LOCKED DOWN IN TEXAS: THE JJR #41 TEAM VISITS THE LONE STAR STATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2025 AND SECURES A PODIUM FINISH ON THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE COWTOWN CLASSIC AT KENNEDALE SPEEDWAY PARK

KENNEDALE, TEXAS (March 14, 2025) – Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team continued to move westward across the south as they visited the second largest state in the United States by area and population – Texas. Their travels brought them to the Lone Star State for the two-day Cowtown Classic extravaganza at Kennedale Speedway Park. Texas is well known for its legendary cowboy culture, its diverse landscapes, its delicious Tex-Mex cuisine, and its strong southern hospitality. Texas also is known for producing some great racing for both the race teams and the fans and this beautiful quarter-mile racing facility is indicative of those characteristics. There were 39 race teams lined up at the pit entrance ready to roll through the gates for the first of two nights of racing at Kennedale Speedway Park – World of Outlaws style!

Each team drew a numbered ball before the race festivities began on Friday in the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw, which established the time trial order for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. There would be two groups in qualifying. When scanning the list from top to bottom, the #41 driven by Carson Macedo was set to go out 14th in Flight 2 time trials piloting the Albaugh – Your Alternative/High Performance Lubricants/Jansen Transportation #41 Maxim. Making speed early is important. The team’s work is measured down to the thousandths of a second with each of their drivers behind the wheel. Last year, on March 23, 2024, Carson set a new Track Record (NTR) at 11.467 seconds when they visited here. Carson climbed into his high-speed office and buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts ready to get his Hoosier Racing Tires rolling. When Marcus Thomas #10G finished his laps, the Kistler Racing Engines power came to life under the hood of the forty-one. It was now Carson’s turn to create speed. Two laps. One-half mile to cover in hopefully less than 23 seconds total. Carson powered his way off turn four enroute to the waving green flag to start his first lap. He made short work of the first quarter mile in 12.383 seconds. He stayed focused and carried his momentum back into turn one on his second circuit. This time when he exited turn four he saw the white and black checkered cloth flying to end his session with a lap two time of 12.438 seconds. The better of his two laps was second quick overall on the night in Flight 2. Anthony Macri #39M out of Pennsylvania showed the most speed racing out of Flight 1 in time trials to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award with the fastest lap of the night at 11.525 seconds.

Using each driver’s best time trial lap, race officials built the lineups out for each of the four 10-lap Heat races. Carson would get the Tarlton and Son/Border International/Schoenfeld Headers #41 started from the pole position in the fourth and final Heat race. The defending World of Outlaws champion, David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2, joined the Lemoore, California speedster to his outside on the front row. Behind them was Bill Balog #17B and John Carney II #J2 with Hunter Schuerenberg #55 and Skylar Gee #99 in row three. Kyle Jones #79 and Brett Becker #2B were side-by-side in row four with Cody Gardner alone in row five.

The talented field was set and when they reached the chalk stripe laid across turn four it was ‘go-time’ at Kennedale Speedway Park. Carson maneuvered the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to the point and led the opening circuit with Gravel and Balog battling behind him. The track was taking on some rubber, so the drivers had to be very selective about choosing the entry and exit lines around each turn. On lap 4, the caution flew when John Carney II tangled with another competitor on the front straightaway.

When the track was cleared to go, Carson lowered his right foot and entered turn one low as Gravel peeked to his outside. The California driver would drive off the bottom with the lead as Gravel continued to race hard. Carson would not relinquish the lead and captured the Heat race victory over Gravel, Balog, Schuerenberg, and Jones as those five transferred out of the fourth qualifying race.

The Heat race winners and runner-up finishers all earned a starting spot in the 6-lap Toyota Dash where they would race for their starting spot in the feature. Where they finished the Dash would be where they would start the feature. After all of the pills were drawn, the lineup would feature David Gravel #2 and Giovanni Scelzi #18 on the front row followed by Logan Schuchart #1s and Carson Macedo #41 in row two. Row 3 was home for Garet Williamson #23 and Sheldon Haudenschild #17 with Anthony Macri #39M and Emerson Axsom #27 in row four as they prepared for the start of the race. The drivers only had six laps to do their business, but these talented racers were up to the task. Giovanni Scelzi drove the KCP Racing #18 into the early lead ahead of Gravel, Schuchart, and Macedo. The track had continued to take on rubber so it was a bit more locked down making passing difficult. That was good news for Scelzi as he used the clean air and line choice throughout the race to take the win crossing the finish line ahead of Gravel and Schuchart. Carson raced the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Border International/RaceDiecast.com #41 Maxim home fourth with Haudenschild, Williamson, Axsom, and Macri completing the finishing order.

There was a lot of action to get to this point of the night. After a brief pause in the racing action, it was now time for the 25-lap, opening night Cowtown Classic feature at Kennedale Speedway Park. The starting lineup highlighted 24 of the best sprint car drivers ready to perform with The Greatest Show on Dirt. Based on his finish in the Dash, Carson would get his speed chariot started from the outside of row two with Logan Schuchart to his inside. Giovanni Scelzi earned the right to start from the pole position flanked by David Gravel. It was time to go racing in Texas.

When all of the pomp and circumstances ended, the drivers drove back into their starting position in the double file order. Twelve rows of pure horsepower, The green flag dropped and Giovanni Scelzi stomped into the lead with David Gravel tucking in behind. Carson meticulously wheeled the forty-one into third with Logan Schuchart right behind.

The rubbered up surface was very technical for these entertainers. One slip up and they would lose a spot. These athletes tiptoed at speed trying to balance the art and science of the sport. David Gravel was right on Scelzi’s rear nerf bar with Macedo not too far behind. The front three drivers were focused.

Giovanni Scelzi mastered each of the laps in the feature and was not willing to give up the top spot. Even when the leaders approached lap traffic and began navigating it, he did a terrific job. He knew Gravel and Macedo were right there and with less than five laps to go everyone knew time was running out. Giovanni Scelzi drove the KCP Racing/Aspen Aire #18 across the finish line first followed by David Gravel. Carson rolled across the finish line third to earn the last step of the podium with Sheldon Haudenschild and Bill Balog rounding out the top five on the opening night of the Cowtown Classic.

Conner Wade interviewed Carson after his third place run. The California wheelman shared, “Hats off to Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn.” He continued, “I thought we were decent there early. We were able to sweep into third right away and try to transition. It’s tough to know where you are at, so I started getting my wing back forward because I was getting tight.” Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Corralling a Third Place Finish on the Opening Night of the Cowtown Classic at Kennedale Speedway Park! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

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; ChalkStix; 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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