MIXING IT UP BLUEGRASS STYLE: IT WAS AN “OLD FASHIONED” TYPE OF NIGHT IN PADUCAH AS EVERYONE HAD THEIR DUKES UP WITH MACEDO SETTING QUICK TIME BEFORE FIGHTING TO BRING HOME A TOP 5 IN KENTUCKY

PADUCAH, KENTUCKY (April 19, 2024) – After a results oriented weekend of racing over in Missouri at I-55 for two nights last weekend, Carson Macedo and the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 team trucked across the state line on Friday to Paducah International Raceway for the World of Outlaws Paducah Sprint Car Showdown. It has been a while since the WoO traveling series has visited the Kentucky oval as their last visit was way back in 2012. This 3/8-mile race track is tucked in the southwestern corner of the Bluegrass State. Kentucky is famously known for its top shelf bourbon production good for making the classic cocktail – the famous Old Fashioned, high stakes thoroughbred horse racing at the famous Churchill Downs, and making baseball bats at Louisville Slugger. When the pit gates opened, 29 haulers pulled through to find a parking spot in the pit area. It was time to do some pedal stomping, World of Outlaws style, in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky.

After the four practice sessions were done, the athletes behind the wheel were lined up in the staging area for Sea Foam Qualifying. The track record here at Paducah International Raceway was set by Joey Saldana back on April 17, 2009, with a lap of 12.825 seconds. That would be the high water mark if they wanted to set a new track record, but the goal for each driver was simply to lay down their best lap in two attempts and hope it was quicker than everyone else in the competitive field. Carson Macedo would be the sixth driver out on the track in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Engler Machine & Tool/Schoenfeld Headers #41 Maxim. When Joe B. Miller tripped the timing light for the last time on his second time trial lap, the native of Lemoore, California flipped the shield down on his Shifty Illusions custom painted Bell helmet and was prepared to make speed. The beautiful black, green and white accented Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 got up to speed and raced under the waving green flag. Carson had his elbows up manhandling the power being delivered to hit right foot from his Kistler Engines. He was doing his part to run smooth lines and corral the horses. When he passed by the white flag, his first lap was recorded in 14.212 seconds which catapulted him to the top of the speed board. Still hammer down, Carson continued to carry his momentum forward with a relentless focus on trying to make more speed. When he came off turn four for the last time he saw the black and white checkered cloth waving ending lap two in 14.393 seconds. The better of his two laps time wise ended up being quick time overall. For the fourth time this season, Carson Macedo in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 was the top speedster of the night earning the Simpson Quick Time Award.

Moving on in the show from the solo performance portion, the starting lineups were posted for the three 8-lap, multi-car heat race extravaganzas. Philip, Robby, and Adam finished up their work and started to roll their driver and sprint car entry into the staging area. The lineups are compiled using each driver’s best timed lap from Sea Foam Qualifying. That put Carson on the inside of row one from the pole position with “The North Pole Nightmare” Bill Balog to his outside. Scotty Milan and Joe B. Miller were in row two followed by Giovanni Scelzi and Brock Zearfoss in row three. Skylar Gee, Logan McCandless, Andy Bishop, and Cole Duncan filled in rows four and five as they aligned side-by-side.

The field was rolling side-by-side anticipating the green flag to drop coming off turn four. The lights turned off. The green flag waved with Carson Macedo driving the Tarlton and Son/CASM Safety Products/Mr. Jim’s Racing #41 Maxim ripping off the bottom and into the lead ahead of Balog when they reached turn one.

The track was fast, but technical as the surface was making the top line around the track narrow at this stage of the night. Carson maintained the lead with Balog and Milan still giving chase. When he crossed under the white flag indicating one lap to go, Carson was in command. He would race to the heat race victory by 1.566 seconds ahead of Bill Balog who drove across the finish line second to join Macedo in the dash as the representatives from the first heat race. Scotty Milan came home third with Brock Zearfoss, Giovanni Scelzi and Logan McCandless securing the last three transfer spots.

The six drivers who earned spots in the Toyota Dash drew for their starting position with Carson pulling the ‘2’ pill to earn the outside spot of the front row where he would roll in alongside polesitter Bill Balog. David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild were in row two with Buddy Kofoid and Ayrton Gennetten in row three. They were racing for their starting positions in the feature.

The green flag came out with Bill Balog blasting into the lead ahead of Macedo, Haudenschild and Gravel. The leader was carrying his speed around the top. Carson was maneuvering right behind aboard the Border International/Vortex Racing Products/Factory Kahne Shocks #41 as his Hoosier Racing Tires bit into the hardening surface.

With Balog out front, the race for the runner-up position was on between Macedo and Haudenschild. Sheldon executed a clean slider through turns one and two and drifted up in front of the forty-one at the exit of the second turn. Carson tried to turn back underneath him and caught Haudenschild’s left rear sending him spinning to the infield. His left front tire was off the rim so they put him on the hook and took him to the work area. Upon arrival, the crew, with the help of Carson’s brother Cole who was driving the Honest Abe Roofing #16T, got the wheel changed as Carson rejoined the field at the rear of the field.

There were four laps to go and the green was back out. Carson quickly moved into the fifth position ahead of Kofoid and was actively seeking out David Gravel who was running fourth. Buddy Kofoid was not gonna go away that easy and roared back to race with Macedo for position.

On lap 4, Kofoid and Macedo made incidental racing contact off turn four sending Kofoid spinning to bring out the caution. Carson would restart fifth and when the green flag came back out there was a three car race for the lead between Bill Balog, Sheldon Haudenschild and Ayrton Gennetten. Blog held the top spot, but was under enormous pressure.

Carson was on the move too, as he made his way by David Gravel to take over the fourth spot in the running order. It was a wild race from start to finish. Bill Balog was the victor in the dash crossing the line just ahead of Sheldon Haudenschild. Carson was scored fourth as he crossed the line just 0.075 seconds behind third place finishing Ayrton Gennetten. David Gravel was fifth with Buddy Kofoid being scored sixth.

With all of the qualifying positions in the field spoken for now in the 30-lap NOS Energy Drink World of Outlaws Paducah Sprint Car Showdown feature, the teams began to escort their drivers and speed chariots out onto the track to patiently wait to be pushed off. It was a capacity crowd as Johnny Gibson announced that it was the largest crowd in the history of the track. The fuel tanks were topped off. The tires each were filled with the right amount of air. And, Carson Macedo was focused and ready to have some fun in the forty-one.

The front three rows were set based on the dash results. Carson would get the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/RaceDiecast.com/Winters Performance Products #41 Maxim rolling from the fourth starting spot. He would pull up alongside Ayrton Gennetten in row two. Bill Balog and Sheldon Haudenschild were sitting on the front row and would orchestrate the start of the race in sync with the flagman and race officials. It was time to go racing at Paducah International Raceway!

The green flag was out and the low rumbling of the engines turned into a loud and refreshing roar as the field came down the frontstretch. It was all-out chaos at the start with Bill Balog leading Sheldon Haudenschild at the end of the first circuit. Carson was running in the fourth position aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 and hungry for more.

The next time around, lap 2, Sheldon Haudenschild drove his NOS Energy Drink #17 as Carson simultaneously moved the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 by Gennetten into third. There were fights throughout the field as everyone was duking it out for a better position at Paducah.

With 8 laps in the books, Sheldon Haudenschild and the lead pack were in slower traffic. The running order was Haudenschild, Balog, Macedo, Gravel and Kofoid in the top five.

Just after the hallway point on lap 16, David Gravel hustled the Huset’s Speedway #2 by Macedo for third. It soon turned into another incredible three car battle for the runner-up spot between Balog, Gravel and Macedo with the driver of the #17B holding onto the spot . . . for now. Carson slid by both Balog and Gravel in turns three and four, but the pass was negated when Danny Sams III’s #24D came to a stop off turn four with rear end damage after making contact with the outside retaining wall.

With 17 laps in the books and 13 laps to go, the green flag was back out with the NOS Energy Drink #17 out front again with Bill Balog in second. Fifth starting Buddy Kofoid had speed in his Roth Motorsports #83 and used that speed to take advantage of some open track in front of him as he passed Macedo and Gravel down the backstretch. He then cleanly slid up across turn four into second to take the spot away from Balog. It was certainly close action with Gravel getting into the back of Balog and getting sideways flipping off run four along with Brock Zearfoss. There was too much damage to make repairs for the series point leader who was scored with a 23rd place finish.

When the accident scene was cleared, with 13 laps still to go, Sheldon Haudenschild led Bill Balog, Carson Macedo, Buddy Kofoid, and Cole Macedo back to the green flag. Haudenschild was using the clean air to his advantage as he raced ahead of Balog and Kofoid. Kofoid raced by Carson with Cole right behind.

On lap 20, Cole Macedo made his way by Carson to take over the fourth spot. Carson was battling inside the cockpit of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. Sheldon Haudenschild ran out front the last 10 laps to complete his mission as he raced to his third win of the season crossing the line in front of Balog and Kofoid. Cole Macedo came home fourth with Carson locking down the final spot in the top five.

Carson did one heck of a job the secure a top five finish. When he pulled the forty-one into the pits after the checkered flag flew, his right rear tire was going down as he ended the race with only three pounds of air in the tire. Carson raced a smart and conservative last half of the race to remain consistent securing a respectable fifth place finish as the tire began losing air right after the red flag race stoppage. Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Hanging On for a Top 5 Finish at Paducah International Raceway After Air Slowly Leaks Out of Right Rear Tire! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

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