CAGEY RUN AT CAPPY: RACING FORWARD TO A PODIIUM FINISH IN THE 12TH ANNUAL CAPITANI CLASSIC ALLOWS THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 TEAM TO GET SOME VALUABLE PRACTICE LAPS BEFORE THE KNOXVILLE NATIONALS
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 4, 2024) – After racing to a third place finish in World of Outlaws (WoO) competition in the 16th Annual Ironman 55 down at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on Saturday night, the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team made the long overnight haul up to Knoxville Raceway to race in the non-sanctioned AVANTI Windows & Doors 12th Annual Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank on Sunday night. With very little rest the JJR team went back to work throughout the day to get their Maxim Racing machine prepared with their half-mile setup package to take on the black clay oval that sits on the Marion County Fairgrounds. They were looking to test some things they learned during their visit here back in June, while also getting some more laps around the track before their qualifying night for the Knoxville Nationals on Thursday.
This show is one of those special races that is named in honor of one of the true standout ambassadors of the entire sport of sprint car racing and not only for his contributions while the promoter at Knoxville Raceway. Ralph Capitani was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He was known to many as a tough and kind individual. What a great combination of character traits for this incredible person. His memory and legend continues to thrive today following his passing back on February 27, 2017, with this race named to recognize and remember him each year here at Knoxville. The pit area was packed with new event record 82 race teams registered and signed in all ready to pursue and compete for the coveted Capitani Classic trophy and the paycheck that goes along with it to the winner.
The racers would soon find out what type of speed they had at the track during two-car qualifying for time trials. Carson would be the first driver out on the track along with Tasker Phillips from Pleasantville, Iowa. He would get to test his skills and speed aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative/All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Engler Machine & Tool #41 Maxim. He zipped up his new green and black Albaugh K1 Race Gear racing suit and climbed into the cockpit of his hotrod. He pulled on his balaclava and then buckled his Shifty Illusions custom painted Bell Helmet.
As Carson waited at the front of the line in the staging lane midway down the frontstretch in the infield, he visualized his two best laps. When it was his turn to go out in Flight A Qualifying, the California driver flipped the shield down on his helmet and went into execution mode as he dropped his right foot on the gas pedal to make his Maxim Racing machine go fast. He raced off turn four with speed as he took the green flag. He navigated through the first set of turns and down the backstretch carving away the time. He blasted through the last set of turns and completed his first circuit in 16.083 seconds. Without any knowledge to how he did the first time around, the racer in him maintained that inner drive and need for more speed the next time around. This time when he raced by the flagstand the clock read 15.833 seconds. The better of his two laps positioned him fourth quick overall on the speed charts in Flight A Qualifying with Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Enterprises #83 sitting on top with the fastest lap of the night in Flight A Qualifying and overall at 15.637 seconds. Brian Brown was the quickest driver in Flight B Qualifying with a lap of 15.883 seconds.
With an inversion of the four fastest drivers in each of the six scheduled heat races, Carson would get the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Durst Inc./Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS) #41 started from the inside of row two with quick timer Buddy Kofoid pacing right beside him on the outside lane in the first of six 8-lap heat race. With only the top three finishers securing transfer positions to the feature, it was go time at Knoxville Raceway for all of the competitors. Sheldon Haudenschild and Scott Bogucki shared the front row based on their individual time trial laps. Riley Goodno and Brenham Crouch were lined up in row three with James McFadden and Zeb Wise in row four. Danny Sams III and Chase Randall were rolling in row five with Matt Juhl and Joe B. Miller in the sixth and final row.
There is just something special about seeing sprint cars circling Knoxville Raceway side-by-side. From the rumbling of the engines to the multi-tiered white guiderail fences towering in the turns, it gets your blood flowing as these colorful machines make their way around the historic track.
When the front row of Haudenschild and Bogucki came out of turn four the flagman threw the green flag over the first heat race as the entire field sped down the long front straightaway heading towards turn one. Carson moved from the inside of row two into the third position at the start, but Buddy Kofoid carried his speed off turn two to take the show position away from Macedo. Scott Bogucki was leading after the first lap was completed with Haudenschild, Kofoid, and Macedo racing behind him.
Carson was outside looking in after the first lap because only the top three would transfer into the feature. He kept his right foot planted and stayed close to the Roth Motorsports #83. Carson dove into turn one on the bottom and made it work as he exited turn two just ahead of Buddy Kofoid as the two racers continued to compete for track position as they raced down the back straightaway.
Carson had the spot and when they completed the second lap he began to gain a little breathing room between himself and Kofoid. The field of speed competitors began to fan out as the laps remaining decreased and the momentum increased. Carson had the Tarlton and Son/T-Fab Custom Metal Fabrication/Wilwood Racing #41 running in the third position behind Scott Bogucki and Sheldon Haudenschild.
The remaining laps began to click down as the field spread out some more. Scott Bogucki was fast in clean air as he built a huge lead over Haudenschild and Macedo.
On the final lap of the heat race, Scott Bogucki was showing the way as Carson was still hustling in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 from the third spot in the running order. Scott Bogucki captured the win in the first heat race by an impressive 3.379 seconds ahead of Sheldon Haudenschild. Carson Macedo raced across the finish line in the third spot to lock down the final transfer position. The top three drivers earned transfer positions to the feature event. Buddy Kofoid came home fourth with Riley Goodno rounding out the top five.
The eight fastest drivers who transferred through their heat qualified for the Pole Shuffle. Those eight drivers were: Daryn Pittman (#69k); Brian Brown (#21); Giovanni Scelzi (#18); Rico Abreu (#24); Carson Macedo (#41); Donny Schatz (#15); Scott Bogucki (#10); and, Spencer Bayston (#5). It would be a two car duel in each of the seven rounds with the winner of each moving on to take on the driver in waiting just ahead of them who would get lane choice. The results of each round were as follows:
Round #1: Scott Bogucki vs. Spencer Bayston Scott Bogucki wins/Spencer Bayston starts 8th
Round #2: Donny Schatz vs. Scott Bogucki Donny Schatz wins/Scott Bogucki starts 7th
Round #3: Carson Macedo vs. Donny Schatz Carson Macedo wins/Donny Schatz starts 6th
Round #4: Rico Abreu vs. Carson Macedo Rico Abreu wins/Carson Macedo starts 5th
Round #5: Giovanni Scelzi vs. Rico Abreu Giovanni Scelzi wins/Rico Abreu starts 4th
Round #6: Brian Brown vs. Giovanni Scelzi Brian Brown wins/Giovanni Scelzi starts 3rd
Round #7: Daryn Pittman vs. Rico Abreu Daryn Pittman wins to earn pole/Brian Brown starts 2nd
The front four rows were now set for the 25-lap, $13,000-to-win AVANTI Windows & Doors 12th Annual Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank feature along with the remaining 24 car field. From the front row to the back row there were names of talented sprint car stars that win and compete on a regular basis around the country. Any of these 24 drivers could compete and put on an incredible show anywhere, but they were all together here at Knoxville Raceway ready to entertain the fans in the stands showing off their speed and skill.
When the green flag waved over the field it was Daryn Pittman driving the famous Don Kreitz Jr. #69k into the lead ahead of Brian Brown and Giovanni Scelzi. Rico Abreu was running fourth with Carson in fifth as he was battling with Spencer Bayston for the last position in the top five.
The next time around, on lap two, Rico Abreu charged into the runner-up position as he raced around the outside of Giovanni Scelzi. It was now Pittman, Abreu, Scelzi, Brown, and Macedo after two laps were recorded as there were races for positions everywhere.
On lap 5, Scelzi raced into third as he made his way by Brian Brown’s Casey’s General Store/Impact Signs/FVP #21. Carson was right behind them as he was looking to pass Brown too. Two laps later he, too, would move by Brian Brown and now Carson was trying to track down Scelzi for third.
On lap 8, Rico Abreu had caught up to your leader and raced by into the top spot with Pittman tucking back into second. Over the next few laps Abreu and Pittman swapped the lead multiple times before the driver of the Rothwell Hyde #24 locked it down. Daryn Pittman not get too comfortable though in second place as Giovanni Scelzi and Carson Macedo were closing in on him quickly.
Just after the hallway point of the race on lap 13, Giovanni Scelzi moved by Pittman for second. It was now a three car battle for the runner-up position between Scelzi, Pittman, and Macedo. Scelzi kept the KCP Racing #18 in the runner-up position as Carson drove the Scott Boyd Family/FK Rod Ends/CASM Safety Products #41 Maxim by Daryn Pittman into the show position on lap 18.
Daryn Pittman was not about to go away silently as he battled back and kept the pressure on the forty-one for the third spot. The two talented racers were racing hard exchanging the position like currency at the arcade. Finally, with 3 laps to go, Carson secured the third position aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative entry.
Rico Abreu checked out as he raced to a dominant victory in the Capitani Classic taking the win over Giovanni Scelzi and Carson Macedo. It was another entertaining show at Knoxville Raceway for Macedo and the forty-one team!
After the race, Carson and the JJR crew were pleased with their speed and results throughout the night. They would plan to use everything they learn this evening to grow their book of knowledge at Knoxville Raceway in preparation for their qualifying night at the 63rd Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals on Thursday. But between that time, Carson and the forty-one team’s next race on the schedule is slated for Monday night down at Southern Iowa Speedway at the Sage Fruit 29th Annual Front Row Challenge (FRC).
Starting the Week of Racing in Iowa with a Third Place Finish in the 12th Annual Capitani Classic! 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) and Carson Macedo go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.
Check out ShopJJR.com to buy all your new Carson Macedo and JJR gear and merchandise.