated when the front row starters arrived at the chalk stripe laid down across turn four. The race was on with Gravel jumping into the lead followed by Norris and Schuchart. The cars were moving, but the passing was extremely limited on the opening lap. Carson was able to gain two positions and was running in 12th place between two PA Posse stars Anthony Macri #39M and T.J. Stutts #11.

The battle was on with Stutts. Over the next two laps Macedo and the driver from Liverpool, Pennsylvania would exchange the twelfth position multiple times.

With three laps in the books, the red flag came out for a medical emergency in the frontstretch pit area. Race officials called for another “Open Red” so crews could work on their cars as medical personnel tending to the patient. When the situation was resolved and the ambulance departed, the airhorn sounded, and the engines began to re-fire.

David Gravel pedaled down and led the cars back up to speed. He continued to lead Norris and Schuchart with absolutely zero passing in the first half of the pack and every little, if any, in the back half. They recorded lap after lap following each other as the leader closed in on the slower cars at the back of the field.

On lap 21, the yellow flag came out for Cole Macedo in the TwoC Racing/Rod End Supply #2c on lap 21 after contact with Brent Shearer #12 sent him spinning just out of turn four. Just before the caution Logan Schuchart moved into second racing by Norris. Carson still held down 13th place behind Cameron Smith #1a and in front of Garet Williamson #23.

On the restart, Logan Rumsey passed Dylan Norris for third place with everyone else falling in line behind the race leader. There would be no more changes as David Gravel collected the finale of the C&D Rigging Summer Nationals with Logan Schuchart and Logan Rumsey finishing behind him. Dylan Norris held on for fourth with Sheldon Haudenschild completing the top five. Carson picked up one spot throughout thirty tours around Williams Grove. One. Tough track to pass and put on a show. There were 19 out of the 28 starters (67.9% of the drivers) that were only plus or minus zero through two during the entire race. Not sure that is what people spend their lunch money on.

With the final latch secured and locked on the hauler’s back gate, the team climbed into the Border International truck for the long haul back to race shop in Rocky Mount, Missouri. The week ahead would be a busy one as they prepared for two nights of racing at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park before trucking up to Knoxville for the 14th Annual Capitani Classic on Sunday night followed by the 31st Annual Front Row Challenge at Oskaloosa on Monday. That all precedes the action commencing at the prestigious 65th Annual Knoxville Nationals from August 12th through the 15th at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” – Knoxville Raceway. All big races the team looks to be in position to collect trophies and earn checks, so preparation for success was desired and required. Be sure to catch all the action starting Friday night on DIRTVision. #Ironman55

Following at Williams Grove Speedway During the Summer Nationals Finale in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41! 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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