BEAST MODE IN ARKANSAS: CARSON MACEDO PUTS THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 BACK IN VICTORY LANE FOR THE 11TH TIME THIS SEASON TAKING NIGHT ONE AT THE BULL RING BLITZ COMPETING AT “THE DITCH”

WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS (October 25, 2024) – Philip Dietz and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team continued to keep trucking through the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink season schedule, Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) and Border International style, as they traveled south to Riverside International Speedway for the two-day affair known as the Bull Ring Blitz. The quarter mile, high-banked bullring is affectionately called “The Ditch” for good reason, because it is an elbows up type of speed plant that demands the absolute best from all of the drivers and the teams in order to conquer it each time they hit the track. It’s a racy little joint that can be unforgiving, demanding, and rewarding all wrapped up into one package. But, that combination is what creates the intense action that keeps fans engaged and coming back to the track for more . . . and more, and more. There were 35 race teams positioned throughout the pit area preparing to put on a show – World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series style – for the great fans in the area of the country, as well as, for those tuning in around the globe on DIRTVision. It was time to go sprint car racing at Riverside International Raceway – known as “The Ditch!”

After testing their setup and trying to figure a few things out in hotlaps, each driver headed to the staging area prepared to hit the track for two high speed laps in Sea Foam Qualifying. This is no simple task for these athletes as each of the drivers have to balance safety with insanity as they push it right to the edge to create the most speed possible. These professionals are incredible and just make it look easy. Carson Macedo would be the 26th driver out on the track in the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Tarlton and Son/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions #41 Maxim. He would be joined out on the track by Dale Howard driving the Quality Roof Seamers #47. It did not take long for the Californian to get his Kistler Engines power humming at full song as he raced under the waving green flag to start the clock on lap one. He went out relatively late in the order but was “all-out” from the very beginning. When he completed the first circuit in 11.695 seconds, he continued to pedal down trying for more speed to minimize the time that passed on the stopwatch. He bravely maneuvered through the turns and made quick work of the straightaways through his lap two journey. When he crossed the finish line to end his time trial session, his second attempt was slightly slower at 11.801 seconds. The better of his two time trial laps ended the evening 13th quick overall. Ohio racer Bryce Lucius, driving the Oakman Group, Inc./Heitmeyer Concrete #32, was the fastest speed demon of the night with a lap of 11.185 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Using each of the driver’s fastest lap to build out the starting lineups for the four 10-lap heat races, World of Outlaws Timing and Scoring Officials posted them when they were complete. Based on his spot in the final qualifying order from time trials, Carson would get started from the outside of row two in the Scott Boyd Family/Durst, Inc./Bell Helmet #41 with Sheldon Haudenschild #17 sharing the real estate with him at the start the race. The front row starters would be quick timer Bryce Lucius #32 and Logan Schuchart #1s. Lining up in row three was Ayden Gatewood #37 and Gage Pulkrabek #G5 with Skylar Gee #99, Dale Howard #47, and Kraig Kinser #70 tucking in behind.

When the initial green flag was thrown, Logan Schuchart hustled into the lead as Carson drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 underneath Lucius entering turn three to take control of the second position. But all of that was negated when the red flag was thrown before the first lap was completed when Dale Howard flipped in turn three. He was ok, but the race stoppage forced a complete restart.

When the green flag was back out again, Bryce Lucius drove to the front from his pole position starting spot with a talented trio – Schuchart, Macedo, and Haudenschild – directly behind him in hot pursuit. Lucius was fast and smooth and maintained the lead when the crossed flags were shown to the field at the halfway point of the race.

But, Logan Schuchart and Carson Macedo were closing quickly and things were about to get exciting. Schuchart was working the high side. Macedo was tracking his speed around the bottom. On lap 7, Logan Schuchart cruised around the topside into the lead coming off turn two. Carson was positioning the forty-one to make a move entering turn three. When they arrived he ducked under Lucius to take the runner-up position.

Logan Schuchart led the remaining laps to win the first heat race with Carson Macedo coming home second. Sheldon Haudenschild secured the show position on the last lap with Bryce Lucius and Ayden Gatewood locking down the final two transfer positions.

The eight drivers that earned a shot to race for their starting positions in the 8-lap Toyota Dash congregated on the front straightaway to draw for their positions. Carson would be the fifth driver to stick his hand in the oversized NOS Energy Drink can and when his looked at the number it was a ‘2’ which meant he would start on the outside of the front row beside Logan Schuchart #1s. Sammy Swindell #1 and Giovanni Scelzi #18 would pace together in row two with David Gravel #2 and Landon Crawley #7s in row three. Buddy Kofoid #83 and Joe B. Miller #51B. Macedo pulled his Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/FK Rod Ends/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim to the outside of Logan Schuchart’s Shark Racing #1s speedster as they were prepared to get up to speed. When they reached the chalk stripe they all stomped on the gas and were off to the races. Third starting Sammy Swindell dove low into turn three underneath Schuchart and Macedo to momentarily take the lead before the driver of the forty-one carried his momentum around the top and into the lead. Giovanni Scelzi was right behind him with Schuchart regaining the third position by the end of the first circuit. Carson was focused and hitting all of his marks lap after lap as he extended his lead over Scelzi. HE raced to the Dash win as he crossed the finish line 1.591 seconds ahead of Giovanni Scelzi who came home in second place. Logan Schuchart was third, David Gravel finished fourth, with Sammy Swindell competing the top five. Positions six through eight at the end of the race were Buddy Kofoid, Landon Crawley, and Joe B. Miller. Where they finished was where they would begin their journey in the feature.

After battling hard all night to secure his starting position in the 30-lap, $12,000-to-win Bull Ring Blitz preliminary feature, Carson Macedo climbed into his Fibreworks Composites carbon fiber seat with a Sharp Advantage by Dave Sharpley custom fitted seat insert. He locked in his JOES Matador Steering Wheel as he pushed back to head out onto the track’s racing surface for the pre-race festivities as he awaited some assistance to get his hotrod started. Carson would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative/High Performance Lubricants/Sander Engineering #41 Maxim started from the pole position in front fellow California Central Valley superstar Giovanni Scelzi. They would be followed by Logan Schuchart and David Gravel in row two, Sammy Swindell and Buddy Kofoid in row three, and Landon Crawley and Joe B. Miller in row four.

The track had slicked off and was projected to take on some rubber when they got up to speed. Getting out front would be critical early and throughout the race. The field was set. The drivers were pumped. Off turn four the flagman was waving the green flag as the engines roared at Riverside International Speedway. With the green lights illuminated and the engines roaring, Carson drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the lead with Schuchart, Scelzi and Gravel right behind.

The next time around Macedo was still leading, but David Gravel drove the Big Game Motorsports #2 into the runner-up position. Carson was smooth and delicately, and aggressively if that possible, attacked the track with Gravel patiently making his way around the bullring following the forty-one.

With 10 laps in the books, Carson had caught the rear of the field and was now trying to figure out how to make his way by to maintain the top spot. The next time around, on lap 11, he would get some reprieve and more time to think about it as the red flag was displayed for Kerry Madsen #55 who flipped in turn four after contact with Derek Hagar #44.

The restart order with 19 laps to go would be Macedo, Gravel, Schuchart, Scelzi, and Crawley. Track position was becoming more critical, so a good restart was paramount. Carson chose to restart from the outside row with Gravel to his inside. The green flag was out with the driver of the forty-one scooting into the lead again with Gravel pressuring from the second position. Sheldon Haudenschild had a great restart and drove the NOS Energy Drink #17 into third.

Carson was in control out front at the halfway point of the race leading Gravel, Haudenschild, Schuchart, and 12th starting Bill Balog who was on the move in the Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup #17B. The action would be again paused when the yellow flag was out for Dylan Cisney, driving the Bill Rose #6, who slowed on the top side of the track with a flat right rear tire. Was this the first sign this race was going to be a tire endurance race as the track started to take on rubber? Only time would tell.

Carson would again take the lead when they got back up to speed as he immediately started to put some distance between his Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 and the Big Game Motorsports #2 entry. He was locked down and still attacking the track with 10 laps to go as he still was leading Gravel, Haudenschild, Schuchart, and Balog.

He was approaching lap traffic and now had some decisions to make as that was no easy task. David Gravel was still running in second place, but was closing the gap a bit as the driver of the forty-one was finalizing a passing plan without getting out of the grip.

On lap 23, Carson was closing in on the lap car of Ayden Gatewood #37. He drove to the inside of Gatewood as the two drivers made contact as Macedo right rear made contact with Gatewood’s left rear sending the #37 into the outside wall in turn four turning him on his side. The red flag was out.

With 7 laps to go, Carson would lead the single file restart in a race to the finish. He covered the remaining distance to collect his 11 World of Outlaws victory of the 2024 season crossing the finish line 0.964 seconds ahead of the series’ point leader David Gravel with Sheldon Haudenschild coming home third. Logan Schuchart and Bill Balog rounded out the top five with Donny Schatz #15 coming home sixth and earning the KSE Hard Charger as he started from the 18th starting position.

After celebrating the win from his wing in victory lane, Carson met with Conner Wade to discuss the race and the win. He started, “I want to say I am sorry to that lapper. I could see David behind me on the big screen. He was breathing right down my back and knew I had to make moves or I was going to get ate up.” He continued, “We were just going so slow down into turn three and I was getting nervous. I saw the opening and drove it in there, and it was probably silly with the track being the way it was, I didn’t want to get complacent and end up getting passed, so I am sorry to that team and feel bad their stuff is tore up.”

After pausing and reflecting, he turned his attention back to the race and the win. “Nevertheless, my guys did an incredible job. Philip Dietz, he just delivered all night. We went out late there in Qualifying and we did a great job in the Heat Race that put us in position. Then we drew a good front row spot in the Dash and executed from there.”

He concluded by stating, “Winning Outlaw races is not easy to do. It’s a tough thing, and it’s really tough to do on a consistent basis. I’ve got a really good race team behind me in Jason Johnson Racing (JJR). We’re racing in memory of Jason Johnson and everything he stood for, so to be winning races like this is awesome.”

Another great run, sans the incidental racing contact with Ayden Gatewood in the feature, for Carson Macedo and the forty-one! The team will regroup and focus on executing to their best on the final night of the Bull Ring Blitz at Riverside International on Saturday evening at “The Ditch.” If you are not in the area, catch all of the wheel-to-wheel action on DIRTVision.

Having a Blast at the Bull Ring Blitz at Riverside International Speedway! Photo Credit: Trent Gower Photography

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) and Carson Macedo go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.

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