BEEN A HOT MINUTE ALABAMA: AFTER A LONG HIATUS, OUTLAWS WERE BACK IN “THE HEART OF DIXIE” WHERE MACEDO DRIVES THE DURST #41 MAXIM TO A 9TH PLACE FINISH IN THE TALLADEGA SPRINT CAR SHOWDOWN

EASTABOGA, ALABAMA (March 24, 2023) – From the Keystone State of Pennsylvania last weekend to the Heart of Dixie State of Alabama on Friday night, Philip Dietz along with Carson Macedo, Clyde Knipp and Nathan Repetz were ready to continue the World of Outlaw season in the Talladega Sprint Car Showdown at the Talladega Short Track. It sure felt a little different than Pennsylvania with temperatures in the 80s and a wind advisory. The traveling invaders made the long haul south and were excited to put on a show for the fans at the track affectionately called “The Hornet’s Nest” located just down the street of the big track for the NASCAR stars. There were 29 teams ready to take to the track and do some Dirt Trackin’ Southern Style.

Carson would be the 9th driver out on the high-banked track in Low-E Insulation Qualifying aboard the Durst Inc/Jansen Transportation/Greber Racing Components #41. He waited patiently in the cockpit of his Maxim Racing chassis nestled into his Fibreworks Composites custom fitted seat awaiting his turn. He got the go-ahead to roll out onto the track’s surface as he got his Kistler Engines power churned up. He took the green and hustled around the first set of turns eagerly racing down the backstretch and into last set of turns. When he raced across the timing stripe the clock stopped at 12.165 seconds. His momentum carried the forty-one back into turn one as he exited turn two. When Carson exited turn four he saw the checkered flag waving as he raced across the finish line in 12.194 seconds to complete his second and final lap. The better of Carson’s two laps in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 positioned him 9th quick overall, with David Gravel sitting at the top of the speed charts with a lap timed in 11.909 seconds.

When WoO officials pulled together the starting grids for each of the three 10-lap heat races, Carson would get rolling from the third starting spot in heat three. He pulled the WELD Racing/Ben Cook/ISC Racers Tape #41 Maxim up on the inside of row two beside Kasey Kahne. Brad Sweet was on the pole with Buddy Kofoid sharing the front row with him. Hunter Schuerenberg and Kraig Kinser were in row three, Jacob Allen and Robbie Price in row four, as Carson Short paced alone in row five. When racing went under green flag conditions at the start it was a drag w=race into turn one with side-by-side action everywhere. Sweet was nerf bar-to-nerf bar with Kofoid with Kahne and Macedo doing the same for the third position. It would be Buddy Kofoid into the lead with Sweet, Kahne and Macedo falling in behind as they completed lap one. The remaining laps clicked down quickly with the field spreading out at speed. Buddy Kofoid lead from start to finish in the Crouch Motorsports #11 to take the win over Brad Sweet with Kasey Kahne coming home third. Carson Macedo brought the Albaugh #41 home fourth with Hunter Schuerenberg and Kraig Kinser locking down the last two transfer positions in heat three.

After missing out on a chance to compete in the Toyota Dash, Carson watched the track as it evolved in preparation for the 35-lap NOS Energy Drink Talladega Sprint Car Showdown feature where he would get started from the outside of row six in the 12th starting position. Californians Buddy Kofoid and Rico Abreu paced the field from row one with another set of California born speedsters in row two with Brad Sweet and Giovanni Scelzi. When the flagman waved the green flag over the field the southern air was filled with the sound of sweet sprint cars. Kofoid took control of the top spot with Abreu and Sweet stalking close behind.

Carson maneuvered the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) /Bandy & Associates/Meyers Constructors #41 Maxim up to the ninth spot, but with 3 laps in the books lost the handle and was sitting sideways on the high side of the track in turns three and four. The Lemoore, California native got pushed off and tagged the rear of the field. He was about to put on a show!

Back to green, Kofoid maintained the lead over Abreu and Sweet but they were only able to get 2 more circuits in before another yellow was thrown, this time for James McFadden who spun off the racing surface in the same set of turns that Carson had problems in. McFadden rejoined the field too.

They rolled wheel-to-wheel as they prepared to get back up to speed. When the leaders exited turn four they were on the hammer with Buddy Kofoid flexing him muscles to hold onto the lead. By the time the next yellow flag was displayed on lap 7, this time for Noah Gass who spun in turns one and two, Carson restarted 22nd and charged forward to pick up a number of positions and was now running in the 16th position. He was not done.

The field of stars tried it again to race at speed for more than a couple laps to no avail as they only got one lap in the books before the yellow flag was back out for Hunter Schuerenberg who spun down into the infield narrowly missing the oversized tractor tire in turn four. They went back racing with Kofoid maneuvering his black and blue #11 at the front with Brad Sweet racing underneath Rico Abreu for the runner-up spot. Brad Sweet was fast and hot on the leader’s trail. Carson was running in the 15th position aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 and was looking for more as he had his elbows up.

By lap 12, Carson moved by both Aaron Reutzel and Parker Price-Miller in one set of turns and was sitting just outside the top ten. Two laps later he was up to 11th place when another caution slowed the action as Austin McCarl now sat sideways in the turn. Kofoid was still in first with a hungry Sweet right behind. There was a lot of time left as there was 14 laps completed and 21 laps to go.

Macedo was not done though and quickly went back to work when the green flag reappeared. He moved the Albaugh #41 into the top ten and was digging. At the halfway point of the race, Kofoid was still leading Sweet and Spencer Bayston with Donny Schatz and David Gravel running in the top five. Carson had worked his way up to 8th place on the scoreboard.

The last half of the race was a high speed show for all the fans as the leaders meticulously maneuvered through heavy lap traffic at high speed. The running order was stabilizing with 5 laps to go as Kofoid was still showing the way over Sweet and Bayston. Carson was battling with Rico Abreu for the seventh position with Giovanni pressuring him at the same time. Scelzi would catch the forty-one and make the pass for position on lap 32. Carson was now running in the ninth spot with only 3 laps to go.

Buddy Kofoid was the first driver to cross under the checkered flag with Brad Sweet coming home second and Spencer Bayston securing the last step on the podium with a third place finish. David Gravel hustled home fourth with Donny Schatz rounding out the top five. Sheldon Haudenschild came home sixth in the NOS Energy Drink #17 followed by Rico Abreu and Giovanni Scelzi. Carson Macedo came home ninth in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 ahead of Kasey Kahne after overcoming his early race spin. Another good run for the driver of the forty-one!

After Spinning Early, Macedo Charges Back for a 9th Place Finish at the Talladega Short Track! Photo Credit: CS Productions – Cameron Saich

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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.