OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES: AFTER DIGGING A HOLE FRIDAY NIGHT, THE JASON JOHNSON RACING #41 TEAM CLIMBS OUT AND PEEKS THROUGH THE FOG ONE NIGHT TO SEE THE SUN THE NEXT DAY WITH A 12TH PLACE RUN

MECHANICSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (October 4, 2024) – After the checkered flag flew over the Inaugural Dennis Roth Classic finale two weeks ago now in California, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series teams started their journey back across the country. Now they were all eastbound and down. At the time they each had their GPS routes programmed to navigate them safely to Ohio for the scheduled weekend of World of Outlaws racing kicking off last Friday night at Wayne County Speedway (WCS) before venturing over to Sharon Speedway on Saturday night.  After rain and remnants of weather from Hurricane Helene completely washed out both shows in The Buckeye State, the teams continued to move eastward into Pennsylvania arriving at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night.

As the World of Outlaws 2024 racing schedule inches closer to conclusion, the traveling tour of speed stars made their way back to Pennsylvania one last time this season. The colors on the trees has started to change since they last visited here in late July as the seasonal foliage has started. The leaves are starting to change colors reflecting red, yellow, light brown, and some shades in between, which is representative of the season versus brilliant greens of summer. There would be three shows scheduled over two separate weekends held here in the Keystone State starting with two shows at Williams Grove Speedway for the final Crown Jewel of the season – the 62nd Annual WEIS Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit.

This event has seen incredible drivers add their names to this list from the past and present. Representing those that help build the reputation of the event like Gordon Johncock, Bobby Adamson, Kenny Weld, Johnny Grum, Lynn Paxton, Doug Wolfgang, Steve Smith, Mark Kinser, and Steve Kinser to some of today’s stars of the sport represented by Donny Schatz, David Gravel, Carson Macedo, Danny Dietrich, Lance Dewease, and Brent Marks. This year’s edition of the race would kick off on Friday with the preliminary nigh of action at the paper-clipped shaped historic oval. There was a large field on hand with 58 race teams parked throughout the infield and backstretch pit areas ready to start their engines at Williams Grove Speedway and race to the checkers – World of Outlaws style.

With a large field of teams on hand, the drivers were split into two equal groups for Sea Foam Qualifying as they were set to take their two timed laps against the clock. There would be two cars on the track at one time recording their lap times individually. It was a race against time, not each other. Carson Macedo would push out as the first car in Group B aboard the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Boltz Family/Durst Inc. #41 Maxim. He would be joined on the track by Kyle Reinhardt in the Capital Trailers #91. The California driver in the forty-one would push out onto the track and step on the accelerator to get up to speed. He was at full song coming off turn four as he was digging and making tracks towards the waving green flag to start his session. Carson hustled through the first set of turns hoping to carry his speed down the long back straightaway and through the last set of turns. This time when he arrived on the frontstretch he saw the flagman waving the white flag to indicate one more lap. His first lap stopped the clock in 16.826 seconds. Carson was still busy though trying to make more speed on his second circuit. Hoping his momentum would buy him a few hundredths, or thousandths, of a second he kept his right foot planted. When he raced under the checkered flag on his final lap of time trials the clock read 16.836 seconds. His best time lap was only good enough for 17th quick overall in Group B with Brent Marks #19 standing as the quickest driver in that group and overall to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award. Daryn Pittman #69k topped the speed charts in Group A, running a fast lap in 16.579 seconds.

The drivers out of Group A Qualifying would race against each other based on their best time trial lap in one of the first two 8-lap heat races, with the cars that qualified as part of Group B Qualifying competing for one of the five transfer spots in heat races three and four. When the lineups for each race were posted, Carson would get the Tarlton and Son/Sander Engineering/RaceDiecast.com #41 entry started pretty far back on the inside of the last row, row five, of the third heat race alongside the #00k of Kyle Spence. It was a talented all-Pennsylvania front row with Brent Marks #19 and Anthony Macri #39M leading the field ahead of row two starters Chase Randall #58 and James McFadden #83SR. Lucas Wolfe #5W and Bill Balog #17B paced from row three with Kyle Reinhardt #91 and Cory Eliason #8 in row four.

With everyone lined up in their correct starting positions, the yellow lights around the track were turned off as the paced down the backstretch and into turn three. The air was cool and the track was holding moisture, so the racing lanes were still very narrow. When the drivers on the front row arrived at the temporary white chalk stripe across turn four they responded and quickly accelerated down the front straightaway by the expansive bleachers filled with interested fans. Brent Marks led the opening lap in front of Anthony Macri and Chase Randall.

Carson was caught back in the dirty air scratching and digging for anything. He was working hard, but no opportunities were presenting themselves to move forward. The cars at the front of the pack were setting a quick pace and the laps were being completed quickly. James McFadden was moving forward in the Roth Motorsports #83SR as he raced with Chase Randall for third.

Brent Marks would not be denied as he crossed the finish line ahead of Anthony Macri to advance to the Dash. James McFadden, Chase Randall, and Lucas Wolfe locked down the final three transfer spots.  Carson was able to gain one position to finish eighth.

Not being able to race in the Toyota Dash, Carson would have to try to earn his was in through the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown. But they would have to wait. The temperatures continued to drop and fog started to move into the area. It continued to get heavier and heavier making sight lines more difficult for the racers. World of Outlaws and track officials made the hard decision to pause the show for the evening due to safety concerns and pick up the show Saturday afternoon before the championship finale is run.

After a night of thinking and a morning readjusting their speed chariot, Carson and the JJR #41 team were back in the pit area hoping to make some progress in the 12-lap Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown (LCS). The hole that was dug was still present and Carson was still looking for a way out. He was mired back in the 11th starting position with only four drivers advancing out of the LCS. When the green flag waved, Jacob Allen #1A jumped into the lead and led Conner Morrell #28M, Sheldon Haudenschild #17, and Bill Balog #17B through lap five when the red flag came out for Landon Crawley who rolled onto his side after contact racing for position with Cale Thomas. Carson was running in the eight position as he was dueling with Danny Dietrich for position. They went back to green flag race condition with Allen out front. He led the remaining laps to take the win as Sheldon Haudenschild came home second. Conner Morrell and Cory Eliason owned the final two transfer spots out of the LCS. Carson had speed, but only finished eighth behind Danny Dietrich, Logan Schuchart, and Bill Balog.

The crew members were busy at work finishing up their duties as the 8-minute horn sounded summoning the cars to the track for a day time race as they were ready for the start of the $12,000-to-win, 25-lap the 62nd Annual WEIS Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit preliminary feature. The drivers were buckling into their safety harnesses as they sat in their cockpits before pushing back to be escorted out onto the track.

Chase Dietz #2D and Giovanni Scelzi #18 earned the right to lead the field from the front row after impressive performance to this point of the night. They were followed by Kasey Kahne and Buddy Kofoid #83 in row two, Brent Marks #19 and David Gravel #2 in row three, with Daryn Pittman #69k and Anthony Macri #39M in row four. Carson would be forced to use a provisional so he would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative/High Performance Lubricants/Winters Performance Products #41 Maxim going from the inside of row 13 as he paced beside Williams Grove Speedway’s current points leader Freddie Rahmer.

Carson has some work to do for sure, but he had a determined look. He flipped the shield down on his Shifty Illusions custom painted Bell Helmet as he was prepared to execute his strategy during this high speed affair at Williams Grove. Off turn four he dropped his right K1 Race Gear shoe and called upon his Kistler Engines power to help catapult him forward as he raced down the frontstretch.

It was Giovanni Scelzi driving his Aspen Aire #18 out in front of the pack leading the red hot Buddy Kofoid in the Toyota Racing/Roth Motorsports #83 with one lap recorded in the books. Carson picked up two positions on the opening circuit and was hungry for more. The next time around he got another one and was running in the 22nd position on lap three with Scelzi still leading. The next time around he passed Brian Brown. Another position down.

He then set his sights on Brandon Spithaler and moved by him. By lap 5, Carson was now sitting in 20th place and still looking for more in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. He got that opportunity two laps later as he moved around Lucas Wolfe into 19th place. He was still balancing speed with an opportunistic view.

Buddy Kofoid moved by Giovanni Scelzi to take over the lead on lap 8. Just before the halfway point of the race he picked off two more positions as he raced by both Brad Sweet and T.J. Stutts. Carson was now working from the 17th position with Sheldon Haudenschild and Justin Whittall directly in front of him.

On lap 14, the red flag was thrown when Brent Marks and Giovanni Scelzi made contact racing for the show position, sending Scelzi out of the ballpark in turn four. He was ok, but the action was halted while they hooked the car up to the tow truck and brought it the long way back to the pit area.

Buddy Kofoid would lead Chase Dietz, Daryn Pittman, and Anthony Macri back up to speed with Carson restarting in the 15th spot. The driver of the forty-one got a good start and was scored in twelfth before losing a few of those spots back. He was now dueling with Danny Sams III, Brock Zearfoss, Justin Whittall, and Justin Peck. He would move by Danny Sams III and was scored 13th with less than 10 laps to go.

On lap 17, the red flag was back out. When the engines re-fired Buddy Kofoid was still out front, but now he was being chased by Daryn Pittman in the iconic Kreitz Racing #69k, Chase Dietz, Brent Marks, and Anthony Macri. Carson was poised for more and over the remainder of the race picked up one more position late to take over the 12th position.

Buddy Kofoid continued his hot streak, winning 5 of the last 8 races, as he took the checkers ahead of Pittman, Dietz, Marks, and Donny Schatz. Carson worked hard climbing out of the hole as he raced home with a 12th place finish being recognized as the KSE Hard Charger for the race after passing 13 cars in 25 laps. A good outcome overcoming the challenges.

Carson Macedo Records a 12th Place Finish During the Fog Delayed Turned Day Show in the Preliminary Action at the 62nd Annual WEIS Markets National Open presented by Sage Fruit! Photo Credit: Trent Gower

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners: 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; Buckwalter Trucking; 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; Indy Performance Composites (IPC); ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K1 Race Gear; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy; Motor State Distributing; Mr. Jim’s Racing; Premium Coach Group; Saldana Racing Products; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; Smith TI; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.

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