BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN: CARSON MACEDO TAKES ANOTHER STEP UP ON THE PODIUM TO KICKOFF THE TEXAS TWO-STEP AT COTTON BOWL SPEEDWAY AFTER LEADING AND COMING HOME WITH A RUNNER-UP FINISH

PAIGE, TEXAS (March 15, 2024) – After racing the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 Maxim to their first podium finish of the year a few weekends ago, a third place run at the Bike Week Jamboree finale at Volusia Speedway Park followed by a washed out weekend at Kennedale Speedway Park last weekend, Philip Dietz, Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team loaded up the hauler and pointed their Border International towards Cotton Bowl Speedway. The World of Outlaws last visited the track back in 2022 where Carson Macedo picked up a win on the final night along with Sheldon Haudenschild who was victorious on the opening night of the two day affair. Cotton Bowl Speedway’s 3/8-mile oval is located in Paige, Texas just about one hour east of the state capital of Austin. This track produces a lot of great racing for the fans in the area on a weekly basis and the promotions team was excited to host some of the best sprint car drivers in the world for the two-day Texas Two-Step event as they welcomed the stars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.

After Mother Nature saturated the grounds and canceled both nights of the doubleheader scheduled for the inaugural Cowtown Classic last weekend up at Kennedale Speedway Park, each of the teams took it in stride and quickly turned their attention towards another two race World of Outlaws speed show at Cotton Bowl Speedway. Carson Macedo was excited to get back behind the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 as it was a new day and he was looking forward to competing on Friday night. The JJR #41 team opened the back gate on the trailer and rolled out the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Schoenfeld Headers/Smith TI #41 Maxim Racing machine eager to go racing. This event drew 23 race teams to the racy venue as they were all working on their speed equipment in the pit area to begin the night. Each team and driver had the same goal in mind – win night one. It was time to go racing World of Outlaws style at Cotton Bowl Speedway!

After each driver went out for their hot lap sessions, the crews made whatever adjustments they thought were needed to improve their cars for Sea Foam Qualifying. The time trial order was set by random draw when the pill draw opened. The numbered pill Carson drew positioned him as the 20th driver in the time trial order. He pushed into the staging lane aboard the Tarlton and Son/Boltz Family/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim prepared to balance his speed, agility and aggressiveness around Cotton Bowl Speedway. After Logan Schuchart completed his two laps at speed, the Kistler Engines power under the hood of the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) forty-one fired as Carson was ready to wheel and deal. He was hammer down when he raced under the waving green flag. The Californian had his elbows high working his way around Cotton Bowl Speedway’s bullring of speed. It took Carson 14.888 seconds to complete his first lap, but the determined driver was looking for more. He was digging hard and right on the edge speed wise. When he took the checkers to end his second time trial lap the clock read 14.763 seconds. The quicker of Carson’s two laps at speed ended up only being 12th quick overall. After going out second in time trials, Clute, Texas native Aaron Reutzel in the Ridge and Son Racing (RSR) #87 was the quickest driver in time trials on the opening night of the Texas Two-Step with a fast lap of 14.194 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award.

With weather in the area there was no rest for the weary as the teams quickly went back to work to put in their race setups for the three 8-lap heat races. Each of those qualifying races had two transfer spots to the dash up for grabs. Carson would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Durst Inc./CASM Safety Products #41 started from the fourth position in the third and final heat race. In the two-by-two starting formation, Carson would pull up alongside Buddy Kofoid as they followed Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and Brock Zearfoss in the Moose’s LZ Bar & Grill #3z rolling in the front row. Landon Crawley shared row three with Jace Park with Preston Perlmutter being the lone starter in row four. The yellow lights were turned off as the drivers were laser focused on the start. When they reach turn four their right feet were planted in the accelerator turning on the sweet sound of 410 sprint car engines with a four car race for the lead shaping up heading into the first set of turns. Brock Zearfoss got sideways on the high side and spun to bring out the yellow flag.

It would be a complete restart with Kofoid moving up a spot to start on the outside of the front row for the re-start. The green flag was back out with Hafertepe driving back into the lead with Kofoid and Macedo charging behind him. Brock Zearfoss was on the move as he tagged the rear of the field and fought his way forward. He was now battling with Crawley for the fourth position. When the crossed flag were displayed, indicating halfway, Carson Macedo and Buddy Kofoid were about to give the Texas fans in the stands a little entertainment Cali style. Carson slid Kofoid entering one with Buddy crossing over to retake the spot. Macedo would do the exact same thing again entering one the next lap with Kofoid crossing over again to regain the position. It was elbows up racing for the last transfer spot to the dash. The third time was a charm for Macedo though as he exited turn four low and moved just ahead of Kofoid down the frontstretch. Kofoid tried to slide him this time, but Carson maneuvered the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 around the outside and into the runner-up position. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. took the win ahead of Carson Macedo as those two would advance to the dash. Buddy Kofoid came home third followed by Landon Crawley, Brock Zearfoss, and Jace Park.

There were six cars in the 6-lap Toyota Dash all vying to earn their starting position in the feature. Sheldon Haudenschild would get started from the pole position with Carson Macedo to his outside. Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart paced from row two with Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and Bill Balog in row three. When the green flag came out if was the driver of the NOS Energy Drink #17 moving into the lead just ahead of Carson in his Albaugh – Your Alternative/Motor State Distributing/ISC Racers Tape #41 Maxim. Scelzi was running third followed by Schuchart, Balog and Hafertepe. Carson was running in the second spot and had a fast racecar. At speed on lap three he reached up and ripped a tearoff off down the backstretch to get a clear view. He was still chasing Haudenschild, but wasn’t giving up. He maintained his speed but was unable to catch the #17 as Haudenschild took the win ahead of Macedo with Scelzi coming home third. Logan Schuchart, Bill Balog and Sam Hafertepe, Jr. completed the finishing order in the dash.

With all of the qualifying completed for the opening night of the Texas Two-Step at Cotton Bowl Speedway, the horns sounded to alert the teams they had eight minutes to get their entries out onto the racing surface. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro pace truck was already circling the quarter mile oval as each driver fired their engines and found their starting position in the field. There was a $12,000 check awaiting the winner in victory lane. Now all they has to do is complete for 30 laps in the NOS Energy Drink Texas Two-Step feature opener at Cotton Bowl Speedway to see who would be taking it to the bank.

Carson Macedo would get his pursuit of the checkers started in the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Sander Engineering/RaceDiecast.com #41 Maxim from the outside of the front row sharing it with polesitter Sheldon Haudenschild. Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart would make up row two with Bill Balog, Sam Hafertepe, Jr., Brent Marks, David Gravel, Buddy Kofoid, and Donny Schatz filling rows three through five.

The grandstands were packed and these drivers competing in “The Greatest Show on Dirt” were ready to entertain them with speed and courage. The flagman had the green flag rolled up and was ready to unfurl after the World of Outlaws traditional four-wide salute parade lap and the drivers were back in their side-by-side starting formation. When the front row starters exited turn four the flagman was waving the green cloth vigorously to start the race. It was Sheldon Haudenschild dropping his right foot to win the race through the first set of turns just ahead of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. Carson was quickly entrenched in a battle for position with the hard-charging Logan Schuchart with the driver of the forty-one holding the spot.

They were all chasing Haudenschild early with Carson closing in and challenging the leader by lap 5. He was scored the leader of that lap, but Haudenschild retook the top spot the next time around. On lap 6 though the yellow flag flew for Preston Perlmutter who spun in turn two right in front of the leaders. The spin occurred just after Giovanni Scelzi and Sam Hafertepe, Jr. were racing side-by-side off turn two with Scelzi getting up on two wheels as he rode the wall down the backstretch but saved it and maintained his spot in the running order.

When the green flag came back out Haudenschild kept the lead over Macedo but the race for the lead was on again. It was temporary though as the yellow flag was back out on lap 8, this time for Jacob Allen who was sideways in turn four sitting up against the inside tractor tire. He rejoined the field.

The field went back to green flag racing with 22 laps to go with Carson Macedo driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the lead ahead of Haudenschild, Scelzi, Hafertepe and the seventh starting Marks. Carson was in command out front at the halfway point with Haudenschild still giving chase, but Brent Marks had moved into third and was challenging for the runner-up spot.

The high speed action was halted on lap 18 when the red flag flew for a melee involving Sam Hafertepe, Jr. David Gravel and Donny Schatz up in turn two. All the drivers were ok and Gravel’s and Schatz’s crews did a terrific job making repairs and getting them both back out on the track for the restart.

When the green flag was re-displayed, Carson Macedo chose the inside lane and moved the JJR #41 up the track off turn four driving forward at the front of the field ahead of Haudenschild and Marks. Brent Marks batted his way past Haudenschild and had his sights set on the race leader when another yellow flag came out, this time for Preston Perlmutter again who slowed exiting turn four. The running order was Macedo, Marks, Scelzi, Schuchart and Haudenschild in the top five with 8 laps to go.

Carson jumped back into the lead just ahead of Marks who was in constant pressure mode looking for any opportunity to take the lead. The laps were clicking down and with 3 laps to go the last yellow flag of the night was thrown for Brock Zearfoss. It would be a green-white-checkered race for the winner’s check and Macedo and Marks were primed to see who would prevail. The green was back out with these two talented racers vying for the lead. One had it and the other one wanted it. Brent Marks squeezed by to take the lead ahead of Macedo and raced to the win with Carson coming home second to earn back-to-back podium finishes. Giovanni Scelzi came home third with Logan Schuchart and Aaron Reutzel completing the top five.

On the frontstretch, Carson shared, “I feel like we were pretty solid. Once we took the lead I thought it would be really tough to get by us. And then he (Marks) started pressuring me, and I could see him almost the first run he made at me.” He continued, “I was trying everything I could. I felt like I was moving around, trying different lines, trying to get my wing back a little bit. Then I felt I’d get a little tight in turns one and two, so it was like a give and take. He just did a good job. His car was really good there at the end. My (JJR) guys did an incredible job, too!” Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

A Strong Second Place Run at Cotton Bowl Speedway in the Texas Two-Step Opener! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners: 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); RaceDiecast.com; 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; Buckwalter Trucking; CASM Safety Products; C&R Racing; ChalkStix; Crow Enterprizes; CS Productions; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Fuel Safe Racing Cells; Greber Racing Components; Hoosier Racing Tire; Indy Performance Composites (IPC); ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K1 Race Gear; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy; Motor State Distributing; Mr. Jim’s Racing; Premium Coach Group; Saldana Racing Products; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; Smith TI; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.

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