DIGGING AT WEEDSPORT: A SOLID TOP FIVE FINISH ABOARD THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 FOR CARSON MACEDO AND THE JJR TEAM TO OPEN THE TWO-DAY EMPIRE STATE CHALLENGE AT WEEDSPORT SPEEDWAY IN NEW YORK

WEEDSPORT, NEW YORK (July 25, 2026) – When the racing concluded at Glenn Styres’ Ohsweken Speedway where Carson Macedo faded to an 11th place finish in the Six Nations Showdown on Wednesday night after leading the first 17 laps, Philip Dietz guided the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team towards Niagara Falls on their way to central New York. Their GPS in the Border International had Weedsport Speedway at 1 Speedway Drive programmed for the annual two-day Empire State Challenge. This beautiful state of the art racing venue opened back in 1955 after Stan Dudzinski built it. Then in the early 80’s, the track changed names to the Cayuga County Fair Speedway, but when the facility was purchased in 2013 by Al Heinke he changed the name back to the historic Weedsport Speedway reattaching it to the famous catchphrase “You Know It’s Summer When They’re Rocking in Weedsport!” Carson Macedo and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series stars excitedly returned to the 3/8-mile, D-shaped oval on Saturday night ready to put on a show for the fans in the northeastern part of the United States who made the trek to Weedsport. There were 42 race teams that pulled through the pit gates ready to entertain at speed. It was race day in New York – World of Outlaws (WoO) style!

After pulling the ‘116’ pill at the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw, Carson was in the second group for Hot Laps. After only three laps around this funky oval, he headed back to the grassy pit area to debrief and prepare for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying after earning the Race//Ready Hottest Lap of the Night Award. The driver of the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/ISC Racers Tape #41 was set to be the 12th driver out on the track in Flight A. Waiting just outside of turn four, when Skylar Gee #16c and his brother Cole Macedo in the #2c completed their laps, it was Carson’s turn to race against time sharing the track with Garet Williamson #23. He entered the track and pounded the loud pedal. He was off to the races . . . literally. The clock was measuring his performance and speed, while Carson was doing his thing inside the cockpit of his Maxim Racing chassis. When he blasted by the flagstand at the end of lap one, the numbers on the stopwatch displayed 13.076 seconds. He made the hard left turn into turn one and rolled down the back straightaway with a trail of dirt coming off his rear tires. This time when Carson passed the flagstand the checkered flag was out ending lap two in 12.986 seconds. His best lap in time trails ended up second quick overall at Weedsport with David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 setting quick time at 12.881 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award honors on the opening night of the Empire State Challenge. The fastest driver out of Flight B was Logan Schuchart in the Shark Racing #1s at 13.001 seconds.

Next up on the evening’s race card were the four Heat races. The starting grids for each race set the tone for each team. Carson would start from the pole position in Knoxville Bound Heat Race #2 piloting the Scott Boyd Family/BR Motorsports/CASM Safety Products #41 Maxim. Bradner, Ohio’s Nate Dussel #1 pulled to the outside of the front row beside Carson as those two speedsters paced the field in front of Matt Farnham #7NY and Nick Sheridan #45s in row two. Following in row three were Jonathan Preston #22 and Cole Macedo #2c with Paulie Colagiovanni #10c and Sheldon Haudenschild #18 focused and ready to go in row four. In the fifth and final row were Chris Hulsizer #44 and Spencer Burley #21B.

The next time the field exited turn four it would be all business. Carson rolled his shoulders one last time secured in his red Crow Enterprizes safety belts. The green flag was out, and the cars bolted towards turn one. They all made it through the first set of turns before navigating the last set. The driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 led the opening lap with Nate Dussel in the runner-up spot and Matt Farnham running third.

The red flag would come out though for Jonathan Preston and Chris Hulsizer who got together out of turn four and flipped on the frontstretch. Once they cleared the accident scene, Carson pedaled down and got the race back to full throttle leading Dussel, Farnham, and Sheridan with Cole Macedo in fifth.

On lap 3, the yellow flag came out for Matt Farnham who was off the pace when his brakes went away. They went green flag racing again with Carson maintaining the top spot over Dussel and Sheridan with Sheldon Haudenschild driving the NOS Energy Drink #18 all the way up to fourth place. He was not done yet. Over the course of the final seven laps, he gained two more positions crossing the finish line behind Carson who took the win. Nate Dussel came home third with Paulie Colagiovanni and Cole Macedo securing the final two transfer spots.

After each of the driver drew a number, the lineup for the Toyota Dash was set with ten-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz #15 on the pole with Logan Schuchart #1s to his outside. Sheldon Haudenschild #18 would start third and share row two with Cory Eliason #45 as David Gravel #2 and Carson Macedo #41 drove in their tire tracks from row three. Buddy Kofoid #83 and Bill Balog #17B shared row four. They each had eight laps to pass cars. Where they finished is where they would start the A-Main. Logan Schuchart wasted no time and took the lead over Schatz when the green flag waved with Carson getting shuffled back one spot in the running order. The next time by, Haudenschild moved by Schatz into the runner-up position. Gravel then moved by the driver of the CJB #15 too and was in the third spot. Haudenschild was up on the wheel and raced into the lead rolling by Schuchart at the halfway point of the race. When the checkered flag flew, Sheldon Haudenschild took the win over Schuchart and Gravel with Schatz, Kofoid, and Eliason following him across the finish line. Carson finished seventh with Bill Balog scored as the eighth place finishers.

Populating the first four rows for the 30-lap Empire State Challenge opening night A-Main were those top eight finishers from the Toyota Dash. Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing #18 sat on the pole with Logan Schuchart #1s flanking his right side on the front row. Close behind them in row two were David Gravel #2 and Donny Schatz #15 with Buddy Kofoid #83 and Cory Eliason #45 tucked in behind in row three. Row four was made up of Carson Macedo #41 and Bill Balog #17B.

Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman did their part to contribute to the success formula. Now it was Carson’s turn to sprinkle his talent into the mix. He was more than ready to go seated inside the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Ben Cook Race Car Products/Engler Machine & Tool #41 Maxim.

The next time they would go green. Polesitter Sheldon Haudenschild dictated the start as he pedaled down, but it was outside front row starter Logan Schuchart getting the early advantage. They went quickly from relatively slow to bad fast in a matter of milliseconds. The race for the winner’s check was on at Weedsport Speedway with Schuchart leading the opening lap ahead of Haudenschild and Gravel with Carson maintaining the seventh spot on the scoreboard.

On lap 2, sixth starting Cory Eliason got a piece of the retaining wall racing for position and slowed on the track before heading to the Federated Car Care Work Zone. The crew assessed the car and had the push truck help him back onto the track. Schuchart picked up the gas first and darted back into clean air followed by Haudenschild. Donny Schatz moved by Gravel to take over third with Balog and Macedo moving by Kofoid into fifth and sixth place, respectively.

The next time around, lap 3, the red flag came out for a multi-car incident involving Cole Macedo #2c, Jordan Poirer #28, Dylan Swiernik #7c, and Cory Eliason #45. Cole Macedo took the TwoC Racing machine to the work area where they made all the necessary repairs for him to rejoin the field.

They were back to green flag racing with 27 laps to go as Logan Schuchart moved his fast Drydene/Shark Racing #1s back into the lead over Haudenschild, Gravel, and Schatz with Carson driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into fifth place. He gained another position the next lap as he raced by Donny Schatz into fourth.

Just before the halfway point of the race, Carson entered turn three high and Donny Schatz took advantage of the opportunity and used the low lane to drive back into fourth place. Carson would keep the pressure on lap after lap trying to get back the talented ace in the CJB #15.

Up front, second place running Sheldon Haudenschild and third place running David Gravel closed in on race leader Logan Schuchart. On lap 26, Haudenschild took the lead from the Hanover, Pennsylvania born driver and the next time by David Gravel raced by relegating Schuchart back to third. Carson continued to battle with Schatz for the fourth spot.

Sheldon Haudenschild held off David Gravel to take the win with Logan Schuchart rounding out the podium. Donny Schatz finished fourth with Carson completing the top five. A good run in New York for Macedo and the JJR #41 team. Spencer Bayston raced home fourth with Nate Dussel, Bill Balog, Chris Windom, and Buddy Kofoid completing the top ten on the opening night of the Empire State Challenge.

Carson and the forty-one team stayed in the area because they would be back here at Weedsport Speedway on Sunday night for the finale of the Empire State Challenge. Catch all the exciting action at the track if you can build it into your plans, but if not tune into DIRTVision so you can be a part of the show. #EmpireStateChallenge

Working for the Weekend at Weedsport During the Opener at the Empire State Challenge! Photo Credit: Tyler Carr

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners for 2026:  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); 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; Crow Enterprizes; CS Productions; Dale “Mickey” Snyder; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Greber Racing Components (GRC); 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; PWR Advanced Cooling Technology; 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.

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