FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: MACEDO GETS OUT OF THE GATES FAST WITH ANOTHER QUICK TIME IN THE JJR ENTRY BEFORE DRIVING TO A TOP FIVE FINISH IN THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 AT KNOXVILLE RACEWAY
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (June 9, 2023) – After a busy week of maintenance and preparation back at the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) shop, Philip Dietz guided the JJR #41 team north to The Sprint Car Capital of the World – Knoxville Raceway! This would be the first WoO race of the 2023 season at the famous black gumbo clay, half-mile oval after the previously scheduled sanctioned races were both rained out back in April. The race teams pulled their haulers into their infield pit spaces and opened the back doors of their trailers to roll out each of their brightly painted 410 speed chariots. Philip, Clyde, and Nathan rolled the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 Maxim out of their transporter as Carson was raring to go back racing. Knoxville is always bustling with excitement on race day, but when the World of Outlaws (WoO) stars roll into town to race against the formidable track regulars the energy seems to rise one or two additional octaves. There were 49 race teams registered to compete at Knoxville Raceway on Friday night with the end in mind as they looked to be the first car across the finish line when the checkered flag flew on the opening night of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash. It was race day at Knoxville Raceway – World of Outlaws style!
With greater than 38 cars ready to race throughout the pit area, the field was split into two equal groups for Low-E Insulation Qualifying. Carson Macedo was slated to be the second driver out on the track in two-car qualifying in Group A. He patiently waited in the cockpit of his Maxim Racing hot rod in the staging lane aboard the Liquid Trucking/Winters Performance Products/WELD Racing #41 for his turn against the clock. When his engine came to life, Carson motored onto the track and into turn one while building up his speed and momentum heading back towards the frontstretch and the waving green flag. It was two car qualifying, so fellow Californian Giovanni Scelzi was out there too looking to create speed too. The clock was started and the seconds were ticking by as Carson was busy doing his thing using his KSE Racing Products to steer his way smoothly around Knoxville Raceway. When he tripped the timing stripe to complete the first of his two circuits his time was captured at 15.379 seconds. Carson’s right foot was still pressed down on the accelerator communicating with his Kistler Engines power looking to better his lap time the next time around. He ripped down the backstretch and through the last set of turns at the famous oval. When Carson exited turn four he saw the black and white cloth waving as he drove to a lap of 15.450 seconds. Macedo’s best lap was quick time in Group A, as well as at the top of the speed charts for the night. It was Carson and the JJR #41 team’s fifth consecutive Simpson Quick Time Award and tenth on the season.
The timing and scoring officials were busy putting together the starting lineups for the four 8-lap heat races based on each driver’s best lap time in qualifying. The native speedster from Lemoore, California would find himself on the inside of the front row where he would pull to the inside of Giovanni Scelzi who was the third quickest driver in the first qualifying set. Austin McCarl and Sam Hafertepe Jr. were right behind in row two with Robbie Price and Dusty Zomer in row three. Lachlan McHugh, Kaleb Johnson, Bill Balog, McKenna Haase, Bill Rose, Cole Mincer, and Justin Henderson occupied rows four through seven in the starting lineup. The staring field was set for the first heat race as they slowly rolled by the words “Knoxville Raceway” painted on the backstretch guiderails with the sun shining down on the speedway. When the front row starters hit the chalk stripe in turn four the air was filled again with the sweet sound of 410 racing engines. Carson drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Vortex Racing Products #41 hard off the bottom into the lead as he drove up to the cushion on the top side in turn one and out of turn two in the top spot. Behind him there was a battle for the second position between with Giovanni Scelzi and Austin McCarl with the Altoona, Iowa native seizing it. The racing action behind the leader was heating up all around the half mile. Carson was fast and focused on searching the track as he moved to the bottom and was refining his style on the inside berm. He would not be contested over the 4 miles of racing and raced to his 17th heat race win of the year in World of Outlaws competition. Austin McCarl came home second followed by Giovanni Scelzi and Sam Hafertepe Jr. with Dusty Zomer securing the fifth and final transfer spot out of the first heat race.
Earning a spot for the 22nd time this year in the 6-lap Toyota Dash, Carson headed to the Casey’s General Store Victory Lane stage to draw for his starting position. He would pull the ‘6’ pill, which put him on the outside of row three beside Rico Abreu. Austin McCarl and James McFadden would pace the field from row one with Brad Sweet and Brian Brown perched in row two. The fourth and final row of the dash was filed by David Gravel and Anthony Macri. The field rolled onto the track and into their starting positions. The green flag waved and Austin McCarl hustled into the lead ahead of James McFadden, Rico Abreu and Brian Brown early. Brian Brown was up on the wheel and made his way by Rico Abreu into the show position. Carson had slipped back to seventh aboard the Albaugh #41 and was watching Brad Sweet and David Gravel battle for position. McCarl would not be denied as he took the dash win and earned the pole position for the feature. James McFadden came home second with Brian Brown capturing third. Rico Abreu secured the fourth spot followed by Sweet, Gravel, Macedo and Macri in the finishing order.
With all of the qualifying races completed, the 24 drivers and teams that earned spot in the 25-lap opening night edition of the NOS Energy Drink Premier Chevy Dealers Clash feature were called to the track. Carson climbed into the cockpit of his Maxim Racing machine and buckled into his red Crow Enterprizes safety belts. Philip, Clyde and Nathan made some final tweaks just as their car and driver rolled back to head to the track. It was time to go racing for the money at Knoxville Raceway for the first time in 2023!
Carson Macedo pulled the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Meyers Constructors/Team Jack Foundation #41 Maxim into his seventh starting spot in row four. All of the crews had put the work in to get the cars ready, so now it was time to see the fruits of their labor. The fans were standing ready for the start as were the drivers as they were poised for some high speed action.
When the green flag dropped it was Austin McCarl driving into the lead coming off turn two over James McFadden and Brian Brown. Carson dropped back a position on the initial start and was wheeling the Albaugh #41 up to speed from the eighth spot in the running order and looking to claw his way forward. Brian Brown made his way by McFadden for second and was now pressuring McCarl for the lead with one lap in the books.
Brian Brown made the pass for the lead on lap two as Carson maneuvered by Anthony Macri into seventh. The driver of the forty-one was getting into a rhythm and by lap four moved his way into the sixth position on the track making a pass on David Gravel using the outside lane in turns three and four. Brian Brown was setting a fast race pace at the front with McCarl, Abreu and McFadden dicing for position.
Meanwhile, Carson was mired in his own battle for the sixth position with the hard-charging Giovanni Scelzi as Bard Sweet battled for the fourth spot with Rico Abreu. The laps were being completed quickly leaving less and less time to move forward. With less than 5 laps to go, Carson Macedo was driving forward in the Albaugh #41. He was racing ahead of Scelzi as both Sweet and Abreu drove forward with McFadden in the fifth position.
Carson was closing in quickly on the Roth Motorsports #83 and with two laps to go passed him to move into the top five. Brian Brown made quick work of the last mile of the race to take the win over Rico Abreu, who made a last lap, last corner pass on Brad Sweet to earn a runner-up finish, with Sweet securing the last step of the podium. Austin McCarl had an impressive showing earning fourth with Carson Macedo bringing the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 home fifth. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!
A Top Five Finish at the Premier Chevy Dealer Clash on the Opening Night at Knoxville Raceway! Photo Credit: Ascent Media
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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.