CHASING A ROYAL TITLE: COMPETING FOR A CHANCE TO RULE AS A KING IN SPRINT CAR RACING, CARSON AND THE JJR #41 TEAM RACED THE COMPETITION AND UNIQUE FORMAT TO SECURE A SEVENTH PLACE FINISH IN THE 42ND ANNUAL KINGS ROYAL

ROSSBURG, OHIO (July 19, 2025) – The past three days at Eldora Speedway have produced just incredible racing action and results which is exactly why fans make the pilgrimage to this rural area surrounded by cornfields and good people each year. With a huge field of cars on hand and a defined limit on the number of starting spots in the feature, with no provisional positions available, these drivers and teams are under a lot of pressure to perform each night. They take it in stride and go out and do what true professional entertainers do – perform at their best going fast on the high banks of “The Big E!” After wheeling the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 Maxim home to a runner-up finish Friday night in the fast and drama filled Knight Before the Kings Royal, Carson Macedo was ready to buckle back into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts and do what he loves to do – compete in a sprint car – at the 42nd Annual Kings Royal. There were 53 teams parked neatly throughout the infield pit area ready to joust for the $200,000 winner’s share of the purse and wear the coveted crown in this Crown Jewel event while etching their name in the history books.

A special qualifying and race format has been in place for this special event since the inaugural event back in 1984. The winner of that race fittingly was non-other than “The King” – Steve Kinser out of Bloomington, Indiana. This format is tough and has always deviated from the normal World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series procedures, which adds a little more risk and reward for the competitors just to make the show. Winning should never be easy, and this format puts an exclamation point on that concept.

The huge format differences start from the beginning of the night as there is no split field for time trials. Every team qualifies against each other in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying no matter how many cars are competing. When the teams arrived and rolled through the pit gates, they each selected a numbered pill at the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw to determine where they would go out for their two laps against the clock. There would be two cars on the track at a time once the qualifying order was set.

The Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Greber Racing Components (GRC)/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim of Carson Macedo would be the 34th speed athlete out on the track. Joining him was Creed Kemenah in the Ohio Logistics #15K. The California born driver waited patiently in the staging lane as he looked forward to his chance to make speed. When it was his turn, he flipped the shield down on his Shifty Illusions custom painted Bell Helmet with his K1 Race Gear gloves placed on his steering wheel as his engine fired. He was ready to grip it and rip it!

He rolled up onto the banking and built his speed up down the back straightaway and through the last set of turns before taking the green flag to start his timed session. Carson’s eyes were locked in on making speed. The Lemoore, California born racer circled Eldora the first time in 13.935 seconds and stayed on the gas. He was moving as he maneuvered around the half mile track one last time racing against time. This lap he blasted off turn four and through the timing light to end his second qualifying lap in 13.851 seconds. The better of his two laps ended up being tenth quick overall when time trials ended.

Turning the quickest lap of the night to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award at The Big E was Rico Abreu directing the Whiskey Myers East Texas Rock-N-Roll #24 and showing off his speed with a lap of 13.527 seconds.

Unlike in the past where the pre-determined top 36 qualifiers in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying were inverted for each of the six qualifying races, the inversion would be determined by the Wheel of Misfortune after time trials. Rico Abreu as the fastest driver in time trials had the honor of spinning the wheel. When it stopped spinning it landed on the number “4” located on the wheel. That meant the twenty-four quickest drivers in each of the six 10-lap Heat races would invert with only the top three finishers securing transfer positions out of the qualifying races to the feature.

The winners of the Heat races would start in positions 1 through 6 with the runner-up finishers starting behind them in positions 7 through 12. The drivers who finish third would then fill starting positions 13 through 18. The fastest two drivers in time trials that did not advance through their qualifying race were awarded positions 19 and 20 with the final four starters coming out of the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown (LCS).

Challenge outlined. Challenge accepted. The epitome of a tough format, but it was the same for everyone as each driver’s metal was going to be assessed by the format and their hungry competitors. There certainly was not any room for error from the drop of the green flag to the waving of the checkers. Carson would get his test started from row two in The Greatest Store on Dirt.com Heat Race #4 based on his time trial result. He lined the Tarlton and Son/Kistler Engines/Smiley’s Racing Products #41 up beside David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2. This qualifying race was loaded. Brian Brown #21 was the polesitter with Corey Day #14BC joining him in row one. Row three found Parker Price-Miller #71 and Logan Schuchart #1s with Bryce Lucius #32, Joel Myers Jr. #41 and Cameron Nastasi #99N filling the starting spots behind.

With their right feet hovering softly on the gas pedal the field made their way around slowly one last time in anticipation of the green flag off of turn four. When the front row starters arrived, the air filled with the sweet sound of 410 sprint car engine music as the field raced towards turn one. Brian Brown led Corey Day off turn two as a high-speed chase ensued with Carson in third place.

After the completion of the first lap, the top five were all racing close enough that anything could happen. Brian Brown stayed in control out front lap after lap with each driver settling into their running positions. Brown raced to the win by 0.853 seconds ahead of Corey Day with Carson locking down the third and final transfer spot. Logan Schuchart came home fourth with David Gravel finishing fifth.

The 24 car field was set for the $200,000-to-win, 40-lap 42nd Annual Kings Royal feature finale. The throne was in place in victory lane awaiting the winner as pre-race introductions took place. It was time to get some cornfield calamity started at Eldora Speedway in one of the most prestigious races on the schedule. They were chasing the money, ring, and crown to be bestowed upon the winner by the 2025 Royal Sovereign – King Don III (Donald Krietz Jr.).

Past winners in this event include very impressive names like: Steve Kinser (8 wins); Donny Schatz (6 wins); Jac Haudenschild (3 wins); Sammy Swindell (3 wins); with Doug Wolfgang, Dave Blaney, Brad Sweet, and Joey Saldana all wearing thew crown twice at the Kings Royal. Other greats like Donald Kreitz Jr. (1986), Bobby Davis Jr. (1989), Johnny Herrera (1996), Mark Kinser (2001), Jason Sides (2004), Daryn Pittman (2008), Tyler Walker (2011), Kerry Madsen (2014), Shane Stewart (2015), Kyle Larson (2021), Tyler Courtney (2021), Brent Marks (2022), and David Gravel (2024) most recently have etched their name on the prestigious winner’s list of this race.

The starters in the first three rows were Kasey Jedrzejek #11N, Anthony Macri #39M, Brian Brown #21, Danny Dietrich #48, Ashton Torgerson #1a, and Rico Abreu #24. They would be responsible for showing the way early. Carson rolled in the 16th position piloting the Tarlton and Son/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Winters Performance Products #41 Maxim to start the race.

An incredible drone and pyrotechnics show displayed on the backstretch before sending the field off. The energy started to elevate to new levels in this place with everyone’s heart pumping a little faster. It was time to go racing at Eldora Speedway in the 42nd Annual Kings Royal! Polesitter Kasey Jedrzejek and second place starting Anthony Macri got up to speed quickly off turn four as they dragged raced down the frontstretch in front of the packed grandstands looking to be the first to turn one to pick their racing lane.

Anthony Macri led the opening circuit followed by Brian Brown and Danny Dietrich. Carson was officially scored in the 12th position piloting the Albaugh – Your Alternative hotrod with a half mile in the books. Philip, Robby, and Adam gave him another fast racecar and he was doing his part in the speed equation. The next time around he moved by Daison Pursley #13 to take over 11th place.

On lap 3, the yellow flag came out for Darin Naida #7N who sat sideways in turn one. That slowed the action as the field realigned to get back going. Anthony Macri would lead them back up to speed followed by Brown, Dietrich, Jedzejek, and Abreu.

Carson was just outside the top ten looking to break into it when they got back going. The green flag was back out with the J&S Classics #39M showing the way at the front of the pack. Rico Abreu moved into third as there was a lot of position shuffling throughout the top ten. Carson moved by Corey Day on the sixth lap to take over the tenth position.

The next time around, lap 7, eighth place running Sheldon Haudenschild #17 was off the pace and heading to the work area bringing out the yellow flag. When they green lights came back on Macri did his thing and continued to make speed out front with Brown and Abreu chasing. Carson was running ninth behind Jedrzejek and Ryan Smith #69k. Coming fast behind him though was the hard-charging Brady Bacon #21H. Bacon would move by Macedo on his way up to seventh on lap 13.

Anthony Macri was still having a blast out front with Rico Abreu now in second and Brian Brown in third. Carson was still holding down the tenth position patiently waiting for an opportunity to move up one spot. That opportunity came just before the halfway point of the race, lap 19, when he scooted by Corey Day. The next time by he continued his forward assault moving up to seventh place.

The yellow caution lights turned back on with 25 laps recorded when Michael “Buddy” Kofoid #83 spun in turn four. Race officials used this race break as an opportunity to throw the red flag for an Open Red for crews to fill the fuel tanks up and make minor adjustments for the final 15 laps.

When the engines refired and the racing resumed, Macri continued to cruise out front with Rico Abreu right behind and now Kyle Larson was in the mix after taking over the show position. On the restart, Carson got shuffled back to tenth racing behind David Gravel who got a tremendous restart, Brady Bacon, and Danny Dietrich. He remained poised and picked one spot back up on the scoreboard on lap 28 when he moved by Bacon for ninth place.

Carson has a fast racecar and was balancing patience and persistence. On lap 32, he gained another position when he raced past Danny Dietrich. Macedo was now running in the eighth position just behind Ashton Torgerson with eight laps to go. It took him another two laps to make the pass on Torgerson and was now running in seventh place.

Anthony Macri was on a mission and completed that mission taking the prestigious victory at the 42nd Annual Kings Royal racing across the finish line by 1.478 seconds over Rico Abreu with Kyle Larson coming him third. Brian Brown came home fourth with David Gravel completing the top five. No one was in Anthony Macri’s class throughout the race on this night. He was dominant and deserving. Congratulations to Anthony Macri, King Anthony XLII, and the entire Macri Motorsports #39M team which includes former JJR Tire Specialist Nate Repetz. A job well done.

Carson and the JJR #41 team had a good night coming home with a seventh place finish at the Kings Royal. Another good run for Carson Macedo and the Forty-one!

The team displayed consistent speed throughout their time in Rossburg, Ohio and will now turn their attention for three straight battles against the Pennsylvania Posse next week starting Wednesday night at BAPS Motor Speedway before moving over to Williams Grove Speedway for two nights of action on Friday and Saturday. Make plans to come out to catch all the action or tune into DIRTVision.

Everyone was Chasing the Coveted Crown at the 42nd Annual Kings Royal at Eldora Speedway, but there is Only One King! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

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.

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