MISSISSIPPI MUD SLINGIN’: CARSON MACEDO PUSHES THE PACE IN THE BLACK ICE BRAWL ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT MAGNOLIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY AS HE DRIVES THE MESILLA VALLEY TRANSPORTATION (MVT) #41 MAXIM TO A RUNNER-UP FINISH

COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI (March 8, 2025) – When all of the action wrapped up at the Talladega Short Track on Friday night, where Carson Macedo secured a fifth place finish, Philip (Dietz), Robby (McQuinn), and Adam (Zimmerman) loaded the forty-one into the hauler to make the 2.5 hour trek over to Columbus, Mississippi. They arrived at Magnolia Motor Speedway, or “The Mag”, prepared to hustle around the 3/8-mile, Mississippi gumbo dirt oval in the Black Ice Brawl. The name Mississippi comes from the Ojibwa tribe word misi-ziibi, which means “Great River” in recognition of the second largest river in North America that runs through 10 states – the mighty Mississippi River. IN addition, one of the greatest entertainers of all-time, Elvis Presley was also born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Mississippi is all about entertainment. The World of Outlaws were looking to deliver that entertainment value for the fans on this night as 28 talented racecar drivers and teams prepared for a night of racing in Mississippi!

There is no better way to start a night of racing than with Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying where each driver gets to stand on the accelerator to make speed against the clock. The time trial order is always set before each race through the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw administered by the WoO Timing and Scoring officials. For the drivers and teams the mission during this part of the show is simple – make speed and go as fast as you can. Whomever goes the quickest overall earns the Simpson Quick Time Award. For everyone else, their results in time trials establishes where they start in each of the Heat races. Carson Macedo would push out twentieth for his two laps against the clock chauffeuring the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/CASM Safety Products/Walker Performance Filtration #41 Maxim. He mashed the loud pedal and set sail. The driver of the forty-one appeared to be fast, but only time would tell. When he crossed the timing stripe to complete his first circuit the clock read 11.407 seconds, which was a good time. Carson stayed on the hammer the next time around hoping to generate more speed to lower his time. This time when he crossed the finish line to end his time trials session the clock read 11.466 seconds. The first lap was the quicker of his two laps established him as the fourth best timer of the night at Magnolia Motor Speedway. David Gravel piloted the Big Game Motorsports #2 to the fastest lap of the night in 11.216 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award, his fourth consecutive speed honor.

The three Heat races represent the first time on the evening’s race agenda where these stars of The Greatest Show on Dirt get to race at the same time against one another for the top five transfer spots available in each 10-lap affairs. There is no time to lollygag and even the slightest bobble at speed may cost the driver dearly during their race. They have to balance risk and reward at incredible speeds where things happen quickly. That is simply why all of these sprint car drivers are simply amazing.

Following his time trial outcomes, Carson Macedo would start from the outside of the front row. He would look to set the pace early piloting the Scott Boyd Family/RaceDiecast.com/KSE Racing Products #41 Maxim. Carson rolled up alongside quick timer David Gravel ready to battle. It was a formidable lineup though with Friday night’s winner over at the Talladega Short Track Bill Balog #17B and ten-time WoO Champion Donny Schatz #15 in row two. Row 3 was the starting home for Chris Windom #7s and Zach Hampton #6 with Conner Morrell #28M and Creed Kemenah #15K in row four. Derek Hagar #44 and Howard Moore shared row five and were ready to get going.

They were side-by-side coming into the final turn with the driver of the forty-one dropping the hammer and darting off into the early race lead. The flagman quickly replaced the green flag with the yellow one as race officials determined that Carson jumped too early docking him two spots and moving Bill Balog to the front row.

When the green lights came back on polesitter David Gravel raced into the lead followed by Balog, Schatz, and Macedo in the Albaugh #41. They maintained that running order through the first four laps until the caution lights turned on for Zach Hampton who slowed and headed to the infield.

The field reset and was ready to go. The green flag waved again with David Gravel showing the way. Carson used the restart to drive into the third position with his sights set on runner-up Bill Balog. He continued the chase throughout the last half of the race, but David Gravel took the win over Bill Balog by 1.588 seconds with Carson securing a third place finish. Donny Schatz, Chris Windom, and Conner Morrell locked down the final three transfer positions out of the first and fastest Heat race.

The horn sounded throughout the pit area notifying the race teams that earned spots in the 35-lap Black Ice Brawl feature to wrap up their pre-race work and head to the track to stage. Philip, Robby, and Adam all were working really well together as they buttoned up their duties. Meanwhile, Carson climbed into the cockpit of his Maxim Racing speed machine and secured the chinstrap of his Shifty Illusions custom painted Bell Helmet. It was time to put on a show racing the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Ben Cook Race Products/C&R Racing #41 Maxim entry.

The first three rows aligned based off the finish in the Toyota Dash. That put David Gravel #2 and Bill Balog #17 in row one with Sheldon Haudenschild #17 and Austin McCarl #88 in the second row. Logan Schuchart #1s and Anthony Macri #39 shared row three. Carson Macedo would get the Albaugh #41 started from the inside of row four beside fellow Californian Giovanni Scelzi #18.

When all of the pre-race festivities concluded, it was time to go racing at Magnolia Motor Speedway – World of Outlaws style. When the front row starters hit the chalk stripe in turn four, David Gravel powered into the lead with Sheldon Haudenschild moving into the runner-up spot ahead of Bill Balog.

Carson stayed low and found speed and a clear passing lane as he gained three positions on the opening lap. He was running in the fourth position and carrying his speed as he began stalking Bill Balog for the third spot. It took him a few laps, but on lap 9, he tracked the driver of the #17B down and made the pass to move into the top three.

Behind Carson and Balog, the battle for the fifth position was a tenacious one between Logan Schuchart and Giovanni Scelzi, as with each completed lap they would exchange the higher position. That went on for three laps before Buddy Kofoid entered the picture and started dueling for the same spot. The entertainment meter pegged on the high end watching these three talented drivers race for position.

On lap 15, David Gravel was out front navigating lap traffic cleanly at speed. Sheldon Haudenschild and Carson Macedo were within striking distance with Logan Schuchart and Buddy Kofoid rounding out the top five. There was action everywhere for the fans in the stands to watch.

Ten laps later on lap 25, the caution flag flew for Brandon Hanks #84 as he sat on the frontstretch with a shredded right rear tire. It was Gravel, Haudenschild, Macedo, Schuchart, and Kofoid up front with 10 laps to go. The green came back out with Gravel showing the way in Mississippi.

Carson was running in the third position with Logan Schuchart pressuring him for the show position. On lap 29, Schuchart worked his way by the Lemoore, California driver with Carson Macedo reclaiming the position the next time by with 5 laps to go.

Buddy Kofoid had worked his way into the mix as Macedo and Schuchart continued their battle. He attempted a slide job to get past Schuchart in turn two. His rear nerf bar made contact with Shark Racing #1s front wing sending it flying outside the track bringing out the caution flag.

Race leader David Gravel was looking to bring home the win. The green flag was back out with the top five remaining the same – Gravel, Haudenschild, Macedo, Schuchart, and Kofoid. Carson was looking underneath Haudenschild for the runner-up spot. He would get there and the driver of the NOS Energy Drink #17 would cleanly close the lane as he dropped to the bottom entering the turn.

Carson continued to drive hard around the top as he took the white flag hoping for an opportunity to gain a spot on the track during the final lap. He had a run down the back straightaway and ducked low entering turn three and exited turn four in the second position behind race winner David Gravel. Sheldon Haudenschild came home third with Buddy Kofoid and Logan Schuchart rounding out the top five at Magnolia Motor Speedway.

The driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 climbed out of the cockpit of his Maxim Racing chassis on the front straightaway satisfied with the speed the team gave him to compete with in Mississippi. A good run for the forty-one!

Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team will be back at it next weekend at Kennedale Speedway Park in Texas. If your plans do not allow you to be at the track, tune in for all of the wheel-to-wheel World of Outlaws action on DIRTVision.

Making Tracks in Mississippi at the Black Ice Brawl Show at Magnolia Motor Speedway! 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; 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.

Check out ShopJJR.com to buy all your new Carson Macedo and JJR gear and merchandise.