FINAL CHECKERED FLAG FLIES: CARSON MACEDO WHEELS THE JASON JOHNSON RACING (JJR) #41 MAXIM INTO VICTORY LANE AS THE WORLD OF OUTLAWS RACING SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE AT THE DIRT TRACK AT CHARLOTTE

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA (November 7, 2026) – The four days at The Dirt Track at Charlotte are busy and filled with racing and activities surrounding the sport. It is a celebration of sort to end the long racing season, and the Dave Smith Motors World Finals is the proverbial exclamation to end another season. Back in early February the racing began back in Florida at the 55th Annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals with the final black and white blocked cloth to fly over another World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series scheduled in North Carolina at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. It was Championship night. A night to recognize the three deserving series champions. David Gravel had another consistent and tremendous season as he earned his third straight World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series title. He was joined on the top step of the podium by Alex Yankowski who was crowned the champion of the Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds and Bobby Pierce who was at the victor in the World of Outlaws DIRT Late Models Series. Congratulations to all the champions. It was a beautiful day in Concord, North Carolina as 43 sprint car drivers were back and ready to do their things at speed one last time against each other in 2026.

For Saturday night’s finale at the Dave Smith Motors World Finals, there would be no times trials used to line up the races. The qualifying race lineups for each of the Heat races line up are based off each driver’s accumulated event points from Thursday and Friday night’s results. When all the numbers were tabulated and arranged highest to lowest, Carson Macedo earned 264 event points aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41, which was seventh overall. Sitting at the top of the points in the sprint car division: Giovanni Scelzi #77 (284 points); Tyler Courtney #7BC (280 points); Rico Abreu #14 (278 points); and Buddy Kofoid #83 (278 points). David Gravel #2 (270 points) had the fifth highest point total followed by Tanner Holmes #13 (264 points); Carson Macedo #41 (264 points); and Garet Williamson #23 (262 points) who filled positions six through eight.

The top four in points would all start from the pole position in their respective Heat races, which would be eight laps around The Dirt Track at Charlotte. The polesitters would be flanked on the outside of the front row by the drivers fifth through eighth highest in event point totals.

The driver of the Albaugh Your Alternative/Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Wilwood Racing #41 Maxim would get his race journey started from the second position in WIX Filters Heat Race #3 alongside Thursday night’s winner, Rico Abreu #14, in the front row. They were part of a stout lineup as Parker Price-Miller #71 and Buddy Schweibinz #69K made up row two followed by Anthony Macri #39M and Donny Schatz #15 in row three. Together in row four were Matt Farnham #7NY and Bryce Lucius #6 with Chase Dietz #5 and Brogan Carder #88C shuffling into their starting spots in row five.

The safety lights around the track dimmed with the flagman ready to wave the green flag when the field arrived in turn four. There were five valuable transfer spots directly into the A-Main with ten drivers vying to secure one. Neatly aligned they made their way through the last set of turns with Rico Abreu peeking out of turn four first before the drivers “dropped the hamma” a statement Chet Christman made famous. Standing on the gas, Carson used his front row starting spot to take over the top position before the red lights turned on for Anthony Macri who flipped hard in turn two. The driver was ok, but his car was severely damaged.

The engines re-fired and they were ready to go again. Abreu and Macedo were wheel to wheel with the green cloth flying again with Carson using the outside lane to dart into the lead as he entered turn one low. At the end of the first lap, it was the driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 out in front of Abreu, Schweibinz, Price-Miller, and Schatz.

Battles ensued for better positions throughout the entire pack as their Hoosier Racing Tires worked to grip the racing surface. Carson led from the drop of the green to the waving of the checkers as he took the win over Rico Abreu by 2.127 seconds as they both moved on to the Toyota Dash where they would get to race for their A-Main starting spot. Buddy Schweibinz crossed the finish line third with Parker Price-Miller and Donny Schatz rounding out the top five as each of those drivers now earned starting positions in the last feature of the season.

The eight drivers who made the Toyota Dash drew for their starting spots in the six lap event. When all the numbers were drawn it was Friday night’s feature winner Giovanni Scelzi #77 on the pole with Tyler Courtney #7BC sharing the front row with him. They were followed in row two by Tanner Holmes #13 and Garet Williamson #23 with Rico Abreu #14 and Sheldon Haudenschild #18 looking at their tail tanks from row three. Buddy Kofoid #83 and Carson Macedo #41 shared the fourth and final row. Giovanni Scelzi immediately seized the lead on the opening lap followed by Courtney and Haudenschild as Carson gained two spots running in the sixth position behind Holmes and Williamson. With Scelzi comfortably leading the pack, Carson battled hard and hooked the cushion resulting in him surrendering the two spots he gained earlier in the race. Giovanni Scelzi raced to the Dash win with Tyler Courtney, Sheldon Haudenschild, Tanner Holmes, and Garet Williamson completing the top five. Buddy Kofoid crossed the finish line sixth with Rico Abreu and Carson Macedo rounding out the finishing order.

The eight minute horn blurted sound throughout the pits as the crew members wrapped up their work. The 25-lap Dave Smith Motors World Finals feature was the only thing left between these hard working teams and a much deserved celebration of the season’s end.

The field of cars began to make their way around the pit lane escorted by one of their crew members on a four-wheeler or mule. The cars entered the track in turn three and spread out around the 4/10-mile oval staged as they awaited assistance from a push truck.

As the engines began to fire the twenty-four drivers who earned spots in the field were joined by four additional speedsters who elected to use provisional starting spots to join in the fun. All poised and ready to roll as they prepared to chase the $25,000 winner’s share of the purse at the end of twenty-five laps. They went four wide for the last time this season with fireworks lighting the skies. It was about to go down in North Carolina – World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink style! Johnny Gibson pumped up the crowd with his famous “You wanted the best, you got hem four abreast!” exclamation.

Giovanni Scelzi #77 and Tyler Courtney #7BC were on the front row of the feature after finishing first and second respectively in the Toyota Dash. Looking forward at the front row starter’s rear nerf bars from row two were Sheldon Haudenschild #18 and Tanner Holmes #13 with Garet Williamson #23 and Buddy Kofoid #83 side-by-side in the third row. Bach in row four were Rico Abreu #14 and Carson Macedo #41 with Bill Balog #17B and Steven Snyder Jr. #51 ready to enter the hustle and bustle from row five.

Carson climbed into his Fibreworks Composites seat and buckled his Crow Enterprizes safety harness belts securely. With his Kistler Engines power rumbling under the hood, the Californian pulled the Albaugh – Your Alternative/CASM Safety Products/Winter Performance Products #41 Maxim into his eighth starting spot in row four alongside 2025 and 2026 High Limit Series champion Rico Abreu. Prepared and ready to rock and roll, Carson saw the yellow safety lights turn off as his right K1 Race Gear boot was ready to press on the power button.

When the front row starters arrived at the temporary chalk stripe laid down across turn four the calmness turned into exciting action. It was short-lived though as the red flag flew for Rico Abreu who slipped after contact with Garet Williamson in turn one as the two drivers contacted each other on the low side as Carson went around the melee on the top side.

They would try to get this race started again and this time polesitter Giovanni Scelzi darted into the lead with Tyler Courtney trying to keep pace to his outside with Haudenschild, Holmes, and Kofoid in the mix. Carson was running in the sixth spot just ahead of Balog and Snyder Jr. with one down and twenty-four more laps to go.

Throughout the next few laps, Bill Balog and Carson would exchange the sixth position with hard clean racing. Carson had it, Balog took it. The next time around Carson took it back for good and immediately set his sights on a spot in the top five as he began to track down the Roth Motorsports #83.

Macedo caught Buddy Kofoid and moved by for the fifth spot on lap 8 just before the yellow flag came out for a slowing Tyler Courtney who was running in second place. Giovanni Scelzi paced out in front of Sheldon Haudenschild who would restart second followed by Tanner Holmes, Carson Macedo, and Buddy Kofoid.

With 17 laps to go, the yellow lights turned off as the green ones illuminated. Giovanni Scelzi ripped back into the lead as Carson railed around the outside before diving under both Holmes and Haudenschild to move into the runner-up position behind Scelzi who held a one second lead over him.

Carson focused and raced with a determined style while closing the gap between himself and the leader with each completed lap. He was railing around the outside and by lap 15 had the race leader within his grips as they maneuvered around the slower traffic.

Two laps later, Carson squeezed between the lap car of Conner Morrell #28M and the race leader Giovani Scelzi #77 entering turn one to take the lead. But Buddy Kofoid was on a mission too and followed Macedo past Scelzi. The top three were comprised of three California born racers and they were putting on a show. Kofoid attempted as clean slider entering turn three with Macedo somehow finding a way around him to maintain the race lead.

Carson Macedo would not be denied as he captured the win on the Championship Night at the World Finals, his eighth series win of the season, as Buddy Kofoid came home second followed by Giovanni Scelzi. Buddy Schweibinz #69K and Steven Snyder Jr. #51 completed the top five.

With Carson’s win to end the season, the California-born speed demon earned fourth place in the season long point standings with 8 wins and 9,826 points. It certainly has been an up and down season for Carson and the team, but in addition to their eight wins they compiled in 83 races they recorded 34 Top 5s (a #40.96% success rate) and 58 Top 10s (a 69.88% success rate).

Carson finished behind now three-time champion David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports/Huset’s Speedway #2 who accumulated 11 wins and 10,118 points throughout his championship season with Buddy Kofoid (series leading 17 wins and 10,032 points) coming home second in the points race piloting the Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1/Toyota Racing #83 with Sheldon Haudenschild (11 wins and 9,890 points) wheeling the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink/Aspen Aire #18 to a third place finish. Logan Schuchart (3 wins and 9,578 points) in the Shark Racing/Drydene/DuraMAX #1s finishing fifth in the point standings.

The teams will celebrate the season at the World of Outlaws banquet on Sunday before venturing back home to their shops located around the country to begin preparation for another arduous season on the road beginning on February 10th back at Volusia Speedway Park for the 56th Annual DIRTcar Nationals with four consecutive nights of racing. #FLinFeb

The Final Checkered Flag Flies at the Dave Smith Motors World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with Carson Macedo Collecting It in Exciting Fashion! 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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