CIRCLING CEDAR LAKE FAST: ANOTHER SLICK WOODY’S QUICK TIME AWARD LEADS TO A TOP FIVE FINISH AT CEDAR LAKE SPEEDWAY TO KICK OFF THE INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECTACULAR IN THE LAND OF THE CHEESE

NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN (July 1, 2022) – As the calendar flipped to the month of July, Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team were looking to continue the momentum they had built throughout June, while also enjoying the process of competing and having fun. In the nine (9) races throughout June, the team earned two (2) wins, two (2) runner-up finishes, and seven (7) top five finishes, while not finishing outside of the top ten during that timeframe. Their average finish for the month was 4.22 in nine events. In addition, the team never time trialed outside the top five in their group all month while adding two more Slick Woody’s Fast Time Awards to bring their season total to a series leading six. But all of that was now in the rearview mirror as they continued to focus on their season goals with the mercury moving up in the thermometers all around the country. On Friday night at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin, with temperatures were idyllic making for a perfect day for racing. Philip Dietz and his traveling JJR squad of characters were ready to go racing in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 as 27 teams were registered to compete on night one of the multi-day Independence Day Spectacular.  

The speed chauffeur hailing from Lemoore, California climbed into the cockpit of the Liquid Trucking/All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/AutoMeter #41 Maxim as he prepared to head out onto the track for his two laps at speed in My Place Hotels Qualifying. This fast 3/8-mile racetrack is technical and demanding, so each driver has to bring their “A” game when they hit the track. Carson would be the seventh driver to race against the clock as he jumped on the loud pedal and released the horsepower from his Kistler Engines power plant. He started the clock at the flagstand and was testing his performance and skills at speed. When he stopped the clock after lap one he did so in 11.449 seconds which pushed him to the top of the speed charts. Carson kept his elbows up as his Vortex Racing Products wings cut through the air to provide the necessary downforce to create the traction needed for more speed. He wheeled through the timing stripe to end lap two slightly slower at 11.576 seconds. When time trials were completed, the quicker of his laps around Cedar Lake earned him another Slick Woody’s Fast Time Award, his seventh of the season, on night one of the Independence Day Spectacular.

Using each of the competitor’s final qualifying spots in the rundown from fastest to slowest, the three 8-lap heat race lineups were set. Carson Macedo rolled the Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution/Fibreworks Composites/Winters Performance Products #41 onto the pole position beside fellow Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) sponsored Kraig Kinser. Brad Sweet and Sheldon Haudenschild were in row two followed by Scott Theil, Brock Zearfoss, Scott Bogucki, Robbie Price, and Paige Polyak. Carson and Kraig drag raced down the frontstretch when the green flag waved. Carson was low with Kinser’s #11k high as they entered turn one. Carson got crossed up in one with Kinser driving into the lead. Macedo recovered and raced back into the runner-up spot with Haudenschild close behind as he began to chase down the leader. He was able to close the gap considerably but never able to position himself to make a move to steal the top spot away. Kraig Kinser, in his first race back after suffering a concussion at Beaver Dam, took the win over Macedo by 0.808 seconds with Haudenschild coming home third, Sweet fourth, and Zearfoss in fifth with Bogucki locking down the final transfer position in sixth.

Carson headed up to the front straightaway to meet with Hannah Rickards to see where he would start the 6-lap DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. He would be the fourth driver to pull his number as he strolled up in his silver Albaugh – Your Alternative K1 Race Gear crafted racing suit. Luck would be on his side as he drew the two pill, which position him outside of row one beside 10-time World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz. Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart was on the inside of row two with Kraig Kinser to his outsides as Jacob Allen and James McFadden paced from row three. The track crew misted the track and when they were done running the surface in it was time to go racing in the dash. When the yellow lights dissipated and the green lights illuminated it was Macedo using the outside lane to drive into the lead over Schatz. Donny kept the Californian in his sights and took the top spot back on lap 4. Schatz would lead the remainder of the race to take the win over Macedo, Allen, Schuchart, McFadden and Kinser.

As day was replaced by night, the 24 teams who earned starting spots in the 35-lap Independence Day Spectacular Feature on the opening night rolled the cars onto the track. The Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 was ready to go. Carson pulled on his K1 Race Gear gloves and prepared for battle. After the fireworks ended following the traditional four-wide salute to the fans, the field buzzed the track and rolled into their starting positions. Carson knew he had a good racecar, but was ready to get this party started. When the green flag waved he used the high side of the track to drive into the lead. He led the opening two laps over Donny Schatz before the first caution flag of the night was displayed for an accident that involved Kraig Kinser and Riley Goodno in turn two. With lane choice, Carson chose to restart from the inside lane aboard the Durst/Jansen Transportation/Team Jack Foundation #41 Maxim with Schatz to his outside. When they went back to green flag racing, Schatz used the high line to drive into the lead on lap 3 with Macedo and McFadden right behind. Carson was able to stay with the leader as McFadden surrendered the show position up to the hard-charging and tenth starting Brad Sweet. With 10 laps in the books the leaders were navigating traffic allowing the top three to run nose-to-tail. Sweet was battling with Macedo for the runner-up position in a torrid fight for position. On lap 19, another caution flag was thrown this time for Spencer Bayston who slowed with a cut right rear tire. For the restart, Donny Schatz selected the outside lane with Macedo’s forty-one to his inside. Schatz drove into the lead as Carson got shuffled back to fourth in the running order behind Schatz, Allen, and Sweet. James McFadden would sneak by into the fourth position relegating Carson back to fifth. With Allen in command of the lead with 9 laps to go, Sheldon Haudenschild raced by Macedo into fifth. Carson was now running one spot out of the top five but determined to regain his form. The final caution of the night flew with 4 laps to go, this time for Marcus Dumesny. Allen led the single-file restart back to the green with Sweet and Schatz right behind. Haudenschild ripped by Schatz for third as Macedo got by Macedo to regain fifth. Jacob Allen collected his third win of the year over Brad Sweet with Sheldon Haudenschild locking down the final podium position. Donny Schatz came home fourth as Carson continued his strong runs with a fifth place finish. When Carson rolled to a stop back in the pit area following the race the crew realized there was a small hole in the tire causing it to lose air. Nonetheless, it was another good run for the forty-one as they will be smiling and ready to get back at it Saturday night in the finale of the Independence Day Spectacular event at Cedar Lake Speedway!

Another Good Run for Macedo and the Albaugh #41 Securing a Top Five at Cedar Lake! Photo Credit: Trent Gower

Albaugh, LLC; Border International; Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Saich Family; Tarlton and Son Inc.; Boltz Family; Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions; Durst Inc.; Liquid Trucking; Bandy & Associates Accountancy Corporation; Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Jansen Transportation; Larry Davis Farms; Meyers Constructors Inc.; Mr. Jim’s Racing; RaceDiecast.com; Sam I Am; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Tiger Towing; All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads; AutoMeter; Bell Helmets; BMRS (Brown & Miller Racing Solutions); BR Motorsports; C&R Racing; Crow Enterprizes; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Greber Racing Components; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Hoosier Racing Tire; Indy Performance Composites (IPC); ISC Racers Tape; K1 Race Gear; Kistler Racing Engines; KSE Racing Products; Maxim Racing; Motor State Distributing; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Saldana Racing Products; Schoenfeld Headers; Smith Titanium; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Racing; Wilwood Racing; Winters Performance Products; and Xtreme Body and Paint.

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.