HUSTLING ON THE HALF MILE: CARSON MACEDO RETURNS TO THE SUNSHINE FOR THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE BIKE WEEK JAMBOREE AND DRIVES AROUND VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK TO A THIRD PLACE FINISH

DE LEON SPRINGS, FLORIDA (March 1, 2026) – When the team left Florida back in early February after collecting three straight podium finishes during the 55th Annual Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 crew were already looking forward to returning to “The Alligator State” for the two-day Bike Week Jamboree event at Volusia Speedway Park to kick off March. Philip (Dietz), Robby (McQuinn), and Adam (Zimmerman) rolled the Albaugh – Your Alternative speed chariot out of the trailer under cloudy and overcast skies in preparation for some fun on Sunday night at the World’s Fastest Half Mile. A stroll through the sprint car pit area revealed 31 entries ready to battle it out for the winner’s share of the purse. It was time to get back up to speed – World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car style – at Volusia Speedway Park.

When all the competitors finished circling the Volusia Speedway Park oval in Hot Laps, engines began to fire as each of the drivers were looking to create speed in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. Now it was time for the drivers to get to work against the clock. The time trial list posted the order each driver would hit the track. Carson waited patiently in line aboard the Border International/BR Motorsports/High Performance Lubricants #41 Maxim as the Californian would be the 12th driver out on the track to mash the gas. When he moved to the front of the line his Kistler Racing Engines power came to life as Carson pressed the loud pedal. He exited turn four with speed and raced under the waving green flag as the numbers on the stopwatch began to roll. He focused on hitting his marks and ended lap one in 12.861 seconds. There was still work to do though as the Lemoore, California racer was looking to shave time off the clock. Every tenth of a second counts. He sharpened his edge and this time exited turn four with a full head of steam crossing under the checkered flag in 12.761 seconds. The quicker of Carson’s two attempts positioned him 5th quick overall on the final speed charts with David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 sitting at the top speed wise to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award with a lightning fast lap in 12.673 seconds.

Carson unbuckled his Crow Enterprizes safety belts before climbing out of his office to debrief with the crew when time trials concluded. The crew went to work putting in the race setup as race officials finalized the starting lineups for each of the three Heat races. When the lineups were posted, the driver of the JJR forty-one would line up from the second starting spot on the front row of DIRTVision Heat Race #2 alongside Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing/NOS Energy Drink #18. In row two, behind the talented lead duo of Haudenschild and Macedo, were young guns Bryce Lucius #32 and Daison Pursley #9. In row three Emerson Axsom #27 and Conner Morrill #28M filled the spots with Spencer Bayston #17, Chris Windom #7s, Brock Zearfoss #3z, and Scott Bogucki #51 settling in behind them in rows four and five.

The cars arranged pacing nose-to-tail in their traditional double file starting formation. Carson flipped the shield down on his Bell Helmet as he prepared to drop his right K1 Race Gear shoe on the accelerator. 10 fast cars ready to roll. 8 laps at speed. Only 6 transfer spots up for grabs. It was ‘go’ time at Volusia Speedway Park as the drivers were prepared to let ‘er rip.

Polesitter Sheldon Haudenschild stomped on the gas off turn four and everyone else followed suit as they built their speed up trucking down the front straightaway MVT style. Carson stayed right with the NOS Energy Drink #18 as the two speed demons were side-by-side as they exited turn two and down the back straightaway. Haudenschild inched into the lead off turn four and led the opening lap ahead of Macedo and Pursley. Carson continued to stay up on the wheel of the Tarlton and Son/Sander Engineering/PWR Advanced Cooling Technology #41 Maxim as he continued to track with the leader. But lap after lap Haudenschild started to put more space between his tail tank and the front nerf bar of Macedo’s Albaugh – Your Alternative hotrod.

The track was tacky and fast and the #18 was flying. Sheldon Haudenschild was hooked up and would not be denied as he raced to the Heat race victory by 1.476 seconds ahead of Carson who crossed the finish line in the second spot. Daison Pursley came home third in the Kasey Kahne Racing (KKR)/NAPA Auto Parts #9. Bryce Lucius finished fourth as Chris Windom and Brock Zearfoss locked down the final two transfer spots out of the qualifying race.

The Heat race winners along with the runner-up finishers headed to Victory Lane to draw for their starting positions in the Toyota Dash to determine the top six starting spots. Carson would be the second to last driver to draw his number. When he walked up on the stage, there were only two numbers remaining – the three (3) pill and the one (1) pill. Carson selected the lower of the two numbers to earn the pole and the SPA Technique #1 Redraw award for the night. He would start from position one in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 with Sheldon Haudenschild #18 to his outside on the front row. Ashton Torgerson #1A and Kerry Madsen #55 would pace from row two with Tanner Holmes #13 and David Gravel #2 together in row three. When they came off turn four both Macedo and Haudenschild pedaled down enroute to turn one. Sheldon carried his speed around the top side and exited turn two with the lead followed by Macedo and Madsen with Gravel charging into the fourth position from the last spot in the field. Sheldon Haudenschild was fast again and extended his lead with each completed lap. He would lead the race flag-to-flag to secure the win by a whopping 2.628 seconds over Carson who raced home second. David Gravel followed Macedo across the finish line in third with Kerry Madsen, Tanner Holmes, and Ashton Torgerson filling the fourth through sixth finishing positions.

After the Factory Stock feature ended, the eight-minute airhorn sounded as the crews finished their work in preparation for the 25-lap opening night event at the Bike Week Jamboree. The high speed adventure for Carson Macedo in the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Winters Performance Products/ISC Racers Tape #41 would begin from the front row as he pulled to the outside of Sheldon Haudenschild’s KCP Racing #18 with David Gravel #2 and Kerry Madsen #55 right behind in row two and Tanner Homes #13 and Ashton Torgerson #1A rolling in row three.

After the four-wide salute to the fans in the stands, the drivers pulled back into their feature starting spots ready to put on a show worthy of the price of admission. It was showtime at Volusia Speedway Park! The front row of Haudenschild and Macedo slowly rolled into turn three with their right feet fidgeting with anticipation. Upon arrival in turn four they both blasted down the front straightaway to start the race with 25 other competitors chasing them at speed after the green flag dropped.

Sheldon Haudenschild led the opening circuit with two thoroughbreds behind him as Carson Macedo and David Gravel were trying to keep pace early. The Logan Contractor/Aspen Aire #18 of Haudenschild was on rails and closing in on the back of the field with just six laps in the books. That allowed Macedo to start to close in with his Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. David Gravel was not too far behind either and closing the gap on both Haudenschild and Macedo aboard his Huset’s Speedway.com #2.

The first slowdown of the race occurred with 10 laps in the books when the red flag flew for Kerry Madsen who flipped the TK Concrete #55 in turn two while running in fourth place. The remaining competitor’s engines sat idle while track officials cleaned up the accident scene.

It would be a double file restart with Haudenschild electing the inside lane and Macedo pulling to his outside. When they got back on the gas, Carson pulled into the lead off turn two and down the back chute before the caution flag flew for Logan Schuchart #1s who spun entering turn three while racing in sixth place.

Carson had to relinquish the lead he just gained because they did not complete a lap and this time it would be a single file restart with the cars nose-to-tail. Carson moved up close to Haudenschild as they powered up again off turn four. They were moving at speed with David Gravel sniffing under Macedo entering turn three for the runner-up spot. He would take it momentarily before Macedo ducked back underneath him off turn four. Gravel kept his momentum moving forward and retook the spot as he settled into second place with Carson now running third at the halfway point of the race. Ashton Torgerson was competing from the fourth position with Tanner Holmes rounding out the top five.

Sheldon Haudenschild continued to set the pace up front with Gravel and Macedo starting to close in again as the driver of the KCP Racing #18 was navigating through the slower traffic again. Sheldon raced a tremendous race and took the win by 0.774 seconds over David Gravel with Carson coming home in third place to claim the last step of the podium. Buddy Kofoid finished fourth, after starting in the 12th position, with Daison Pursley rounding out the top five on the opening night at the Bike Week Jamboree. As the checkered flag was flying over the field the SpaceX rocket could be seen blazing through the sky after it launched on its next mission. Very fitting as these speed athletes were in rockets at Volusia on Sunday night.

On the frontstretch Carson reflected on the restart on lap ten as he explained, “Yeah, I think that’s part of sprint car racing. Unfortunately, sometimes things don’t work out and go your way.” He continued, “When the caution came out on the backstretch, I was pretty devastated because I knew it would be tough to get another shot at him (Haudenschild) because their car was incredibly fast all night long.” Carson and the JJR #41 team had a fast race car too resulting in another great run to start the WoO season. The team is four-for-four this year so far in competition collecting podium finishes. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Carson and his World of Outlaws (WoO) competitors will be back in action on Monday night for the finale at the Bike Week Jamboree. If you cannot be at the track, be sure to catch all the World of Outlaws action throughout the season on DIRTVision!

Strong Start to the 2026 Season Continues with Another Podium Run on the Opening Night of the Bike Week Jamboree! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

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.

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