FIGHTING THROUGH THE FOG: AFTER GETTING OFF TO A FAST START TO THE NIGHT, CARSON BATTLES HARD IN ROUND FOUR AT VOLUSIA TO BRING THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 HOME WITH AN 8TH PLACE FINISH

BARBERVILLE, FLORIDA (February 10, 2023) – Even though it was a Friday, Carson Macedo and the JJR team had to work a little overtime due to the postponement of Thursday night’s feature. After starting eleventh in the postponed Thursday night feature and driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to a respectable ninth place finish to start the World of Outlaws (WoO) season, Carson and the team were back at it to makes sure they were ready to compete at the highest level for the full regularly scheduled Friday portion of the 52nd Annual DIRTcar Nationals. After a delay to start the night because Mother Nature returned, there were 35 teams sitting in the pit area preparing for some high speed entertainment and action at the track affectionately referred to as “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile.”

After the track crew did a terrific job to get the racing surface ready to race, it was time for time trials. Sometimes where a driver goes out in the time trial order is just as important as how good their car is setup or how stout the engine under their hood is when qualifying. After selecting a high numbered pill on Thursday night and going out late, Carson would have a little better luck on Friday as he would be the 15th driver to take his time trial laps in Low-E Insulation Qualifying. He would share the track with Pennsylvania hotshoe Danny Dietrich as each driver raced against themselves to post the best time possible. While fan perspectives vary on time trials, some like them while others do not and think they are a big waste of time, they are a great indicator of aggregate team effort – both driver and crew members – to display their talents, skill and abilities along with their teamwork and a little luck sprinkled in of course. When the push truck tapped the rear nerf bar on the Tarlton and Son/Sam I Am/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication #41 the Kistler Racing Engines power awoke sending speed signals to the driver. Carson knew what he needed to do and dropped his right foot to take the green flag and start the clock. He circled the fast half-mile oval the first time in 13.824 seconds, which pushed him up to third quick at the time. Never lifting, Carson powered by the flagman as he displayed the white flag as the clock measuring the driver’s performance reset. His time when he crossed under the checkered flag at the finish line, Carson recorded an even better lap at 13.623 seconds, which jumped him to the top of the speed charts. He stayed there until the last set of cars went out and Logan Schuchart topped him with an impressive lap late at 13.609 seconds relegating Carson’s best time to second quick.

The starting grids for the four NOS Energy Drink 8-lap heat races were posted as the teams busily readied their speed chariots. Carson would climb aboard the Liquid Trucking/Vortex Racing Products/Xtreme Body and Paint #41 Maxim to prepare for action in the second heat race. He would get rolling from the pole position with Jacob Allen to his outside on the front row. The remaining rows was filled with talented racecar driver with Brad Sweet and Giovanni Scelzi in row two, Zeb Wise and Kasey Kahne in row three, Kraig Kinser and Alex Bowman in row four, with Chris Martin in the final row. The Lemoore, California driver brought the field to starting line leading Jacob Allen and Brad Sweet into turn one. Carson would lead the first lap as he continued to use his speed to extend his margin over Allen with each passing lap. He would never look back leading from green-to-checkers to take the victory over Jacob Allen who was followed across the finish line by Giovanni Scelzi, Brad Sweet and Kasey Kahne who all earned a transfer sport to the A-Main feature event.

Carson’s heat race win earned him his first opportunity in the 6-lap Toyota Dash where the finishing order sets the starting lineup for the first four rows of the A-Main feature. Buddy Kofoid would get started on the pole with Cory Eliason to his outside. Justin Peck and David Gravel were ready in row two. Logan Schuchart and Brent Marks paced from row three. And, Jacob Allen and Carson Macedo were ready to get their elbows up in the fourth and final row. When the green lights illuminated around the track it was Cory Eliason driving forward into the lead from his outside starting spot over Kofoid with Gravel running third and Marks fourth. Carson wheeled the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/RaceDiecast.com/Boltz Family #41 Maxim into fifth on the opening lap as he started to track down the Shark Racing #1s of Logan Schuchart. On lap three, Carson moved the forty-one by Schuchart to gain the sixth spot and quickly entered a three-way battle for the fourth position with Brent Marks and Justin Peck. The three talented racers were putting on a show. Carson was able to make the pass on Justin Peck on the last lap in the final corner to earn a fifth place finish. Cory Eliason collected the win over Kofoid and Gravel with Marks securing fourth place. Peck finished sixth followed by the Shark Racing duo of Logan Schuchart and Jacob Allen who finished seventh and eighth respectively.

The 8-minute horn sounded to summon the eligible drivers and teams who earned a spot in the 30-lap NOS Energy Drink A-Main feature to the track. Nathan Repetz had a fresh marked Hoosier Racing Tire on the car. Clyde Knipp made a final bar adjustment. And, Philip Dietz finalized his speed magic as he made one final turn of the wrench all in an effort to make sure their driver had a good car underneath him to showcase his talents and speed during the feature.

Carson Macedo would get started for the money paying race from the inside of row three with Justin Peck to his outside. With fog starting to roll into the area, the JJR crew rolled the beautiful Blackbeard designed Albaugh – Your Alternative/Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS)/C&R Racing #41 into position as they waited for a push truck to get started. A yellow Jeep pulled in behind the forty-one and gave it a push as the Kistler Racing Engines power came to life.

After the traditional Whiskey Myers four-wide salute to the dedicated, and patient, fans at Volusia Speedway Park, Cory Eliason got the night started as he drove into the top spot over Buddy Kofoid and David Gravel. Carson was racing from the fourth position in the early stages of the race. Eliason would lead the first 10 laps before surrendering the lead over to Kofoid who led the next 11 laps. Gravel would also get by Eliason 14 laps into the race as he kept pace with Kofoid for an ensuing fight for the top spot.

On lap 21, the first yellow flag of the race was displayed for the high flying and always fast Anthony Macri who was stopped on the track with front end damage. It was Kofoid, Gravel, Eliason, Macedo and Schuchart in the top five as they readied to restart with 9 laps to go. When they went back to green flag racing it was Gravel using the outside lane to race by Kofoid into the lead as Macedo got shuffled back into the second five in the running order.

On lap 24, the final caution turned on the yellow lights as Donny Schatz and Ryan Timms got together on the frontstretch and were sitting sideways in front of the flagstand. Carson would restart seventh with David Gravel brining the field back up to speed.

David Gravel collected the win, his second of the day, as he took the victory over Buddy Kofoid and Logan Schuchart with Cory Eliason and Justin Peck rounding out the top five. Brad Sweet secured a sixth place finish ahead of James McFadden with Carson Macedo crossing the finish line in the Albaugh #41 with an eighth place finish. Sheldon Haudenschild came home ninth with Tyler Courtney charging hard from his 24th starting spot to claim the final spot in the top 10. A consistent run for the forty-one!

Another Top Ten Run in Round Four of the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park! Photo Credit: Ascent Media

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; 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; Premium Coach Group; 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.