DOUBLING DOWN IN ROSSBURG: FOUR CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS OF HIGH STAKES SPRINT CAR RACING COMMENCES AT ELDORA SPEEDWAY WITH THE INTERSTATE BATTERIES HIGH LIMIT RACING’S DOUBLE DOWN DUEL$ EXTRAVAGANZA

ROSSBURG, OHIO (July 15, 2026) – On Wednesday morning Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 crew woke up excited to see what the day ahead had in store for them. After showing speed and leading the first 15 laps at the 38th Annual Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park before he got caught up in a racing accident where he eventually returned to salvage a 17th place finish, the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 team rolled into Rossburg, Ohio’s ultimate destination for speed – Eldora Speedway. This high banked, half-mile dirt oval has produced so much history in the sport charting new pathways with big paying races for sprint car racing such as the Kings Royal, Joker’s Jackpot, Mopar Million, and Eldora Sprint Car Million to name just a few. Cut into the cornfields of northwestern Ohio, the “Big E” is the house that Earl and Berniece Baltes built. The racing venue continues to draw enthusiastic racing fans from around the world to just outside the small village of Rossburg with a reported census of 161 for 2026 according to World Population Review.

Back in 2004, the historic track transitioned ownership from the legendary Earl Baltes over to true American racing legend and an icon in the sport, Tony Stewart, who has consistently made improvements to the facility year after year making it one of the precious diamonds in grassroots auto racing. Carson and the JJR #41 team would use their third “free pass” of the season to compete in the Double Down Duel$ race on Wednesday night. There were 59 stout race teams that included the best-of-the-best parked throughout the infield pit area preparing for the night of high speed entertainment with the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Series at Eldora Speedway. It was race day in “The Buckeye State” of Ohio!

The drivers in attendance on this night would battle to compete in one of the $12,000-to-win, preliminary night Twin 25 A-Mains. Only 24 cars would make each feature. Each time the drivers hit the track they had the opportunity to earn points using Every Lap Matters point format. The large field of entries divided equally into two groups, with 30 cars assigned to one group and 29 cars in the other group – Group A and Group B, with the points accumulated throughout the night being used to seed the drivers into the C-Mains, B-Mains, and A-Main event on Thursday night for the $100,000-to-win, $4,000-to-start Joker’s Jackpot.

The High Limit Racing Series officials did a terrific job balancing the competition in each group. Talk about tough. Just as an example, there were eight former Kings Royal winners divided between both groups. In Group A there was Kerry Madsen, Kyle Larson, Tyler Courtney, and Brent Marks who all wore the crown, while in Group B the four previous Kings Royal winners were David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Anthony Macri, and Brad Sweet. Carson and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 were in Group B for the opening night of action at the “Big E” to start the Kings Royal four day stretch of sprint car entertainment.

During Capitol Custom Trailers Qualifying, the drivers battled it out against each other in their assigned group attempting to turn the quickest time in time trials. The qualifying order reflected the number the teams selected during the random pill draw with the lowest numbers hitting the track first followed by the higher numbers going out late. After pulling the ‘19’ pill, the speed chauffeur out of Lemoore, California would be the sixth competitor to push off for his two laps against the clock in Qualifying Group B. It was time for Carson to push out onto the fast half mile to make speed. It was a three-car qualifying format. When Emerson Axsom #27, Danny Dietrich #48, and John Jerich #3 completed their two circuits in qualifying, Carson rolled the Border International/KSE Racing Products/PWR Advanced Cooling Technology #41 Maxim onto the track in turn one. Joining him on the track were Anthony Macri in the J&S Classics/Randy Shearer Plumbing and Heating #39M and Brad Sweet in the Finley Farms/Durst #94 as they all lowered their right foot on the loud pedal to make speed enroute to the green flag waving high in the air at the flagstand. The slightest bobble here can be the thief of time, so focusing on hitting your marks is crucial. Carson sprinted through the first set of turns and made quick work down the back straightaway before rolling through the last set of turns during his first lap. He finished the initial lap in 13.809 seconds as he continued to carry his speed forward racing against the fast moving numbers on the stopwatch during the last lap. He hustled under the waving checkered flag to end his timed session with lap two coming in better at 13.771 seconds. The quicker of Carson’s two laps positioned him sixth quick overall in Qualifying Group B as he collected 90 Every Lap Matter points. When time trials ended for both groups, Brady Bacon in the Sure Shot Tap House/Dickman Industrial & Electrical Supplies #21H was the overall fastest driver of the night out of Qualifying Group A with a lap time of 13.111 seconds. Sitting atop the speed charts in Qualifying Group B was David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 at 13.590 seconds.

As the lineups for the eight 10-lap Heat races (Heats 1-4 for Group A and Heats 5-8 for Group B) for each Qualifying Group finalized, the crews were busy working on their speed chariots in preparation for the qualifying races. There would be an inversion of six, seven, or eight for each qualifying race determined by where the ominous “Wheel of Misfortune” stopped when the fastest driver of the night spun it. Brady Bacon gave the circle a whirl and when the clicking ended it landed on the number ‘7’ putting the fastest driver in each qualifying race on the inside of row four. Things just got a bit more interesting, or challenging, depending on perspective as there were only five transfer spots available in each qualifying race. This type of format is intriguing but requires the track prep crew to be on top of their game to make sure there are multiple lanes for the drivers to move around and utilize to make passes in their drive forward.

The maximum 200 Every Lap Matter points available for the drivers in Group A Heat races went to each of the winners: Brenham Crouch in the Horizon Whiskey #5 (TJ Forged Heat #1); Cole Macedo wheeling the TwoC Racing/Outlaw Wings #2c (DMI Heat #2); Cory Eliason driving Shannon Wheatley’s #45W (BR Motorsports Heat #3); and Kerry Madsen piloting the TK Concrete #55 (Rod End Supply Heat #4). Now it was time for the drivers in Qualifying Group B to turn some laps during their races as they still had work to do in their four qualifying Heat races.

As the sixth fastest driver out of Group B, Carson pulled the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Walker Performance Filtration/ISC Racers Tape #41 Maxim to the outside of row three sharing the Rossburg real estate with Pennsylvania Posse’s Danny Dietrich behind the wheel of the Garry Kauffman Racing/Weikert’s Livestock #48 in Driven2SaveLives Heat #6. Floridian Danny Sams III #24 pulled into the pole position sharing the front row with Spencer Bayston #17 to his outside as Chris Windom #7s and Brian Brown #21B doubled up in row two. Dietrich and Macedo pulled side-by-side into row three with Brad Sweet alone in row four.

Only the top five finishers earned automatic transfer positions into the Twin 25 features with the drivers finishing in positions six and beyond heading to the B-Main. All these drivers had the opportunity to add to their point totals coming out of time trials as they flipped the shields down on their helmets ready to rip Eldora style.

Out of turn four the green flag waved with each competitor looking to gain spots early. The further they finish towards the front of the pack, the more points they earn. Spencer Bayston got up to speed fast as he blasted into the top spot racing into clean air behind the wheel of the NOS Energy Drink #17. Following the leader were Danny Sams III, Brian Brown, and Chris Windom with Carson gaining one position at the start running in fifth place.

Chris Windom moved past Brian Brown on lap two as Carson closed in on the driver of the Casey’s/Andy’s Frozen Custard #21, too. Carson had another fast Albaugh – Your Alternative racecar tonight and was creeping up on the twenty-one. On the third lap, he was right there and off turn two they were three wide with the driver of the forty-one sandwiched between Windom and Brown. Macedo powered his way from fifth place into the show position by the time the trio of speedsters reached turn three.

Not done yet, Carson was lasered focused on chasing the next rabbit on the track directly ahead of him – Danny Sams III. Over the course of the next three miles (6 laps) he inched closer with each completed lap. With the remaining laps dwindling down, Carson was right there and drove around the outside of the Moxzy #24 and into the runner-up position. Race leader Spencer Bayston checked out and took the Heat race win by a whopping 5.241 seconds over Carson Macedo who hustled home second with Sams III, Windom, and Brown securing the last three transfer positions out of this qualifying race.

The winners of the other three Heat races for the drivers in Group B, to earn the coveted 200 Every Lap Matters points, were: Aaron Reutzel advanced in the RSR/PowerPlus #87 (Roto-Rooter Heat #5); Parker Price-Miller sitting up in his seat aboard the Indy Race Parts #71 (ShopHighLimitRacing.com Heat #7); and Creed Kemenah #15K who had his elbows up in the Ohio Logistics #15 (FK Rod Ends Heat #8).

Following his Heat race where he finished second, Carson added another 197 points to bring his accumulated total up to 287 Every Lap Matters points after all the qualifying action, which was second overall behind David Gravel (297 points) in Group B.

Every lap turned and every point earned led up to this point of the night as the cars began to stage for the first of two Double Down Duel$ featuring Twin 25s, $12,000-to-win/$1,000-to-start A-Main races. The top ten drivers in points who advanced out of their Heat races in each qualifying group were eligible for the feature inversion that would be determined by the dreaded “Wheel of Misfortune” again. This time though there were only three numbers it could land on – eight, nine, or ten. The driver with the highest overall accumulated point total for the night out of both qualifying groups earned the honors to spin the wheel of fate. At this stage of the night, David Gravel tabulated 297 points out of Group B as he made his way onto the Whiskey Myers Victory Lane stage to spin the wheel. When it stopped turning it landed on the number “10” which set the inversion for both Twin 25 feature races.

With the top ten drivers inverted for the start of each of the Twin 25 Double Down Duel$ features it added a new level of tension to the already normal stress surrounding this format. There was a $12,000 check awaiting the winner of each feature in Victory Lane . . . plus those coveted 300 event points. Brent Marks in the McGrew Equipment Auctions/K&L Utilities #19 won the first Twin 25 A-Main with Tyler Courtney #7BC, Kyle Larson #57, Rico Abreu #24, and Sheldon Haudenschild #18 completing the top five.

Next up was the second A-Main. After the inversion, the first five rows of the second Twin 25 featured Emerson Axsom #27 and Giovanni Scelzi #77 on the front row followed by Parker Price-Miller #71 and Justin Peck #26 rolling in row two. Anthony Macri #39M and Corey Day #14M paced from row three with Aaron Reutzel #87 and Sye Lynch #42 partnered up in row four. Row five showcased two of the better drivers in the sport today, Carson Macedo #41 and David Gravel #2, as they looked to cultivate some early action at Eldora Speedway.

Carson prepared himself for his high speed adventure at Eldora Speedway. Starting back on the inside of row five piloting the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Fibreworks Composites/CS Productions #41 as he pulled up beside the two-time and defending World of Outlaws champion, David Gravel. The Lemoore, California racer was ready to get up to speed as he finalized his early race strategy as they spread out into the four-wide formation to salute the fans sitting in the packed grandstands and for those tuned in on FloRacing.

It was time to go racing at this historic half mile oval. The green flag waved with Giovanni Scelzi in the Spire Motorsports/Chili’s #77 digging into the early race lead ahead of Axsom and Peck at the end of the first lap with Day and Price-Miller racing in the top five. Competing from the seventh position, Carson gained two spots in the running order throughout the opening ap and patiently waited for some more room to open so he could take advantage of the fast lane as he was tracking just behind Sye Lynch in the running order with Aaron Reutzel behind him pushing him forward. On lap 4, Carson raced by Lynch to take over the sixth spot.

Up front a battle for the lead was evolving between Scelzi and Emerson Axsom with Corey Day sitting behind them licking his chops. Scelzi had the top spot before Axsom took it away. Scelzi charged back into the lead on lap 5 with Axsom staying with him. Over the next four laps the two wheelmen would swap the lead multiple times before Corey Day had enough and passed both of them on lap 11 leaving them back there to fight for the runner-up position.

Meanwhile, Carson was on the hunt to move into the top five as he began to close in on fifth place running Parker Price-Miller. But Aaron Reutzel continued to pace him from behind moving by the forty-one on lap 13.

On lap 15, the first caution flag of the race waved for 13th place running David Gravel who slowed on the track before turning into the pit area in turn four. His night was over with apparent rear end damage. The restart order would be Corey Day leading Scelzi, Axsom, Peck, and Price-Miller back up to speed with Reutzel and Macedo keeping up with the top five.

Giovanni Scelzi would race by Corey Day to momentarily take the lead on the restart, but the next time by Day reclaimed the clean air and was back out front in the Jason Meyers Racing (JMR) #14M. Carson moved the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 back into sixth place and was now racing in between Parker Price-Miller and Aaron Reutzel. With five laps to go, Carson ducked underneath Price-Miller to take the fifth spot before the caution flag came out on lap 21 for Creed Kemenah #15K who was off the pace as he headed back to his trailer in the pits with his night over.

With four laps to go, Corey Day set the pace again ahead of Scelzi and Peck as Carson moved into fourth place navigating around Axsom on the restart. Axsom did not go away though and the next time by the flagstand he passed Macedo back with the driver of the Indy Race Parts #71 sitting behind them watching it all unfold.

Macedo and Price-Miller both darted past Axsom the next time around moving into fourth and fifth place respectively with one lap to go. They were side-by-side with Parker Price-Miller around the top and Carson working underneath him. It was a race to the finish line. Corey Day was the first driver to arrive followed by Giovanni Scelzi and Justin Peck to round out the podium finishers. Parker Price-Miller beat Carson across the finish line by a mere 0.078 second to finish fourth with Carson completing the top five. Emerson Axsom finished sixth with Spencer Bayston, Aaron Reutzel, Anthony Macri, and Donny Schatz rounding out the top ten.

With his fifth place finish during the Group B portion of the Double Down Duel$ on Wednesday night, Carson earned an additional 284 event points for his efforts during the A-Main bringing his accumulated Every Lap Matters overall point total for the night to 571. That point total was eighth overall following the Double Down Duel$, which locked the team into the Joker’s Jackpot A-Main feature on Thursday night where Carson would start on the outside of row four on the grid from the eighth starting spot.

The twelve drivers locked into the $100,000-to-win Joker’s Jackpot A-Main after Wednesday night are: (1) Kyle Larson (584 points); (2) Corey Day #14M (583 points); (3) Rico Abreu #14 (579 points); (4) Tyler Courtney #7BC (577 points); (5) Brent Marks #19 (573 points); (6) Logan Schuchart #1s (573 points); (7) Justin Peck #26 (572 points); (8) Carson Macedo #41 (571 points); (9) Sheldon Haudenschild #18 (570 points); (10) Giovanni Scelzi #77 (566 points); (11) Parker Price-Miller #71 (560 points); and (12) Brady Bacon #21H (560 points).

The teams will stay at Eldora Speedway on Thursday for the second night of Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Series action with the $100,000-to-win Joker’s Jackpot and trophy on the line. The grandstands will be packed with fans, but that does not mean you have to miss any of the exciting action. Tune into FloRacing or Fox Sports 1 (FS1) to watch the night’s drama and speed unfold from the beginning of the night to the end.

A 5th Place Run for Carson Macedo and the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 at the “Big E” During the Double Down Duel$! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

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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