MAKING AN IMPRESSION IN IOWA: THE CALIFORNIAN SHOWS OFF HIS TENACITY OF PURPOSE AS HE WHEELS THE TARLTON AND SON #41 MAXIM AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK IN THE FINALE OF THE PREMIER CHEVY DEALERS CLASH

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (April 25, 2026) – With Friday night’s 12th place finish in the opener of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash in the rearview mirror for Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team, the focus was now on applying the lessons learned as they focus on closing out this early season visit to The Sprint Car Capital of the World on a high note. They would get a chance to do just that in the finale of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash at Knoxville Raceway. The crew members were busy down in the infield preparing their driver’s speed machines for the night of entertainment at the big half mile while the fans were enjoying the great concession offerings and milling around the merchandise trailers buying their favorite driver’s gear. There were 63 stout race teams back at the famous Marion County Fairgrounds half-mile track and ready to go – World of Outlaws style. It was race day again in Knoxville, Iowa!

Carson was the first car waiting in the staging area for his time trial laps in Flight A during Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. Philip Dietz, Robby McQuinn, and Adam Zimmerman work hard leading up to this moment to give him a fast hot rod in his race against time. Knoxville Raceway looks big, but these high speed athletes show lots of courage, generate tons of speed, all while making quick work around the black gumbo clay oval with high white guiderail fences in the turns. How fast? Well Brian Brown currently holds the one-lap track record here with a lap in 14.351 seconds established back on May 22, 2021. Two cars would be out on track at a time during qualifying. Pairing up with Carson during qualifying around Knoxville Raceway would be the current one lap track record holder, Brian Brown in the Casey’s/FVP #21 Maxim, as they both were trying to do their work out there on the track in the quickest manner possible. Macedo hustled off turn four in the Tarlton and Son/FK Rod Ends/Mark Burch Motorsports #41 Maxim as he raced by the flagstand making the green flag flutter in the wind. He was on the gas as the numbers on the stopwatch rolled by quickly. When he raced under the waving white flag this time, his first lap was 15.596 seconds. Carson rocketed off turn two and down the long back straightaway for the last time. His last journey by the flagstand took him under the waving checkered flag to end his session with lap two coming in at 15.582 seconds. The better of Macedo’s two speed attempts stood up as the fourth quickest overall time in Flight A with Brian Brown standing atop the speed charts in that session making his way around Knoxville Raceway in 15.336 seconds. He also earned the Simpson Quick Time Award with David Gravel laying down the fastest lap in Flight B in 16.310 seconds.

The speed and entertainment were not about to end as the lineups for each of the 8-lap Heat Races posted. When looking over the starting grids for each race every name listed left an impression. The Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Sander Engineering/Schoenfeld Headers #41 with Carson behind the wheel would start from the outside of the front row in The Greatest Show on Dirt Heat Race #2 beside 2025 Knoxville Nationals champion Ryan Timms in the CITGARD #10. Right behind them in row two was Friday night’s winner Brad Sweet #94 and Tasker Phillips #1TZ with Justin Henderson #11 and Cole Macedo #2c in row three. Filling the remaining starting positions in rows four and five were Parker Price-Miller #71, Justin Peck #26, Jacob Peterson #80P, and Riley Goodno #22.

They would all have four miles (or 8 laps) of racing at speed to compete for their finishing positions where the top five finishers earned a transfer spot into the feature event at the end of the night. The flagman, Justin Clark, turned off the safety lights as they engines changed their tune from a purr to a growl out of turn four. The race was on with Carson moving the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the early race lead ahead of Ryan Timms, but the driver of the #10 moved back by down the back straightaway leading the first lap followed by Macedo, Sweet, Henderson, and Phillips.

Carson was rolling though and slid the leader entering turn one to reclaim the lead as he raced out of turn two in front of the Dennis Albaugh Suite Tower perched outside of turn two above the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF). This time Macedo held onto the top spot and led lap two with Timms now in pursuit mode. Carson would never look back as he led the remainder of the race to claim the victory over Ryan Timms with Brad Sweet, Justin Henderson, and Cole Macedo securing the final three transfer spots out of the qualifying race.

The Heat race winners and runner-up finishers drew for their starting positions in the 6-lap Toyota Dash. When all the pills were pulled from the oversized NOS Energy Drink Can the front row would feature Rico Abreu #24A and Brian Brown #21. Pacing behind those two talented racers in row two were David Gravel #2 and Kerry Madsen #55 with Buddy Kofoid #83 and Aaron Reutzel #87 beside each other in row three. Row four showcased the two poorest pill drawers on this night at Knoxville Raceway with Ryan Timms #10 on the inside of row four with Carson Macedo #41 starting from the eighth position on the starting grid.

These drivers were racing for their starting spots in the A-Main feature finale. Where they finished is where they would start the feature. The green lights were on around the track with Rico Abreu powering into the early race lead follow by David Gravel and Brian Brown before the yellow flag flew with one lap in the books as Kerry Madsen was off the pace in turn four. When they restarted the race Rico Abreu drove into the clean air with Gravel close behind. Carson was running in the seventh position aboard the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Ben Cook Race Products/Jansen Transportation #41. The driver from Saint Helena, California behind the wheel of the CARQUEST #24A raced to the win ahead of David Gravel and Brian Brown with Buddy Kofoid crossing the finish line in fourth place. Ryan Timms finished fifth followed by Aaron Reutzel with Carson locking down a seventh place finish. Kerry Madsen did not finish was scored eighth.

The 28 car starting lineup posted, which included four drivers who elected to use a provisional starting spot to tag the rear of the field, were all making their final race preparations set up wise for the 25-lap Premier Chevy Dealers Clash feature finale. The anticipation leading up to the purse paying race is always electric, but there is just something a little extra when it is at Knoxville Raceway. The drivers climbed into their high speed offices and buckled in. The race and safety officials moved into their positions around the track. The fans in the stands made sure their sight lines were clear for the start of the race. And the flagman climbed into his perch to orchestrate the start of the race.

After winning the Toyota Dash, Rico Abreu #24A pulled into the pole position starting spot with David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 moving directly to his right side on the front row. Behind them in row two was the duo of Brian Brown #21 and Buddy Kofoid wheeling the Roth Motorsports #83 with Ryan Timms #10 and Aaron Reutzel #87 in row three. Side-by-side in row four was Carson Macedo in the seventh starting position aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Bandy & Associates Accountancy Corporation/Factory Kahne #41 Maxim alongside Kerry Madsen #55.

During the four-wide pace laps the inside lights were flashing assorted colors as the drivers honored the fans in the stands for their support. The field of sprint car talent re-aligned in the traditional two-by-two starting formation and the next time by they were on the gas.

The green flag was out with David Gravel moving the Billion Automotive/J.R.C. Transportation #2 into the race lead ahead of Rico Abreu and Brian Brown with Carson running in the seventh position at the end of the first circuit. The track was fast, and these drivers were showing off their talents at speed.

On lap 4, the red lights turned on when Kerry Madsen flipped wildly in turn four collecting Brad Sweet. Both of their nights ended, but they were ok. The leader chose the top lane for the restart which put all the drivers running in odd number positions on the high side and the drivers in the even numbered position on the inside.

The green flag was back out with the two-time and defending World of Outlaws champion showing the way out front. Behind him Rico Abreu and Ryan Timms were keeping him close. Carson drove the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 around Aaron Reutzel to take over the sixth place with Buddy Kofoid right in front of him.

By lap 7, both Kofoid and Macedo would move by Brian Brown taking ownership of positions four and five respectively behind the lead trio.

With 12 laps in the books, 14th running Sheldon Haudenschild in the KCP Racing #18 did a 360 degree spin in turn four smoking the tires the whole way around to bring out the yellow flag. David Gravel would again choose the top lane to restart the race which put Carson on the outside of row three when the race resumed.

The driver of the Big Game Motorsports #2 fired off again with Carson roaring around the outside moving the forty-one by both Buddy Kofoid and Rico Abreu to take over third place. He was now in hot pursuit of Ryan Timms who was keeping pace with David Gravel.

Carson had a fast hotrod and with 11 laps to go he moved underneath Ryan Timms through turns three and four drifted up across the track on exit. Macedo’s right rear tire contacted Ryan Timms’ left front tire but both talented race drivers stayed on the loud pedal.

Running in the second position now, Carson set his sights on the race leader who was over two seconds ahead of him with 5 miles (10 laps) of racing to go. The Lemoore, California native had his foot planted and was closing the gap quickly as the leader was navigating through slower traffic.

Carson was now able to see the footprint residue in the dust on top of the leader’s rear nerf bar coming off turn four with three laps to go. He was close. The track had taken on rubber, and the leaders were now all hugging the bottom of the racing surface. David Gravel led the remaining distance as he raced to the $12,000 win with Carson cruising home second as Ryan Timms finished third. Logan Schuchart drove the Drydene/Shark Racing #1s to a fourth place finish with Rico Abreu completing the top five. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

After spending the early season racing predominantly throughout the south and midwestern parts of the country, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series begins to head east next weekend with stops at Attica Raceway Park next Friday (5/1) for the Attica Sprint Car Showdown and Sharon Speedway for the Hartford Hustle on Saturday (5/2) before heading to Pennsylvania the following week. Make plans to come out to meet your favorite driver at a track near you. And always remember you can catch all the WoO action live on DIRTVision!

Hustling to the Checkers in the Runner-Up Position at the Finale of the Premier Chevy Dealers Clash at Knoxville Raceway! Photo Credit: Tyler Carr

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.

To stay connected with Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) and Carson Macedo go to www.jasonjohnsonracing.com.

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