BATTLING IN THE SWAMP: CARSON AND THE JJR #41 TEAM CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENT SEARCHING FOR SPEED RESULTING IN A 12TH PLACE FINISH AT THE DIRTCAR NATIONALS
BARBERVILLE, FLORIDA (February 8, 2024) – After kicking off the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season with an uncharacteristic 14th place finish after a slow start on Wednesday night in the opening night of the 53rd Annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Carson Macedo and his JJR #41 team were back more determined than ever at Volusia Speedway Park on Thursday looking to see if they could wrangle up a better night, and hopefully be in contention to grab a gator. The heat bulb in the sky was shining again in the Sunshine State and the competitive juices were flowing within each of the drivers and teams as they prepared for night two at the DIRTcar Nationals. There were 42 sprint car haulers situated throughout the pit area as they prepared to put on a show for the fans in the stands. It was time to go racing again at Volusia Speedway Park!
The evening of events began with hot laps for each of the drivers so they could shake down their cars as crews prepared their speed machines for the solo portion of the show’s format in Sea Foam Qualifying. Each driver gets a chance to show off their speed against the clock in time trials. Carson would push off third in Flight 2 aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Scott Boyd Family/Durst Inc. #41 Maxim to see how much time it would take him to circle the half-mile oval. He was up for the task as he roared towards the waving green flag using his KSE Racing Products to steer his way into the first set of turns. He blasted down the backstretch as he made his way through the last set of turns before heading down the frontstretch to complete his first lap. The timing and scoring officials measured his lap in 13.587 seconds.
With his speed and momentum building he was laser focused on his second speed escapade around Volusia. These drivers make it look easy as they combine their courage with their talents. The seconds were flying by on the stopwatch. When he crossed the timing stripe for the last time the numbers on the clock read 13.483 seconds. The better of his two laps positioned him seventh quick overall in Flight 2. Brian Brown in the Casey’s General Stores #21 turned the quickest lap in Flight 2 and overall in qualifying to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award with an impressive lap of 13.222 seconds.
The heat race lineups were posted based on each driver’s best time in qualifying. That put the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Kistler Racing Engines/Factory Kahne (FK Shocks) #41 Maxim in the loaded third heat races where he would start on the outside of row two with 5-time World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet nestled to his inside. The talented row two tandem followed Brian Brown and Brent Marks who made up the front row. Behind them in row three was Logan Schuchart and Sheldon Haudenschild with Jacob Allen, Danny Sams III, Ryan Harrison, Justin Whittall, and Bill Rose. If you wanted one of the top five transfer spots to the feature you were going to have to earn it!
The green flag waved and it was outside front row starter Brent Marks taking the lead ahead of polesitter Brian Brown. Carson Macedo drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into third place with Brad Sweet right behind. The track was fast as Marks was setting the pace out front as he began to extend his lead over second running Brian Brown. As more laps were completed the field started to spread out. There was not a lot of racing for position and when the checkered flag flew it was Brent Marks taking the win over Brian Brown with Carson bringing the JJR #41 home in the show position. Brad Sweet and Logan Schuchart secured the final two transfer spots to the feature out of the heat race.
Carson and the team were locked into the 25-lap NOS Energy Drink feature on night two of the 53rd Annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals. They would have to be patient though as there was a lot of racing on the schedule between the end of their heat race and feature time. After the long wait it was time to go racing for the money at Volusia Speedway Park for Carson and the JJR crew! Carson would get the Tarlton and Son/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/High Performance Lubricants #41 Maxim started from the tenth spot with Buddy Kofoid to his inside. David Gravel was perched on the pole with Giovanni Scelzi to his outside. Between them and row five was Rico Abreu, Brian Brown, Justin Peck, Brent Marks, Tyler Courtney, and Corey Day.
The initial green flag was thrown with Giovanni Scelzi ripping into the lead ahead of David Gravel with Carson moving the forty-one into the ninth position, but the start was negated when the yellow flag was thrown for Cory Eliason who spun around in turn three coming to a stop before a full lap could be completed.
The next time the green cloth was displayed Gravel was the one who dropped his right foot first to take command of the lead and set sail in clean air ahead of Giovanni Scelzi and Rico Abreu. Carson got shuffled back a position and was running in 11th place when the first circuit was officially recorded. Macedo worked his way back by Anthony Macri the next time around to regain the final spot in the top ten during the early stages of the race. Sprint car racing at this level is certainly not easy as these fields are filled with competitors. One of those competitors, Logan Schuchart, was now pressuring Macedo for his spot and made the pass for tenth on lap 6. The pressure continued for Macedo as he lost another spot on lap 14 to Buddy Kofoid with Sheldon Haudenschild making a pass the next time around. Carson was now running in 13th place.
The yellow flag was thrown on lap 18 when Kasey Kahne lost and engine and slowed to a stop with David Gravel still leading Rico Abreu, Giovanni Scelzi, Justin Peck and Brian Brown. Carson would restart from the 13 position determined to make some progress. When they got back going, David Gravel stayed in the lead with Macedo making his way by Corey Day into the 12th position. The race would go uninterrupted the remainder of the way with David Gravel collecting his first victory of the 2024 season crossing the finish line ahead of Rico Abreu, Justin Peck, Giovani Scelzi and Donny Schatz. Carson came home with a 12th place finish. While still not the performance they are looking for overall they made progress from night one to night two and look forward to carrying that incremental improvement forward to the final two nights at the 53rd Annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.
Carson Macedo and the team will be back in action on Friday night at Volusia Speedway Park. If you can’t be at the track be sure to watch all of the action on DIRTVision!
The Pursuit for Performance Continues with a 12th Place Finish on Night Two! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions
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.
To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR), go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.
To stay up-to-date with Carson Macedo and his success journey on and off the track, as well as to purchase his gear and merchandise directly, visit www.carsonmacedoracing.com.