KEEPING PACE AT NATIONALS: A STRONG RUN FOR CARSON MACEDO AND THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 AT THE 64TH ANNUAL KNOXVILLE NATIONALS ENDS WITH A FOURTH PLACE FINISH IN “THE GRANDADDY OF THEM ALL!”

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 9, 2025) – Carson Macedo did a tremendous job locking the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 into the front row of the 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s on Thursday during Toyota Qualifying Night. The speed athlete born and raised in California raced incredibly hard all night delivering a fifth place finish in the feature driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative/High Performance Lubricants/Factory Kahne Shocks #41 Maxim while accumulated 483 event points, which positioned him second overall in combined event point totals. That point total was enough to locked him into one of the top 16 starting positions where he would start on the outside of row one in the A-Main for “The Grandaddy of Them All!” – the 410 NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals – on Saturday night at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

There were 100 teams that made their way to this mecca of grassroots speed nestled in the cornfields of Iowa for a chance to race in the Knoxville Nationals. Some call it rural, but for sprint car fans this is heaven on earth. Sure, there are other “Crown Jewel” events, but nothing quite compares to the energy, excitement, atmosphere, racing venue, and prestige of this race in August at Knoxville Raceway. Just making the $15,000-to-start A-Main is considered a huge career accomplishment. There are only twenty four starting spots granted on Saturday night with no provisional starting spots available. That means only 24% of the teams that ventured here can earn one of the coveted spots in the A-Main starting lineup. None of these competitors want handouts, but they do want more than just to say they came to Knoxville, Iowa and raced here under the summer sun with the best sprint car drivers in the world. They want to define themselves. They want the winner’s trophy. They want their name on that trophy. They want the $195,000 share of the purse that goes to the victor. They want to celebrate amongst the confetti and spraying champagne at Knoxville Raceway with the fans cheering. They want to be forever known as a Knoxville Nationals champion with their name etched on the trophy and in the record books . . . forever!

Making the A-Main at this event is difficult by any measure in this sport. But coming out on top at the end of the night is factually more challenging. In fact, the driver that wins the Knoxville Nationals has not only beaten the best sprint car drivers in the world on this night, but they have also beaten incredibly steep odds. With 100 entries to start the week, each driver has a mere 1% chance to hold the checkered flags on the top step of the podium while being soaked by spraying champagne. That challenge is what motivates each of these drivers and competitive teams at the Knoxville Nationals. For that reason, it is also exactly why the Knoxville Nationals is the preeminent “Crown Jewel” event in sprint car racing with no close rival.

Each of these race teams have worked tirelessly throughout the week to earn this opportunity. The crew members are selfless, steadfastly focused, and dog tired by the end of the week after work long days throughout the week . . . but they never stop working towards the goal. And it is not only the team. The wives, girlfriends, family, friends, and everyone that works at the merchandise trailers throughout the week and behind the scenes for these race teams along with the Knoxville Raceway event team and sanctioning bodies work extremely long, hard days.

During opening ceremonies at the start of the evening of entertainment, the annual awards at the Knoxville Nationals are presented. This year’s DGRD Best Appearing Car went to Jimmy Light #23. Ryan Timms, driver of the Liebig Motorsports #10, earned the Sprint Car Unlimited Pole Award at the Nationals as well as the Beaver Drill and Tool Company/MVP Logistics Jesse Hockett Mr. Sprint Car Award this year for his solid and consistent mid-August performance (including the 2025 Knoxville Nationals win). Carson Macedo won the Think-n-Ink Best Appearing Helmet. And the Avanti Windows & Doors Best Appearing Crew Award went to Logan Schuchart and the Shark Racing #1s with Brent Marks Racing coming in second, and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) team in third after being recognized and honored with the award in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024.

With no further ado, it was now time to go racing at Knoxville Raceway starting with the D-Main. The winner of the D-Main was Tanner Holmes #18. Kerry Madsen #55V raced across the finish line first in the C-Main. Brent Marks #19 won the B-Main with James McFadden #21T, Parker Price-Miller #71P, and Donny Schatz #15 following him under the checkers enabling them all to earn the final four transfer positions into the back of the A-Main (positions 17 through 20).

After all the alphabet races ended, the final 24-car lineup posted for the 50-lap 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s A-Main. This town was already buzzing since Wednesday, but it now was electric merging together with nervous excitement as it reached a crescendo as the energy level continued to escalate with the fans, teams, and drivers when the 8-minute horn sounded throughout the pit area.

Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman made their final last minute setup adjustments and tightened every bolt one last time just to be sure as Carson Macedo climbed into his Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Maxim Racing high-speed office. He would get his race started from the outside of the front row in position two sharing the front row with Ryan Timms #10. It was showtime in Knoxville, Iowa at the Marion County Fairgrounds in front of another sold out crowd!

The drivers in all twelve rows were locked in. They were circling the famous oval in the traditional two-by-two starting formation before separating into the four-wide salute made famous by the World of Outlaws as a salute to the incredible sprint car fans. It was time to go racing at the Knoxville Nationals!

Ryan Timms and Carson Macedo paced the entire field of 900 horsepower sprint cars. The field of cars created a sensory experience with each colorful car design adding to the incredible image at Knoxville Raceway with the pole lights illuminating with assorted colors. Logan Schuchart #1s and Brad Sweet #49 made up row two with Sheldon Haudenschild #17 and Corey Day #14BC rolling together in row three. Rico Abreu #24R and Emerson Axsom #18 tucked in behind them in row four with Kyle Larson #57 and Justin Peck #26 side-by-side in row five looking ahead.

The pace truck pulled off the track as the yellow lights were turned off and the smoke from the pyrotechnics cleared. There was momentary calmness and peace until the front row starters reached the exit of turn four. Then there was full-on chaos 410 sprint car style! Polesitter Ryan Timms jumped into the early race lead ahead of Carson Macedo with Corey Day #14BC dicing from the show position ahead of Brad Sweet at the end of lap one.

Ryan Timms did not waste any time putting some distance between himself and Macedo as his Liebig Motorsports #10 was on rails. Carson was fast too, but Timms just seemed to have another gear as he was sailing out front. In fact, with 15 laps down Timms had built an almost three second lead over Macedo with Day, Schuchart, and Abreu rounding out the top five.

The only thing that could slow down Ryan Timms was the planned competition yellow that was thrown on lap 26. Each team had three minutes to make minor adjustments and changed tires for the last half of the race. Ryan Timms would lead them back up to speed after the break with Carson Macedo running second, Corey Day third, Rico Abreu moving up to fourth, with Brad Sweet rounding out the top five.

It stayed green until lap 32 when the caution flag flew for Buddy Kofoid who spun up against the wall in the last set of turns as Spencer Bayston’s night also ended when he headed pit side with rear shock and rear end damage. Ryan Timms would again accelerate into the clean air with Macedo, Abreu, Day, and Sweet chasing. David Gravel, who started 21st, was on the move as he was running in ninth place when they went back to green flag racing.

With Timms building another big lead, the final caution of the race came out on lap 46 for Kyle Larson who shredded a right rear tire to end his night. There were two miles left, or four laps, when Justin Clark waved the green flag again with Timms hustling back up to speed. Carson spun his tires off turn four and was now fending off Rico Abreu and David Gravel who eventually both moved by taking over the second and third positions on lap 48.

Ryan Timms raced to victory at the 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s with Rico Abreu coming home second and David Gravel third to complete the podium. After running second for 47 laps, Carson raced home fourth with Logan Schuchart battling back to finish fifth. Another good run for Carson Macedo and the forty-one!

Carson Macedo Showed Up and Raced Hard at the 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals Presented by Casey’s! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners for 2025: 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); RaceDiecast.com; 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; C&R Racing; Crow Enterprizes; CS Productions; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Fuel Safe Racing Cells; Greber Racing Components; 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; 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.

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