BULLRING BLISS IN NORTH DAKOTA: NAVIGATING THE HIGH BANKS AT RIVER CITIES SPEEDWAY DURING THE SECOND LEG OF THE NORTHERN TOUR PRODUCES A PODIUM FINISH FOR THE JASON JOHNSON RACING (JJR) #41 TEAM

GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA (August 22, 2025) – Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team made the long 425 mile tow from Fountain City, Wisconsin to Grand Forks, North Dakota to River Cities Speedway for the Gerdau presents the Second Leg of the World of Outlaws Northern Tour visit after their sixth place finish on Tuesday night. The traveling tour of daredevils visited this “World Famous Legendary Bullring” back in late May where the Lemoore, California driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 also raced to a sixth place finish. This high-banked racetrack was built for speed and excitement back in 1909 and continues to produce amazing racing that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. As the time neared for racing to begin a quick jaunt through the pit area revealed 41 proven 410 race teams ready to evaluate their skills and talents on the quarter mile racetrack. It was race day in “The Peace Garden State” at River Cities Speedway!

The first competitive portion of the evening’s race agenda was Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying where each driver gets two time trial laps in a race against the clock to see how they match up against their fellow competitors. Jason Meyers set and still holds the record here with a lap of 9.269 seconds that he laid down 16 years ago on August 21, 2009. Each of the drivers position in the time trial order was determined by random draw in the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw. The track was heavy and greasy yet as the drivers in the first of two flights for qualifying were ready to roll. Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman were busily finishing their work to give Carson a good car to generate speed when it was his turn to go out. He was slated to be the tenth car out in Flight 2. When he inched closer to the front of the line in the staging area and Devils Lake, North Dakota’s Colton Young #4 completed his solo timed performance, it was Carson’s turn to show off his talents and skills from inside the cockpit of his Maxim Racing chassis office. He let his right foot do the talking as the Kistler Engines power provided the background music. He got up to speed off turn four as he whizzed past the waving green flag in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Boltz Family/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim. This track is just as much about courage as it is about competency. It takes both though to turn a good lap. When Carson crossed the timing light the first time his effort the stopwatch captured his lap in 10.431 seconds. He stayed focused with the gas pedal plated to the floor looking to get whatever extra he could throughout lap two. Carson found his groove and when he raced by the flagman who showed him the checkered flag he recorded his second lap in 10.300 seconds. The faster of Carson’s two laps around River Cities Speedway ended up being quick time in Flight 2 and overall, on the night when the final qualifier finished his qualifying time. It was Carson and the JJR team’s fourth Simpson Quick Time Award. David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports/Billion Automotive #2 had the quickest lap in Flight 1 at 10.377 seconds.

After showing speed during time trials to end up the quickest of the 41 competitors, Carson would get the Border International/C&R Racing/Motor State Distributing #41 started from the pole position in the front row partnered with Emerson Axsom in the KCP Racing/Aspen Aire #18 on his outside in WIX Filters Heat Race #3. Local favorite Mark Dobmeier #13 and Logan Schuchart #1s paced behind in row two with Zach Hampton #6 and Christopher Thram #24T together in row three. Garet Williamson #23 and Laela Eisenschenk #15L were rolling in row four with Adam Sobolik #52 and Colton Young #4 in the fifth and final row.

There were ten entries and only five transfer positions on the line during the ten lap affair with the top two finishers in each Heat race also earning a shot to race for their starting spots for the feature in the Toyota Dash. The field of drivers was set. The flagman showed them the one to go signal. It was the last time the fans would get to see the colorful cars in slow motion until the end of the race because the next time by they would be a blur.

When the front row starters, Carson Macedo and Emerson Axsom, hit the chalk stripe it was ‘go time’ in Grand Forks, North Dakota. They quickly raced into turn one with Carson assuming the lead in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 by the time they exited turn two. He led the first lap with Axsom, Dobmeier, and Schuchart still close enough as they applied pressure with nine laps to go.

Carson began to put some space between himself and the field and was cruising out front in clean air. Seventh starting Garet Williamson was on the move though as he moved into that final transfer position on lap 3 when he motored by Christopher Thram for position.

Carson stayed on the hammer from start to finish as he collected the Heat race win by 1.241 seconds over Emerson Axsom with Dobmeier, Schuchart, and Williamson locking down the final three transfer spots in the qualifying race.

The eight drivers that made the Dash headed to the frontstretch to find out where they would start the 8-lap Toyota Dash. After David Gravel, winner of the first Heat race, pulled the ‘4’ pill, Carson headed up to test his luck as he pulled a pill out of the oversized NOS Energy Drink can. When he looked at the numbered pill, he realized he is not lucky as he held the pill with the highest number on it, an eight, putting him on the outside of row four to start the Dash. Emerson Axsom #18 would be on the pole with Chris Windom #7s to his outside. Kerry Madsen #15s joined David Gravel #2 in row two with Sheldon Haudenschild #17 and Sam Henderson #83JR in row three. Andy Pake #64 pulled to the inside of Carson in row four. Sam Henderson was docked two positions in the starting lineup for being late to the staging area, which moved Carson to the inside of row four versus the outside. When the initial green flag waved it was short-lived as Henderson slipped over the banking coming to a stop to bring out the yellow. When they went back under green flag conditions it was Axsom hustling into the top spot followed by Windom, Gravel, and Haudenschild with Carson holding down the seventh spot. Emerson Axsom was quick and drove a great race to win the Dash crossing the finish line ahead of Windom and Gravel with Haudenschild and Madsen rounding out the top five. Andy Pake secured the sixth position with Carson racing home seventh as Henderson was scored eighth.

To no one’s surprise, the fans packed the stands and were having a terrific time throughout the night. They happily mingled through the midway while buying the driver’s merchandise and enjoying the concession options available topping it off with their drink of choice. The horn sounded alerting the 24 teams that made the field for the 40-lap Gerdau presents the Second Leg of the World of Outlaws Northern Tour A-Main feature they needed to finish their work and head trackside.

The front row starters were Emerson Axsom #18 and Chris Windom #7s with a talented pair of racers behind them in row two featuring David Gravel #2 and Sheldon Haudenschild #17. Row three showcased Kerry Madsen #15s and Andy Pake #64 with Carson Macedo #41 and Sam Henderson #83JR tucked in behind in row four eager and ready to go.

It was about to go down at River Cities Speedway. Race officials turned the yellow bulb lights off that are strung over top of turn three as the drivers flipped the shields down on their helmets refining their focus. When the lead row exited turn four it immediately got serious with Emerson Axsom driving into the top spot ahead of David Gravel and Chris Windom. The roar of engines startled the crowd as they looked on in entertainment awe.

Emerson Axsom led the opening circuit with Carson scored in the seventh spot piloting the Albaugh – Your Alternative/All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim. He was racing with Kerry Madsen, Andy Pake, and Buddy Kofoid gunning for position.

Up front, Emerson Axsom had his hands full as Gravel was rolling the bottom carrying his speed as he was looking to take over the lead. On lap 3, the Watertown, Connecticut born racer moved his black and orange #2 by Axsom with Sheldon Haudenschild showing his speed in third place.

Carson was still scored in the seventh spot but moved by Andy Pake on the fourth lap to gain one position. At the same time Haudenschild moved by Axsom to take over the runner-up position. The driver of the forty-one had a good race car and was looking to continue his trek forward. Sheldon Haudenschild was on the move too as he was side-by-side racing Gravel for the lead.

At the end of lap 6, the red flag brought an abrupt stop to the racing as Kaleb Johnson #6R flipped in turn four after losing his right front tire. Fifth running Kerry Madsen in the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) #15s could not get slowed up quick enough contacting Emerson Axsom. He spun and sustaining front wing damage. Madsen rolled into the Federated Car Care Work Zone so his crew could replace the front wing. He would rejoin the back of the field for the restart.

Carson would restart fifth on the outside in the double file formation, but when the green flag came back out it was immediately replaced by the yellow flag when Bill Balog #17B got up over the banking in turn two coming to a stop. They would try again, this time in single file order, with Gravel brining them up to speed followed by Haudenschild and Axsom. Chris Windom and Buddy Kofoid blasted around Carson relegating the Albaugh #41 back to sixth.

It would take Sheldon six more laps to get in a rhythm but when he did, he was motoring and moved past Gravel for the lead on lap 12. Buddy Kofoid moved up to third with Emerson Axsom and Chris Windom racing right in front of Carson in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Two laps later, Carson moved into the top five as he made the pass on Chris Windom. He now had his sights set on fourth place running Emerson Axsom. Buddy Kofoid continued his forward march as he moved by Gravel for the runner-up position on lap 16.

On lap 18, Carson moved around the outside of Axsom to take command of the fourth position with Haudenschild showing the way out in front of Kofoid and Gravel. One lap before the halfway sign was shown to the field disaster struck for the race leader. He was fast and navigating the slower cars when he ran into the back of Skylar Gee #99 exiting turn two. He ran up over the back of Gee lifting the front end of the NOS Energy Drink #17 high in the air. Sheldon miraculously saved it and came to a stop in the infield. Interestingly, no caution was thrown for Haudenschild who was sitting off the racing surface in the infield with Kofoid inheriting the lead ahead of Gravel and Macedo with Axsom and Windom rounding out the top five.

The racing continued until lap 28 when the caution flag was displayed for Conner Morrell #28M who slowed through turn two coming to a stop on the back straightaway. The top five in the running order for the restart would be Kofoid, Gravel, Macedo, Axsom and Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing #1s who was on the move after starting fourteenth.

The green flag came out but again was replaced by the yellow flag when Sam Henderson #83JR spun into the infield. They tried it again with the drover of the Roth Motorsports/Toyota TRD/Mobil 1 #83 showing Gravel and Macedo the way out front. With 10 laps to go, Logan Schuchart continued his great race moving into fourth as he raced by Axsom for the spot.

The final caution of the night came out on lap 36 for Skylar Gee who got up over the banking in the first set of turns. It would be a four lap dash to the finish with Kofoid leading Gravel, Macedo, Schuchart, and Axsom around the bullring. Buddy Kofoid would race to his ninth series win of the year, winning both races at River Cities Speedway in 2025, completing the forty demanding laps first ahead of David Gravel and Carson Macedo who drove home third in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. When Carson was interviewed on the frontstretch by Conner Wade after collecting the podium finish the Californian explained, “I just didn’t feel like the restarts went my way. The one I got to third and then the caution came out. I was a little bummed about that.” He continued, “I tried to run the top on the next single file restart and Buddy got by me. I think we were all a little on the tight side. The track actually came in a little bit. Surprisingly, I think it was heavier in the Feature than it was in the Dash. It seemed like the top was more ledged up, and on the bottom the greases finally came in and was really sticky down there. It was a hard fought third.” Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Wheeling Around River Cities Speedway in North Dakota During the Second Leg of the Northern Tour! Phot Cyedit: Tyler Barr

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners for 2025: 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; CASM Safety Products; C&R Racing; 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; ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K1 Race Gear; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy; Motor State Distributing; Mr. Jim’s Racing; Prime Composite Innovations; 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.

Check out ShopJJR.com to buy all your new Carson Macedo and JJR gear and merchandise.