JOUSTING AT ELDORA: CARSON MACEDO INCHED UP TO THE TABLE AT THE HIGH LIMIT RACING SERIES JOKER’S JACKPOT PLAYING THE CARDS HE WAS DEALT TO COME HOME IN FOURTH PLACE DURING THE HIGH STAKES EVENT

ROSSBURG, OHIO (July 16, 2026) – When the dust settled Wednesday night at Eldora Speedway following the conclusion of the Double Down Duel$, the stage was set for Thursday night’s Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Series Joker’s Jackpot finale with a bucket of money worth $100,000 dollars set aside for the winner. The drivers and teams had to work for everything they got last night leading up to this point. They gambled. They executed their race strategies. They competed hard. They earned those coveted points during the Every Lap Matter format that accumulated throughout the night based on their individual performance when they were on the track. There would not be any time trials or Heat races as part of the Joker’s Jackpot race format. The points earned during the Double Down Duel$ were used to place the drivers heads up in the qualifying race lineups for the C-Mains, B-Mains, and A-Main events at the Joker’s Jackpot. The top twelve drivers in points overall from Wednesday night were locked in and would start heads up in the first six rows based off their accumulated point totals – highest amount at the front of the pack. All the remaining drivers would have to race into the feature.

Using their fourth and final required “free pass” for non-World of Outlaws scheduled events in 2026, Carson and the team engaged as they prepared for another night of high quality sprint car racing in the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Series big money event – the Joker’s Jackpot at Eldora Speedway. It is important to note that in addition to the free passes granted each year, the teams also are afforded the opportunity to compete outside the schedule with permission in events such as The Front Row Challenge at Oskaloosa and The Capitani Classic at Knoxville. The driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 had a very productive night of racing tallying an accumulated Every Lap Matter point total of 571 points, which positioned him eighth overall in the standings locking him into the Thursday night’s big event – the $100,000-to-win Joker’s Jackpot.

With smoke from the Canadian wildfires lingering in the air, the racing program on Thursday night would start with the running of twin C-Main races followed by two B-Mains. There were 58 talented and proven race teams here on Thursday night looking to claim their share of the spotlight enroute to a potential six figure pay day when the checkered flag flew at the end of the night. It was time to go racing at the Joker’s Jackpot at the Eldora Speedway, affectionately called the “Big E” within the grassroots racing circle, live on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) and streaming on FloRacing.

The night of competition started with the running of the two 10 lap C-Mains. The four drivers that transferred out of the first C-Main joining the back of the initial B-Main were: (1) Chase Randall in the Bush’s Chicken #9R; (2) Brock Zearfoss #17GP; (3) T.J. Stutts #11; and (4) Danny Sams III #24D.

The four drivers that earned transfer spots out of the second C-Main moving to the back of the pack in the last B-Main were: (1) Cameron Smith in the Shark Racing/Moxzy #1a; (2) Kelby Watt #1K; (3) Danny Dietrich #48; and (4) Skylar Gee #16c.

The starting grids for the twin 15 lap B-Mains were compiled using the Every Lap Matter format using the total points accumulated during Wednesday’s racing action for each of the competitors. Drivers in the 13th through 36th positions in the overall points coming out of the Double Down Duels$ were joined by the top four finishers from each of the twin C-Mains. The higher the point total, the further towards the front of the field a driver would start in each of the qualifying races as they lined straight up based on point totals. Only the top six finishers in each of the twin B-Mains would move on to the A-Main starting field. Everyone else would have to watch the race for the pot of money unfold under the lights from the top of their trailers or grandstands. Both these B-Main lineups were brimming with sprint car talent.

The six drivers who earned transfer positions out of the first B-Main locked into the Joker’s Jackpot where they would lineup on the inside of rows seven back through twelve were: (1) Anthony Macri in the J&S Classics #39M; (2) Aaron Reutzel #87; (3) Daison Pursley #9; (4) Kerry Madsen #55; (5) Buddy Kofoid #83; and (6) David Gravel #2.

Advancing on out of the second B-Main were the following six speed chauffeurs sliding into the Joker’s Jackpot and filling the six starting spots on the outside of rows seven through twelve: (1) James McFadden in the Tarlton and Son #21; (2) Emerson Axsom #27; (3) Spencer Bayston #17; (4) Chase Dietz #23D; (5) Donny Schatz #15; and (6) Brad Sweet #94.

The field of 24 cars was now locked and loaded for the 35-lap Joker’s Jackpot with a cool $100,000 awaiting the winner. There were no provisional starting spots available. Each of the twenty-four drivers earned their way into this impressive field of sprint car stars. The drivers in the first twelve starting spots locked into the A-Main based off their cumulative point total during the Double Down Duel$. They were followed by the top six finishers out of each of the twin B-Main events that lined up in positions 13 through 24. The talent on the starting grid was simply incredible.

Kyle Larson #57 (584 points) and Corey Day #14M (583 points), the top two drivers in the overall Every Lap Matter points, led the field from the front row with Rico Abreu #14 (579 points) and Tyler Courtney #7BC (577 points) right on their rear nerf bar in row two. Sharing row three were Brent Marks #19 (573 points) and Logan Schuchart #1s (573 points) with Justin Peck #26 (572 points) and Carson Macedo #41 (571 points) side-by-side in row four. Starting on the inside of row five was Sheldon Haudenschild #18 (570 points) with Giovanni Scelzi #77 (566 points) to his outside in the tenth starting spot. Two talented racers Parker Price-Miller #71 (560 points) and Brady Bacon #21H (560 points) paced together from row six. The fans began to tremble with excitement and anticipation. The drivers anxiously awaited the signal to do what they love – race sprint cars.

After explosive pyrotechnics show while the drivers went four-wide around Eldora Speedway to salute the fans . . . it was time to go racing with the High Limit Racing Series! The green flag was out with third starting Rico Abreu ducking under both Kyle Larson and Corey Day entering turn one to take the lead on the opening lap.

Carson also gained two spots early moving the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Durst Inc. #41 Maxim into sixth place behind fellow World of Outlaws competitor Logan Schuchart who was speeding directly in front of him. The forty-one was fast again and Carson was gassing it up in this high speed chase.

The action continued to be fast and furious with courageous moves for positions happening throughout the field. The fans were getting their money’s worth for sure. Up front Kyle Larson squeezed by Corey Day to take over second place as Carson exchanged the fifth position with Tyler Courtney as they both made bold slide jobs during the twelfth and thirteenth laps swapping spots multiple times. Rico Abreu was still leading the race, but things were starting to tighten up as the top six raced through slower lap traffic.

Things continued to get dicey in the race especially for the runner-up spot with Day and Larson exchanging California slide jobs back and forth like they were racing go carts on a slick track. Just after the halfway point of the race on lap 18, Corey Day drove in hard and slid up across turn four clobbering the outside wall ending his night as he came to a stop against the outside wall at the exit of the turn with a damaged racecar.

When the green lights turned on again, Rico Abreu dropped his right foot to get back up to speed with Larson, Schuchart, and Courtney giving chase as Carson wheeled the forty-one in fifth place ahead of Brent Marks and Sheldon Haudenschild. With 14 laps remaining, Carson again challenged Courtney for the better position as the two talented racers had an exciting and clean on-track battle for the fourth position. Carson seized it and this time held it as he now was behind race leader Rico Abreu who was valiantly fending off Kyle Larson with Logan Schuchart running in the show position.

On lap 23, Kyle Larson roared by Abreu and set sail in the clean air out in front of the pack in Paul Silva’s Finley Farms/JVI Group/Durst #57. While there were still officially 12 laps to go, the race was proverbially over as Larson stepped on the gas and raced away from everyone like Secretariat did in the 1973 Belmont Stake to win the Triple Crown.

The driver of the white fifty-seven led the remaining laps with Rico Abreu crossing the finish line second as Logan Schuchart finished third to complete the podium. Finishing one spot off the podium in fourth place was Carson Macedo in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. He gained four spots throughout the race and competed hard from start to finish with Brent Marks rounding out the top five. Tyler Courtney, Spencer Bayston, Sheldon Haudenschild, Brady Bacon, and James McFadden completed the top ten at the 2026 edition of the Joker’s Jackpot. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

While the sanctioning body would shift from the Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Series over to the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Series for Friday and Saturday night’s action, the teams planned to return to Eldora Speedway for more high stakes fun competing in the Knight Before the Kings Royal (Friday) and 43rd Annual Kings Royal (Saturday). The best the sport has to offer came out to entertain at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio as there was more work to do for all the teams. Tune into DIRTVision to watch all the action both nights. #KingsRoyal

Epic Battles Defined the Action at Eldora Speedway During the 2026 Edition of the Joker’s Jackpot! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

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