FOREVER 41: ANOTHER NIGHT OF INCREDIBLE ACTION ON A BULLRING FROM THE WAVING OF THE GREEN TO THE CHECKERS FLYIN’ AT THE 7TH RUNNING OF THE JASON JOHNSON CLASSIC DELIVERING AN EMOTION FILLED VICTORY FOR CARSON MACEDO AND THE JJR #41 TEAM
TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS (October 23, 2026) – Carson Macedo along with his Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 teammates – Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman – trucked back to the shop in Rocky Mount, Missouri after the successful event at Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Park Speedway bullring in Illinois last Saturday night where they finished in sixth place. The team used the week to prepare for two more nights of bullring action in Arkansas this weekend as the WoO season winds down. Towards the end of the week, the team fired up the Border International again to trek to the “Razorback State” to start another busy weekend of competition. After a seven plus hour trek to Texarkana 67 Speedway for the 2026 edition of the Jason Johnson Classic, they unloaded and met with a lot of family, friends, and fans supporting the race team for Friday night’s special event. The journey back to Arkansas carried a bit more importance for the team as they were returning for the 7th Running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends event. The race honors JJR’s founder, family member, tenacious competitor, and forever a hero to so many in and around the sport.
For those that had the pleasure of having known or crossed paths with Jason, they would attest to his unwavering focus, competitiveness, and fierce determination. These characteristics defined him as an individual and competitor. The “Ragin’ Cajun” and “Cajun Sensation” as he was affectionately nicknamed was tough as nails and had an endless drive to succeed in the sport he loved so much. But he also was just as compassionate and willing to help anyone out anytime they were in need. Driven by his lofty goals, the racer from Eunice, Louisiana put in the work to make his dreams become a reality – on and off the track. One of those goals was to race full-time against the best sprint car drivers in the country night-in and night-out competing as a traveling Platinum member of the World of Outlaws after a successful career in American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) 360 competition where he was a 5-time series champion. He did not have aspiration to race in NASCAR or with any other series. He took immense pride being an “Outlaw” racing with racers he deeply respected like Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, Shane Stewart, Brad Sweet, Joey Saldana, David Gravel, James McFadden, and many other talented drivers he held in high regard as they made their way across America racing in communities that chose to host this form of grassroots racing.
This is a particularly important race each year on the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Series schedule since Jason’s untimely passing in 2018 and the racers show up and show out. His widow Bobbi, son Jaxx, and parents Craig and Debra Johnson work tirelessly with the race officials at Texarkana 67 Speedway and the World of Outlaws to honor Jason Johnson during this race. They want the racers and fans to feel special at this event as they remember their loved one who made his mark in the sport. On a beautiful Friday, 39 sprint car teams showed up, joined by the 21 Broach Refrigeration Factory Stocks, ready to show out in the Jason Johnson Classic.
Each driver would get a chance to race against the clock on the three-tenths mile, semi-banked dirt oval at Texarkana 67 Speedway in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. They would see where they were going to go out for their timed laps by pulling a number in the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw, another true hero of the sport and series that passed away two years ago. After Carson Macedo pulled the “149” pill, the Lemoore, California racer would be the 18th driver out in Flight A driving the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication/Greber Racing Components (GRC) #41 Maxim for his two measured attempts. He mashed the accelerator to get up to speed wheeling the Albaugh – Your Alternative speed machine down the front straightaway and under the waving green flag to start his session. He was making suitable time, but only the numbers on the clock would report back the truth. When Carson raced by the flagstand to end his opening lap, the numbers on the scoreboard displayed 12.588 seconds. The driven speedster of the forty-one continued to grip and rip the next time around. He hoped his efforts would trim some more time off his performance. When he raced under the waving checkered flag, his second lap recorded in 12.877 seconds. The quicker of his two laps stood as the fourth fastest lap of the night on the speed charts for Flight A when time trials concluded. The inaugural Jason Johnson Classic winner in 2019, David Gravel now wheeling the Big Game Motorsports #2, sat at the top of the Flight A qualifying list with a New Track Record (NTR) of 12.429 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award to start the Jason Johnson Classic. The fastest driver in Flight B was Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1/Toyota Racing #83 with a lap of 12.456 seconds.
Before the engines fired for the first qualifying race, there was a very special opening ceremony on the frontstretch. Then one engine fired with a very special chauffeur in the house, Jason’s son Jaxx Johnson climbed behind the wheel of his father’s famous Lanny Row’s Shop Motorsports #41 “star car” carrying the American flag, slowly pacing around the track during Kynlee Distler’s beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. What a touching moment!
Race officials used each driver’s best time trial lap to assign them a starting spot in one of the four Heat races that were set to be ten laps in distance. Race officials finalized the starting lineups and posted them for all to see. That positioned the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Boltz Family/Smiley’s Racing Products Maxim with Carson behind the wheel on the outside of the front row in The Greatest Store on Dirt Heat Race #2 alongside polesitter Tyler Courtney in the Clausen Marshall Racing (CMR)/NOS Energy Drink #7BC. Lining up there behind them in row two was Texan Brenham Crouch #5 and Oklahoman Rees Moran #22M. Rolling in row three was Conner Morrell #28M and Cody Gardner #6C with Chris Windom #7s and Ashton Torgerson #45X behind in row four. Eric Baldaccini #0 and Josh McCord #9 were the last two drivers in the field pacing from row five.
Carson flipped the shield down on his Clem’s custom painted Bell Helmet. The Californian was ready to let the horses out to run at speed when the caution lights went out and the greens ones turned on. Out of turn four, Courtney and Macedo lowered their power foot on the speed button. The engines came alive as the field roared down the front straightaway with Tyler Courtney driving out of turn two with the early race lead ahead of Macedo and Moran with Crouch and Morrell completing the top five after the opening circuit.
Tyler Courtney had an absolute NOS Energy Drink rocket ship and with each completed lap put a little more distance between himself and the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 of Macedo. He continued to be relentless behind the wheel. Behind the top three though there was a three car battle for position with the last transfer spot up for grabs. Lap after lap there was more space between the leader and everyone else. But Chris Windom was pressuring Conner Morrell for the final transfer spot. He made the move for position in turn four.
The leader, Tyler Courtney, saw the white flag as he led from the green to the checkers to take the win by 2.961 seconds over Carson Macedo as they both locked into the Toyota Dash. Rees Moran finished in third place as Brenham Crouch and Chris Windom earned the last two transfer spots out of the second qualifying race.
Each driver pulled a number out of the oversized NOS Energy Drink can which determined where they would start the 8-lap Toyota Dash. Where they finished the Dash is where they would start the Jason Johnson Classic. They were assured of a starting spot in the one of the first four rows, but they would have to race for them. When all the numbers were gone, the starting lineup found Sheldon Haudenschild #18 and Cole Macedo #2c on the front row followed by Logan Schuchart #1s and David Gravel #2 in row two. Paired up in row three were Emerson Axsom #27 and Buddy Kofoid #83 as Tyler Courtney #7BC and Carson Macedo #41 rolled around beside each other in row four for the start of the race.
It was time to go racing with the polesitter, Sheldon Haudenschild, getting the jump at the start to seize the lead ahead of Cole Macedo and David Gravel as Tyler Courtney and Carson Macedo both moved by fifth starting Emerson Axsom to gain a spot in the running order on the opening lap. Out front, Sheldon Haudenschild cruised in clean air with the driver of the TwoC Racing #2c chasing from the runner-up position. Behind them there was a three car battle forming for the show position between Gravel, Schuchart, and Kofoid. Buddy Kofoid eventually secured the third spot.
Carson continued to hound Tyler Courtney for the sixth position. Macedo made his way by Courtney with three laps to go. Sheldon Haudenschild took the Dash victory over Cole Macedo and Buddy Kofoid with David Gravel coming home in fourth place. Logan Schuchart was fifth as Carson crossed the finish line in sixth place with Courtney and Axsom rounding out the finishing order.
The twenty four drivers that locked into the 7th Running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends 41-lap A-Main event at Texarkana 67 Speedway began to climb into their high speed offices focused on completing the work ahead around this racy, fun little bullring. There was a $20,000 check waiting in victory lane for the winner. In addition to the winner’s large share of the overall purse, the drivers also had their eyes set on the always beautiful Jason Johnson Classic trophy that is custom made each year by Tony Baustert of T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication based in Union City, Oklahoma. He and his wife are just as incredible as his work.
Carson Macedo would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41/Saich Family/Engler Machine & Tool #41 Maxim started from the sixth position. He fired up his Kistler Engines Ford Racing power and patiently paced around in row three with Logan Schuchart in his cool Shark Racing/Drydene/Breast Cancer Awareness pink #1s situated to his inside. The two gassers were ready to go. Toyota Dash winner Sheldon Haudenschild #18 was on the pole with Cole Macedo #2c to his outside on the front row. Behind them in row two was Buddy Kofoid #83 and David Gravel #2 with Tyler Courtney #7BC and Emerson Axsom #27 behind Schuchart and Macedo in row four.
Jaxx Johnson was buckled in and back out in his father’s Shop Motorsports #41 to pace the talented field of drivers before the Jason Johnson Classic finale at Texarkana 67 Speedway. The young protege was joined on the track by his “Paw Paw” Craig Johnson who was behind the wheel of his son’s 2016 Knoxville Nationals Priority Aviation/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Waco Metals #41 winning car leading the field with his grandson. Powerful and touching.
When the pre-race festivities concluded, the drivers returned side-by-side pulling into their starting positions row by row ready for the green flag to wave. The next time around they were green flag racing with Cole Macedo using the outside line to drive around the NOS Energy Drink #18 into the early race lead with Haudenschild slipping into the runner-up spot at the end of the opening lap followed by Kofoid, Schuchart, and Gravel. Scoring in the sixth spot, Carson battled with Tyler Courtney and Donny Schatz as the three racers were putting on a show.
With one lap in the books, the first caution flag displayed for Buddy Kofoid who spun into the outside wall after ducking under Sheldon Haudenschild entering turn three racing for the runner-up position. Cole Macedo was the race leader when they went back under green flag racing conditions with Haudenschild, Schuchart, Gravel, and Carson tucking in behind the top two.
There were two racing lanes being used, one high and one low, with the driver of the TwoC Racing #2c showing the way. Logan Schuchart raced by Haudenschild into the second spot with Gravel and Carson competing in the top five with another lap recorded. Behind Carson was the ten-time champion, Donny Schatz, who was pressuring the forty-one for fifth place.
On lap 7, the yellow lights turned back on. This time they lit up for Brenham Crouch #5 who slowed down the front straightaway coming to a stop in turn one. Cole Macedo was still your race leader choosing the outside lane for the restart with second place running Logan Schuchart to his inside. The green flag waved again with Cole Macedo hustling out front with Schuchart, Haudenschild, and Gravel all within striking distance. Carson was still running in the fifth spot staying right in the mix.
Two laps later, Carson rolled past Sheldon Haudenschild to move into the fourth spot immediately turning his attention to third place running David Gravel. On this smaller sized track, it did not take the drivers at the front of the pack too long to get into lap traffic. Cole Macedo was doing a masterful job maneuvering to maintain the lead, but Logan Schuchart showed him his nose numerous times to let him know he was right there.
Just beyond the halfway point of the race, the top five were Cole Macedo, Logan Schuchart, David Gravel, Carson Macedo, and Sheldon Haudenschild. Behind them though was a raging bull in Buddy Kofoid who tagged the rear of the field after his first lap incident with Haudenschild and was all the way up to ninth place.
Locked in and racing hard, Cole Macedo was your race leader but on lap 27 Logan Schuchart slid by him in the first set of turns and David Gravel drove around his outside down the back straightaway to take over second place when the next lap ended. Cole was now running in the show position with his older brother Carson pressing hard.
Carson drove into third place the next time relegating Cole back to fourth place with Buddy Kofoid now up in the fifth spot with 13 laps to go. The driver of the Roth Motorsports #83 was riding the high line to perfection and disposing of his competition one by one. A few laps later he raced by Cole into fourth place.
On lap 30, the yellow flag was back out after Donny Schatz and Garet Williamson made contact racing for tenth place leaving Schatz sitting up against the outside wall and Williamson heading to the Federated Car Care Work Zone to replace a flat right rear tire.
With eleven laps to go, it would be a double file restart with Logan Schuchart in control ahead of David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Buddy Kofoid, and Cole Macedo. The green flag was back out momentarily with Carson Macedo ducking underneath both Gravel and Schuchart to take the lead. He exited turn four with the advantage, but the yellow flag was back out for a multi-car melee in the last set of turns involving Joe B. Miller #51B, Tyler Courtney #7BC, Spencer Bayston #17, Bill Balog #17B, Garet Williamson #23, and Howard Moore #40. Under this yellow flag, the right rear tire of Kofoid’s Roth Motorsports #83 was losing pressure quickly before the green flag waved again.
The race resumed, this time I single file formation, with Logan Schuchart cruising out in front of David Gravel and Carson Macedo with Kofoid holding on and Haudenschild in tow. They completed four more laps before Howard Moore spun up against the outside wall in the first set of turns right in front of the leader. Race leader Logan Schuchart had nowhere to go as he committed to the top ultimately trying to drive around Moore’s stalled car. The Shark Racing #1s climbed the wall and flipped lightly bringing out the red flag. He was ok and in fact went to the work area during the “Open Red” where his crew made the necessary repairs to enable him to rejoin the race with six laps to go.
David Gravel inherited the lead with six laps remaining followed by Carson Macedo, Sheldon Haudenschild, Cole Macedo, and Buddy Kofoid. The two-time World of Outlaws champion pounded the gas and sailed off into the clean air creating some space between himself and the Jason Johnson Racing/Albaugh – Your Alternative #41.
Focused and determined, Carson was starting to close the gap as he was driving the Sander Engineering wheels off the car trying to put himself in position to try to steal the win. Gravel was working the low line to perfection with Macedo rallying around the top carrying his momentum. The laps began to wind down, and Carson was now close enough to knock on the leader’s door.
The next time around, Carson got a good run down the backstretch and drove around the race leader’s right rear tire off turn four to lead with three laps to go. Carson kept his right foot planted and led the remainder of the race to collect his seventh victory of the season in the 7th Running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends. What a race. What a win! David Gravel crossed the finish line in second place 1.111 seconds behind the winner with Sheldon Haudenschild racing home third. Cole Macedo finished fourth with Buddy Kofoid completing the top five.
The traveling tour of speed stars are right back here at Texarkana 67 Speedway on Saturday night for the 39th Annual Short Track Nationals. This race gained popularity and prestige at the now defunct I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas. Catch all the action on DIRTVision and watch the action unfold World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink style! #ShortTrackNationals
Enthusiastic Run at the Jason Johnson Classic in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws
After meeting and greeting the fans in the pit area after the race, Carson and the JJR #41 team turned their focus and attention to the next race on the schedule . . .Saturday night for the Short Track Nationals (STN) right here at Texarkana 67 Speedway in Arkansas. If you cannot come out to the track to watch all the action live, be sure to tune in on DIRTVision. #ShortTrackNationals
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.
Go to ShopJJR.com to look at all our offerings and buy your new JJR and Carson Macedo gear and merchandise.