CHARGING FORWARD ON FINAL DAY AT VOLUSIA: RACING UNDER THE AFTERNOON SUN IN THE FINALE OF THE 50TH ANNUAL DIRTCAR NATIONALS CONCLUDES UNDER THE LIGHTS WITH A 6TH PLACE FINISH

BARBERVILLE, FLORIDA (February 7, 2021) – After Mother Nature washed out the show on Saturday night just as the first heat race was pushing onto the track, Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team were back at Volusia Speedway Park for the finale of the 50th Annual DIRTcar Nationals aboard the Tarlton and Son Inc./Meyers Constructors Inc. #41 Maxim. With the Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs kicking off about two hours to the west of the track, officials pushed up the start time to the afternoon with welcoming blue skies and the sun shining overhead. There were 31 teams ready to compete in the pit area for the finale of the DIRTcar Nationals.

Carson had to exercise patience as he would be the 28th car out for his two laps at speed in time trials. He strapped into the cockpit of his High Performance Lubricants/FK Rod Ends/KSE Racing Products Maxim Racing machine. The track was quickly evolving under the Florida sun throughout time trials, so the late draw would pose some challenges with the slowing track surface. Not deterred, the California speedster jumped on the loud pedal and wheeled the forty-one around the fast half-mile oval. He ran two consistent laps, the first one at 14.318 seconds with the second one coming in at 14.337 seconds, with the quicker of the two putting him 14th quick overall.

With three 8-lap Drydene Heat Races scheduled for the night based on time trial results, Macedo would start fifth in the second heat race. Logan Schuchart brought the field to the green as Macedo began fighting for position with Justin Peck in the Buch #13. The action was slowed after one lap for a slowing Brock Zearfoss who rolled to a stop off turn two. Schuchart was leading Cory Eliason and Brent Marks with Peck, Macedo and Parker Price-Miller running in the six transfer positions. Schuchart again showed the way at the front as Macedo again was pressuring Peck for the fourth spot. With three laps to go he was right there before a caution flew for Tim Shaffer who stopped on the topside of turn four to bring out the second caution of the race. When they restarted, the race for the final transfer position heated up as Zearfoss was roaring around the top and racing with Parker Price-Miller, Sheldon Haudenschild. The trio were closing in on Macedo who wasn’t about to let them wrestle away his position. When Schuchart took the checkers over Eliason, Marks and Peck, Macedo brought the Liquid Trucking/Waco Metal/Schoenfeld Headers #41 home fifth with Zearfoss persevering and securing the sixth and final transfer position.

With the sun being replaced by the nighttime sky, track officials reworked the surface of the track to give the drivers and teams their best chance at seeing a great show. Carson would get rolling in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Border International/Walker Performance Filtration #41 Maxim from the 14th starting position as he was flanked by David Gravel in row seven. Donny Schatz and Cory Eliason were both on the front row and would lead the field to the green flag in the 30-lap NOS Energy Drink feature finale. The qualifying was completed and it was show tie at Volusia Speedway Park. Schatz took point in the top spot when the green flag waved and was building an early lead over Eliason. Macedo was maneuvering through the field searching for opportunities to advance forward. The first third of the race was caution free, but with 13 laps in the books the first yellow flag was displayed for seventh running Brent Marks who got sideways battling for position on the track and came to a stop. When they attempted to restart pure chaos ensued mid-pack as Sheldon Haudenschild got caught up in a multi-car melee and flipped at the exit of turn two. With all drivers ok, racing resumed. But before they could get a lap in another red flag was out, this time for Gio Scelzi who flipped hard exiting turn two after making contact with Kasey Kahne who was slowing with engine issues. Gio was a little shaken, but after observation walked back to his trailer. Officials used this time to call and open red allowing the crews to make some adjustments. Donny Schatz was still leading as he was chasing his 300th career WoO victory. Macedo would restart from eleventh and on when racing resumed he moved into the top ten for the first time. He continued his patient march forward and with 5 laps to go set his sights on improving his finishing spot. Heart break with two laps to go for Schatz who experienced mechanical issues and slowed surrendering the lead to Logan Schuchart and bringing out the final caution of the race. Schuchart was now your leader and jumped on the accelerator when the green flag waved to take the win over Danny Dietrich and Cory Eliason with David Gravel coming home fourth and Brad Sweet rounding out the top five. Carson Macedo rolled home with a well-deserved 6th place finish aboard the JJR #41 entry to end the DIRTcar Nationals. Another good run for the forty-one!  

The Forty-One Comes Home in 6th Place to Cap Off the 50th Annual DIRTcar Nationals!

Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Tarlton and Son Inc.; Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions; Saich Family; Border International; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Jonestown KOA; Durst Inc.; Maxim Racing; The Boyd Family; Liquid Trucking; Meyers Constructors Inc.; Tiger Towing; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Waco Metal; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Kistler Engines; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; All Pro Auto Reconditioning; K1 Race Gear; AutoMeter; Bell Racing USA; Blackbeard LTD; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; Crow Enterprizes; 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; KSE Racing Products; Larry Davis Farms; Logo Daddy Graphics; Mr. Jim’s Racing; MSD Performance; RaceDiecast.com; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Wheels; 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.