MEMORIAL DAY BIRTHDAY MAGIC: CARSON MACEDO STAYS OUT FRONT AROUND THE HIGH BANKS OF ATOMIC SPEEDWAY TO CAPTURE THE WIN IN THE CHILLICOTHE CLASSIC DRIVING THE MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (MVT) #41

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO (May 26, 2025) – Memorial Day each year is a time to pause and honor and mourn the United States military personnel, past and present, who died while serving our great country. Everyone here at Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) extends are thoughts, prayers, and gratitude to all of those who serve and sacrifice. To recognize and celebrate Memorial Day and our heroes the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series ventured to Chillicothe, Ohio to put on a show for the fans at Atomic Speedway. This three-eights mile, high-banked oval located South of Columbus has produced incredible racing action in the past when the traveling stars have come to town. This night would be no different as 35 race teams registered in at the pit gate and rolled their speed rockets out of the trailer throughout the pit area. It was time to get down to business – World of Outlaws (WoO) style – in the Chillicothe Classic at Atomic Speedway!

The time trial order was set for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying for the entire field. Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team drew a low numbered pill in the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw, so he would be the sixth driver to make speed out on the track for his two laps against the clock along with Hunter Schuerenberg #55 in two-car qualifying. He securely buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts and focused in as he was ready to roll. After Zach Hampton #6 and Michael Kofoid #83 finished their speed adventures it was Carson’s turn. The Kistler Racing Engines power came to life as The Lemoore, California born racer dropped the hammer to release the horsepower. He built up speed and raced under the waving green flag. The numbers on the clock were rolling and so was the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. Carson hit his marks and completed his first lap in 11.588 seconds, which catapulted him to the top of the speed charts early in time trials. He stayed on the loud pedal though and was digging for more as he worked his way through the first set of turns. He hustled down the back straightaway and just like that exited turn four and raced under the checkered flag in 11.602 seconds. The quicker of his two laps finished the night quick time overall to earn his 47th career World of Outlaws Simpson Quick Time Award at Atomic Speedway.

World of Outlaws Timing and Scoring officials used each driver’s fastest lap to create the starting lineups of the four 8-lap Heat races. That positioned the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/C&R Racing #41 Maxim on the pole in the first Heat Race. Carson would share the front row with Michael Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports #83 as the field aligned side-by-side for the start of the race. Behind the two California chauffeurs in row two found Giovanni Scelzi #18 and Ohio native Creed Kemenah #15K. Row three featured Brandon Wimmer #A79 and Greg Wilson #W20 with Kory Crabtree #11C, Chris Miller #79, and Keith Baxter #1B tucking in behind.

All nine cars in the race were nose-to-tail as they circled Atomic Speedway before the start of the race. When the dust from the chalk stripe in turn four flew the race was on in Chillicothe. Carson won the drag race into turn one and exit turn two with the lead ahead of Kofoid and Scelzi. The California trio of talented stars led the field, but there were battles for position from the front of the pack to the back of the pack with only five transfer spots up for grabs.

Carson had his elbows up as he had the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 on the move around the banking at Atomic. He began extending his lead over the driver of the Roth Enterprizes with each completed lap making sure not to miss his marks on a fast but technical track. Carson would race to the Heat race win by 0.770 seconds ahead of Michael Kofoid with Scelzi, Wilson, and Wimmer earning the last three transfer positions. With the race complete. The red flag flew when Kody Crabtree caught the wall at the exit of turn four and flipped as the leaders were slowing down.

Carson was back in the Toyota Dash where his birthday luck continued when he drew the two. He would start on the outside of the front row in the Border International/Durst/High Performance Lubricants #41 Maxim beside the talented hometown racer Cole Duncan #22 who has quite a bit of success here at Atomic. Pacing behind them in row two was Hunter Schuerenberg #55 and Skylar Gee #99 in row two with Chris Windom #7s and Sheldon Haudenschild #17 in row three. The last row of the 6-lap Dash showcased David Gravel #2 and Michael Kofoid #83. When the green flag waved it was Duncan charging into the lead ahead of Macedo with Windom working the bottom through the turns. Cole Duncan was on a mission and quickly put some distance between himself and the forty-one. The six laps went by quickly with Duncan collecting the win by 1.490 seconds over Macedo with Windom, Schuerenberg, and Gravel rounding out the top five. Skylar Gee raced home sixth with Haudenschild and Kofoid completing the finishing order.

The twenty-four car field was set for the $12,000-to-win, 25-lap Chillicothe Classic feature at Atomic Speedway. Cole Duncan #22, owner of 45 wins here at Atomic, paced from the pole position with Carson Macedo’s Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to his outside on the front row for the start the race. Two former USAC stars, Chris Windom and Hunter Schuerenberg #55, made up row two with David Gravel #2 and Skylar Gee #99 in row three.

After the traditional four-wide salute to the fans and America’s heroes on Memorial Day, the drivers raced back into their starting spots eager to get the race started. These talented entertainers of speed were ready to lower their right foot when they arrived in turn four the next time. Polesitter Cole Duncan arrived first and blasted into the early race lead ahead of Carson Macedo as they arrived in turn one. Carson turned under Duncan off turn two to take the lead, but before all the cars could cross the finish line to complete lap one the yellow flag flew for Bill Balog #17B who was sideways in turn four.

It would be a complete restart with Duncan again getting the early advantage down the frontstretch. This time Carson stayed on the top side and sailed off turn two with the lead of the race ahead of Duncan and Windom with one lap n the books. Cole Duncan was keeping the Lemoore, California driver within his sights as the track began to take rubber and slick off. He was waiting for the leader to make a mistake, even a small one, to take advantage.

On lap 10, Carson missed his mark ever so slightly allowing Duncan to pull up beside him off turn two. Macedo recovered and drove back into the lead by the talented driver of the twenty-two was hovering close behind hoping for another chance. Chris Windom was still patiently running in the third position with the lead duo directly in front of his NOS Energy Drink #7s.

Carson continued to meticulously race through slower lap traffic while staying in the grip. This allowed Duncan to inch closer to the leader salivating for another opportunity to ruin Carson’s run on his birthday. Carson fended him off lap after lap as they raced cleanly for position.

The laps were winding down with Macedo racing behind Findlay, Ohio’s Bryce Lucius trying to put him a lap down. When the white flag flew Cole Duncan was well-positioned on Macedo’s rear nerf bar with Windom pressuring Duncan for the second spot. Cole Duncan tried to edge by off turn without success and made a final effort as he sent it into the last set of turns around the rim. He contacted the wall exiting turn four to allow Windom by with Macedo racing to his third WoO victory of the season.

What a nice 29th birthday present! It was Carson’s 50th career WoO victory and a much-needed boost of enthusiasm for the team. After celebrating on top of his Vortex Racing Products top wing as the confetti fell Carson was congratulated by Robby McQuinn, Adam Zimmerman, and Philip Dietz. The excited and relieved driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 paused with a smile and reflected, “I remember winning my forts Outlaw race and seeing TK – Tim Kaeding, at the time, was a person I looked up to a lot – and he had I think somewhere in the 20’s, maybe 27 or something like that.” He continued, “Being able to climb up the rankings of the outlaws win list has been pretty surreal. I thought, ‘Man, 27 wins, I don’t know that I could ever get that.” The California then stated, “And then to stand here and have 50 of them is pretty incredible. It says a lot about the teams that I’ve been able to be a part of, starting all the way back with Tarlton Racing when I got my first one, to Kyle Larson Racing early in my World of Outlaws career. Then the majority with Philip Dietz and Jason Johnson Racing.” It was all about the start and Carson came out in front – two times – over Cole Duncan. A great run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Honoring America’s Heroes on Memorial Day at Atomic Speedway in the Chillicothe Classic! Photo Credit: Trent Gower Photography

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.

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