CIRCLING THE “O” COLLECTING THE “W”: THE JJR #41 TEAM GETS BACK ON TRACK AND TRUCKS FORWARD MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (MVT) STYLE TO A RACE TO THE WIN IN THE BIG O SHOWDOWN AT OGILVIE RACEWAY

OGILVIE, MINNESOTA (August 15, 2025) – After earning a fourth place finish at the 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals, Carson and his Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team stayed in the Midwest to race in “The North Star State” of Minnesota at Ogilvie Raceway in the Big O Showdown presented by Wagamon Brothers (www.wagamonbrothers.com). This impressive 3/8-mile racing facility is located North of the city of Minneapolis and lies just off the southern shores of Mille Lacs Lake. Carson won here at the inaugural race back in 2023 before leading 29 laps and finishing in the runner-up position behind Sheldon Haudenschild when they visited Ogilvie Raceway last year. A quick trip around the pit area revealed 25 teams registered and ready to entertain under the grey skies looming overhead – World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series style – in the great state of Minnesota!

When the final set of WEDG High Performance Karts Hot Laps concluded it was time for the solo portion of the show where each driver racing against the clock for two laps in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. The order for which each driver would take to the track was established during the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw. That meant Carson would be the eighth speedster to stomp on the loud pedal driving the Scott Boyd Family/FK Rod Ends/BMRS #41 Maxim. After pushing out of the staging lane with his Kistler Engines power purring the Lemoore, California driver knew what he had to do. He lowered his right foot on the ‘go button’ and raised his elbows as he accelerated towards the waving green flag. Fellow Californian Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports #83 joined him out on the track. When Carson arrived at the flagstand he was rolling and so was the clock as it measured his speed show. Carson laid down a good first lap that came in at 12.016 seconds. Never content he kept his right foot planted on the gas pedal and aimed to hit his marks through the first set of turns on the final qualifying lap. Philip has the forty-one dialed in. After exiting turn two he worked his way quickly down the backstretch and through the last set of turns enroute to the waving checkered flag. When Carson crossed the timing and scoring line this time the numbers on the stopwatch popped up 11.969 seconds. The second of his two qualifying attempts was Carson’s fastest lap which positioned the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 second quick overall when time trials were over. He was one of only two drivers in the 11 second bracket. Sitting at the top of the speed charts for the night was none other than David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 who turned in the fastest lap of the night recorded in 11.896 seconds to earn his unmatched 15th Simpson Quick Time Award of the 2025 season.

Each driver’s best time in time trial qualifying was then used to assign them to one of the starting lineups for the three 8-lap Heat races. Carson would roll the Tarlton and Son/All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/CASM Safety Products #41 Maxim out in Real American Beer Heat Race #2. He would start from them pole position on the front row beside Conner Morrell in the Tub O’ Towels/Amalie Racing Oil #28M. Bill Balog #17B was on the inside of row three with Emerson Axsom #18 to his outside. Chris Windom #7s and Christopher Thram #24T were together in row three with Scott Broty #33 and Tyler Rabenberg #18T side-by-side in row four anticipating the start.

The engines were quietly rumbling as they paced slowly awaiting the waving of the green flag the next time by. Off turn four the engines awoke and roared with Carson immediately driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the top spot with Bill Balog and Conner Morrell pursuing the leader with intensity and commitment.

Carson was on rails as Philip, Robby, and Adam had the car almost perfect setup wise. He was never challenged and led from flag-to-flag to collect his 22nd WoO Heat race win of the 2025 season by 1.390 seconds ahead of Bill Balog with Conner Morrell racing home third. Emerson Axsom was fourth with Chris Windom, Christopher Thram, Scott Broty, and Tyler Rabenberg completing the finishing order in the second qualifying race.

The redraw for the 6-lap Toyota Dash was held at the World of Outlaws Command Center to keep the show moving along with impending weather forecasted for the area. When the six drivers eligible to race drew their numbers it was Bill Balog #17B and David Gravel #2 on the front row with Zach Hampton #6 and Logan Schuchart #1s in row two. Buddy Kofoid #83 would start fifth with Carson pacing beside him in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41 from the sixth spot. Carson’s goal was to pick up a few positions so he could start further towards the front in the feature. When the green flag waved it was Balog to the lead with Gravel tracking close behind in the runner-up position. Logan Schuchart wrestled third away from Hampton with Macedo running in the fifth position. On lap 3, the driver of the Albaugh #41 drove by Hampton into fourth and was closing in on third place running Logan Schuchart quickly. Balog was still out in front of the pack with Gravel pursuing the leader. Macedo and Schuchart were now side-by-side racing for the show position with the white flag waving. Bill Balog took the win to earn the pole position starting spot in the feature with David Gravel charging home second. Logan Schuchart crossed the line in third just 0.139 seconds ahead of Macedo who finished fourth. Zach Hampton was fifth as Buddy Kofoid came home sixth. Where these six drivers finished is where they would start the feature.

With all the qualifying completed, it was now time for the 30-lap Big O Showdown presented by Wagamon Brothers feature with all the stars from the World of Outlaws locked and loaded. Carson climbed into the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Walker Performance Filtration/Smith TI #41 Maxim prepared to battle for the win in Minnesota. Collecting wins is never easy in this series as you race with some of the best sprint car drivers in the world night-in and night-out. Wins are earned when all the pieces come together and the success process is never easy. A true testament to the power and strength of the teams with the World of Outlaws.

Bill Balog in the Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup #17B and David Gravel in the ShopHusets.com #2 paired up on the front row to lead the field to the green flag. Behind in row two was Pennsylvania-bred Logan Schuchart in the Drydene/Federated Auto Parts #1s and Carson Macedo in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 with Zach Hampton in the Bill Rose Racing #6 and Buddy Kofoid in the Mobil 1/Toyota #83 in row three.

Carson was peering through the shield of his Bell Helmet looking to execute his race strategy early after the World of Outlaws traditional four-wide salute to the fans. He rolled back into his fourth starting spot excited to start when the green flag flew. The initial start was short-lived as Donny Schatz, driving a second Big Game Motorsports car emblazoned with the #15, tripped his right front on the cushion in turn one flipping wildly to bring out the red flag.

After the accident scene was clear, polesitter Bill Balog was the first driver to see the green flag wave again as he dropped the hammer and blasted down the front straightaway. Carson used the start of the race as an opportunity as he split the middle between Logan Schuchart and David Gravel as they raced three wide coming off turn two with the forty-one coming out in second place. Bill Balog led the opening lap followed by Carson Macedo and David Gravel with Kofoid and Schuchart just behind to round out the top five.

On lap 2, the first caution of the race was displayed for 11th place running Emerson Axsom who slowed exiting turn four as the yellow lights came on. After some time in the Federated Car Care Work Zone, he returned to the back of the field. Bill Balog would get them back up to speed with Carson Macedo stuck to his rear nerf bar. This one was about to get exciting as these two talented racers dueled.

Philip Dietz gave Carson an extremely good racecar that was balanced and could make speed anywhere the driver ran on the track. The car was working to perfection on the low side, so Carson followed suit and piloted it around the bottom as he closed in on the leader. He was running in the second position carving into the gap the race leader had created early.

By lap 6, Carson was in position on the low side to drive into turn one low and cleanly slide up across turn two to take the race lead from Balog. Behind the front two drivers Buddy Kofoid was on the move too as he worked his way by David Gravel into third place.

Bill Balog was not going anywhere though as he had a fast racecar too. He was creating speed around the top of the track in his black #17B. On lap 10, he used his momentum to race back by Carson to retake the top spot on the scoreboard.

On lap 12, the second caution flag of the night came out for Gage Pulkrabek #G5 as he contacted the outside wall on the front straightaway right in front of the leaders who just missed the disabled car. Bill Balog was still out front with Carson Macedo staying with him with Kofoid, Gravel, and Schuchart all sitting in the top five. The second five in the running order was Sheldon Haudenschild #17, Hunter Schuerenberg #55, Chris Windom #7S, Landon Crawley #45X, and Zach Hampton #6.

When the race restarted, Bill Balog maintained the top spot over Carson with Logan Schuchart driving the Shark Racing #1s into third place. They got another lap in before the yellow lights turned on for the third time, this time for Luke Nellis #74N who spun on the frontstretch.

It would be Balog, Macedo, Schuchart, Kofoid, and Gravel all revving back up to speed when the green flag flew again with 17 laps remaining. This time Bill Balog still held onto the lead by the slightest of margins as a determined Carson Macedo was on the move. Buddy Kofoid and David Gravel moved back around Schuchart into third and fourth places respectively as the exciting action continued to rise at Ogilvie Raceway.

At the halfway point of the race, lap 15, Carson drove underneath Bill Balog to reclaim the lead exactly as he did the first time earlier in the race. He entered low in turn one and drifted up across the track exiting turn two with the lead. The two leaders made light contact bumping wheels as Macedo moved up to avoid a lap car down the back straightaway as Balog carried his speed off turn two.

Carson continued to motor out front with Buddy Kofoid moving his Roth Enterprises #83 by Balog to claim the runner-up position. On lap 18, the yellow cloth had to be unfurled again by the flagman when Christopher Thram #24T spins on the inside of turn two.

Carson would lead Kofoid, Balog, Gravel, and Schuchart back to the green flag with 12 laps to go in the race for the winner’s check. Carson was in command of the race, but Buddy Kofoid was not letting him get too far out of sight. David Gravel was also on the move as he raced by Balog into the show position with nine laps to go.

Carson moved the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 up to the top and was navigating through lap traffic. Buddy Kofoid was closing in on the leader and a few times peaked underneath him looking to steal the lead. Carson held his ground and maintained the coveted top spot on the scoreboard.

The laps began to wind down with Carson Macedo leading Buddy Kofoid when the two laps to go signal displayed. Carson would not be denied as he raced to his eighth World of Outlaws win of the 2025 season, and his second in three races here at Ogilvie Raceway dating back to 2023.

After climbing out of the cockpit of his Maxim Racing machine and celebrating with his crew in the confetti, Carson reflected on his race performance and the win in the Big O Showdown. He began by stating, “When I got the lead, I could see on the big screen that Buddy was running the bottom in one and two and was apparently close to me doing a good job.” He continued, “He tried to slide me in three and four, and I knew I had to really get going and be smart in lapped traffic. They were pretty good. I feel like in the first three quarters of the race I was really good, and then I’d say in the last quarter I was a little unsure of where to be and didn’t want to go away from the momentum and have it bite me again like it did the first time after I got by Bill (Balog).”

Another great run for Macedo and the forty-one! The team will stay in Minnesota and be back in action Saturday night at the Jackson Motorplex for the Jackson Showdown. If you cannot come out to the track to catch all the excitement live, be sure to tune into DIRTVision.

Carson was Up on the Wheel of the Forty-One in Minnesota Performing Best in the Big O Showdown at Ogilvie Raceway! Photo Credit: Tyler Carr

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.