GOOD HAND FOLDED LATE: PLAYING WITH A STACKED DECK OF TALENT IN THE HIGH LIMIT SERIES $100K JOKER’S JACKPOT, CARSON PLAYED HIS CARDS WELL THROUGHOUT THE RACE BEFORE HIS NIGHT ENDED EARLY RACING FOR THE LEAD

ROSSBURG, OHIO (July 17, 2025) – When the checkered flag flew over the last Double Down Duel$ feature at Eldora Speedway, the engines silenced Wednesday night after and entertaining and drama filled evening. There were hard crashes. The was a little gambling with the Wheel of Misfortune. There was some incredible racing. There were those important Every Lap Matter points. And then there was some post-race tech inspection drama. Those coveted points referenced were earned based on each driver’s performance Wednesday night. They were used to seed the drivers heads up for the qualifying race lineups for the C-Main, B-Main, and A-Main events. There would be no time trials or Heat races as part of Thursday’s format. The racers and teams had to put Wednesday’s activities behind them as they turned their attention to the Joker’s Jackpot with one hundred grand on the line for the winner Thursday night.

Carson and the JJR #41 team would use their third “free pass” of the season to compete in the Kubota High Limit Series sanctioned event. The Lemoore, California born racer had a very productive night of work accumulating 565 Every Lap Matters points, which positioned him eighth in the overall standings with the top twelve in points locking into the Joker’s Jackpot A-Main feature. The Joker’s Jackpot program of competition for the night would start with the Twin C-Main races at “The Big E” nestled into the cornfield in Northwest Ohio. There were 62 race teams here Wednesday night and they all returned for more action tonight looking for their chance to claim the six figure paycheck at the end of the night in the Joker’s Jackpot at Eldora Speedway. The event was televised live to a national audience on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).

The four drivers to transfer out of the first C-Main to the back of the B-Main were: (1) Justin Peck #26; (2) Parker Price-Miller #71; (3) Christopher Bell #69K; and (4) Chase Dietz #23.

The four drivers to transfer out of the second C-Main to the back of the B-Main were: (1) Kevin Thomas Jr. #19H; (2) Brenham Crouch #5; (3) Brent Marks #19; and (4) Spencer Bayston #14.

The lineups for the Twin 15-lap B-Mains were constructed using the Every Lap Matters point system and totals that were accumulated during Wednesday night’s action. The more points a driver accumulated, the further towards the front of the lineup they would start each of the qualifying races as they would line straight up. The drivers sitting in the 13th through 36th position in points after the Double Down Duel$ filled both B-Main fields with the top four finishers in the C-Main joining the rear of one of the respective races. When perusing the starting lineups, it did not take long to realize these B-Main fields were absolutely stacked. There were so many talented, successful, and proven racers in this race it almost seemed ridiculous. Only the top six finishers in each would secure a transfer positions out of the B-Main the A-Main feature event.

The six drivers to transfer out of the first B-Main to lock into the Joker’s Jackpot A-Main where they would lineup on the inside row were: (1) Garet Williamson #23; (2) Sheldon Haudenschild #17; (3) Danny Dietrich #48; (4) Cole Macedo #2c; (5) Brady Bacon #21H; and (6) Brock Zearfoss #3z.

The six drivers to transfer out of the second B-Main to lock into the Joker’s Jackpot A-Main where they would lineup on the inside row were: (1) Brad Sweet #49; (2) Brian Brown #21B; (3) Hunter Schuerenberg #55; (4) Ashton Torgerson #1a; (5) Chris Windom #7c; and (6) Tim Shaffer #17GP.

The 24 car lineup for the 40-lap, $100,000-to-win, $4,000-to-start Joker’s Jackpot feature was now filled and posted. The were no provisional starting spots. The drivers in positions one through twelve were locked into the A-Main heads up based off their point totals in Wednesday night’s Double Down Duel$ followed by the six finishers out of each of the B-Mains lining the inside and outside in rows seven through twelve. Twelve rows of insanely talented athletes looking to go fast in their pursuit of the big money.

Rico Abreu #24 (590 points) and Kyle Larson #57 (586 points) were the top two drivers in overall point standings pacing on the front row with Logan Schuchart #1s (584 points) and race one winner from Wednesday Aaron Reutzel #87 (582 points) right behind them in row two. Row three featured Wednesday’s race two winner Corey Day #14BC and James McFadden #21 (567 points). Tanner Holmes #18T (567 points) was on the inside of row four with Carson Macedo (565 points) piloting the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Scott Boyd Family/Factory Kahne (FK Shocks) #41 Maxim rolling in the eighth starting position. In row five was Michael “Buddy” Kofoid #83 (563 points) and Tyler Courtney #7BC (563 points) with Anthony Macri #39M (562 points) and Bill Balog #17B (553 points) together in row six. These drivers were looking to make some noise and speed.

Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman were busy making their final adjustments as race officials alerted the team it was about time to go racing with the horn blasting and the red lights illuminating on the television cameras prepared to catch the action. When the pre-race prep work was done, the JJR team rolled the forty-one back and into the staging area as Carson contemplated his early race strategy. A push truck pulled up behind him and gave him a nudge to fire his Kistler Engines power.

After the four-wide salute to these fans who packed the grandstands, the drivers arranged back into their respective starting spots side-by-side ready to put on a show for the fans in the stands and the national audience tuned in on Fox Sports 1. Carson was focused on success as his eyes looked ahead through the shield filled with tearoffs on his Bell Helmet. The Californian was ready to do his part to put on a show that “wowed” the crowd.

This incredible field of sprint cars athletes paced slowly down the backstretch one last time before polesitter Rico Abreu in the Whiskey Myers – East Texas Rock-N-Roll #24 got this high paying escapade started off turn four. It did not take long for some exciting duels to break out immediately, but disaster was just ahead in the first turn for some of the competitors running just behind Carson Macedo.

A wicked, multi-car crash involving Buddy Kofoid #83, Tyler Courtney #7BC, Brad Sweet #49, Bill Balog #17B, Hunter Schuerenberg #55, and Brady Bacon #21H occurred entering turn one. Kofoid, Courtney, and Balog all flipped extremely hard ending their night of racing. Tyler Courtney was transported to a local hospital for additional medical attention, while Buddy Kofoid and Bill Balog were ok. Sweet, Schuerenberg, and Bacon were able to make the necessary repairs to their sprint cars so they could rejoin the back of the field.

After the accident scene was cleared, they would go green again with Rico Abreu driving into the lead ahead of Kyle Larson and Aaron Reutzel. Carson gained two spots on the initial start and was running sixth at the end of lap one. The driver of the forty-one showed his speed early as the next time around he moved into fifth. Logan Schuchart was also fast and took the show position away from Reutzel.

On lap 5, the yellow flag was back out for Hunter Schuerenberg who was off the pace and slowed to a stop. The restart order with 35 laps to go was Rico Abreu, Kyle Larson, Logan Schuchart, Aaron Reutzel, and Carson Macedo. Abreu maintained the top spot as Larson moved around Reutzel to seize the runner-up position. Carson was battling with James McFadden in the Tarlton and Son #21 for the fifth position. Macedo had it. McFadden took it. And then Macedo stole it back after these two talented racers exchanged clean slide jobs for the position.

By lap 16, the leaders worked their way through slower traffic. The gaps were shrinking between everyone in the top five as things continued to be exciting.

At the hallway point of the race, lap 20, the yellow lights turned back on for Ashton Torgerson #1a slowed on the track with apparent engine issues. During the race slow down, sixth running Cole Macedo #2c and Brad Sweet #49 both headed to the infield with issues ending their night of racing. Race officials used the opportunity to make this an Open Red so crews could top of the tanks and make minor changes. Philip Dietz went to work to make the car better for his driver.

With twenty laps down and twenty laps to go, Rico Abreu mashed the gas and was showing the way in front of Kyle Larson . . . for now. Behind them, Carson was pointed in the right direction as he drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 around the low lane of the racing surface to move by Logan Schuchart and Aaron Reutzel into the third position. Kyle Larson moved into the lead on lap 22 when he raced by Rico Abreu.

The yellow flag came out once again on lap 23 when Garet Williamson #23 spun and slowed significantly before heading to the work area. Under the caution, James McFadden also made a visit to the work area with a flat right rear tire.

The drivers up front were Larson, Abreu, and Macedo with Schuchart and Reutzel right behind. The driver of the fifty-seven accelerated back up to speed as Carson drove into the runner-up position followed by a hard-charging Anthony Macri who was on the move.

On lap 28, Logan Schuchart shredded a left rear tire exiting turn four at speed and the caution flag was back out. There would be a restart with 12 laps to go as Larson chose the inside lane with Carson moving to the outside for the restart. Carson moved to the very top of the track through turns three and four and was on the gas. Larson was low out of turn four and raced back up into the normal racing lane on the front straightaway with his right rear contacting Carson’s left front tire knocking it off the wheel. Carson spun and headed to the work area with no guaranteed time. Race officials restarted the race before he arrived ending his night. He was officially scored with a 14 place finish. Disappointing because Philip and the JJR #41 crew gave him a car capable of competing for the win.

Kyle Larson got the race restarted with 12 laps to go with Anthony Macri, Rico Abreu, Sheldon Haudenschild, and Corey Day all trying to keep pace with the leader. The leaders were chugging along keeping each other within striking distance when the red flag flew on lap 35 for Tanner Holmes #18T who flipped hard in turn four.

It would be a five lap dash to the finish line. Larson got backup to speed quickly with Macri and Abreu trying to stay close to make it a race. Kyle Larson would not be denied as he led the remaining laps to take the win over Anthony Macro and Rico Abreu who completed the podium. Aaron Reutzel raced home fourth with Corey Day rounding out the top five.

Carson was Racing for the Lead at the Joker’s Jackpot when Incidental Racing Contact Ended His Night Resulting in a 14th Place Finish! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

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