PRESSURE COOKER IN IOWA: CARSON MACEDO BREAKS THROUGH TO LEAD TOYOTA QUALIFYING NIGHT POINTS OPENING THE 64TH ANNUAL NOS ENERGY DRINK KNOXVILLE NATIONALS WITH A TOP 5 RUN IN THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41

KNOXVILLE, IOWA (August 7, 2025) – After severe thunderstorms with an amazing lightning show rolled through the area overnight dumping two plus inches of rain on the area, the sun began to show its face throughout the day in Knoxville, Iowa. The buzz around town focused on Wednesday night’s victor Ryan Timms in the Hempel Oil/CITGO #10 (487 points – 1st) who raced to the win during BRANDT Qualifying Night with 51 teams entered. Justin Peck in the Rudeen Racing/Ford #26 (460 points – 6th) and Sheldon Haudenschild in the Stenhouse Jr./Marshall Racing #17 (469 points – 2nd) ran second and third respectively to round out the podium. To round out the top eight in event points after the first night of qualifying it was: Corey Day in the Jason Meyers Racing (JMR)/Driven 2 Save Lives #14BC (468 points – 3rd); Rico Abreu driving the Rico Abreu Racing (RAR)/Rothwell Hyde Vineyards #24R (468 points – 3rd); Emerson Axsom aboard the KCP Racing/Aspen Aire #18 (467 points – 5th); Garet Williamson piloting the Fischer Motorsports #23 (460 points – 7th); and Iowa native Austin McCarl chauffeuring the Country Builders Racing #88 (455 points – 8th).

Adding to the energized discussion throughout the day was the chatter surrounding the upcoming night of fierce competition on deck Thursday night during Toyota Qualifying Night at the 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals. There were 49 teams registered for the second night of qualifying action with an equally impressive entry list that was just as stout as the night before. Entries included some very accomplished and talented sprint car drivers like Larson, Macedo, Schuchart, Brown, Scelzi, Marks, McCarl, Kofoid, Thorson and Sweet, just to name a few, littering the lineup of stars for Thursday’s show. The festivities and energy leading up to each of the qualifying nights of racing exemplify the passion these great fans bring to The Sprint Car Capital of the World every year for the Knoxville Nationals.

After unveiling a new event paint scheme for the Knoxville Nationals when they got into town on Sunday night before the Capitani Classic, Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 were ready to make speed and produce some results during their qualifying night of racing. The classy car BlackBeard design was clean and made the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Durst Inc. #41 look fast. Each of the teams set to compete on Thursday night were parked in the paved pit area on the inside the famous black gumbo clay half-mile oval that is situated on the Marion County Fairgrounds based on their pill draw number. The crews were busy unloading as there are no haulers allowed in the pit area while getting their drivers speed chariots ready for the night of racing.

The format for the Knoxville Nationals on both qualifying nights awards event points every time a driver is out on the track based on where the finish in time trials, qualifying Heat races, and how they perform in the feature. The maximum points any driver/team can accumulate during a qualifying night is 500 points: 200 points are awarded to the quickest driver in time trials with the points reduced by two points for every position behind in the order; 100 points are earned by the Heat race winners reduced by three points for each position, and 200 more points are up for grabs for the winner of each preliminary night feature with a two point reduction for each position behind down to the twenty fourth place finisher.

It is certainly no easy task to achieve a perfect score, but the goal is to accumulate as many points as possible to lock into Saturday night’s 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals A-Main. To “lock-in” the A-Main on Saturday night a driver must end up in the top 16 in overall points when both qualifying nights are consolidated and sorted from high to low. Drivers in the 17th through 26th position secure the first ten starting positions in Saturday’s B-Main unless they elect to take a chance by discarding their points earned to compete in Friday’s FVP Hard Knox event.

The field of competitors are not split into separate Flights for time trials in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying at the 410 Knoxville Nationals like is usual and customary during regular World of Outlaws shows when there are greater than 38 cars. The drivers all qualify against each other as one qualifying group during time trials with the order they go out established based on a random pill draw when registering in at the Pit Shack window before entering the pit area.

When race officials arranged all the drawn numbers from low to high, Carson Macedo would be the 18th driver to hit the track for his two laps in a race against time piloting the Scott Boyd Family/Border International/Tarlton and Son #41 Maxim. Joining the Lemoore, California speedster out on the track for time trial qualifying was Derek Hagar #45C from Marion, Arkansas. Both competitors had the same goal in mind – go fast, make tracks, do not look back, and complete at least one lap faster than everyone else on the night.

Carson waited patiently in the staging lane and when the race official motioned for him to start his Kistler Engines power it was ‘go time’ at The Sprint Car Capital of the World. He peered through the shield of his Shifty Illusions painted JJR 15th Anniversary edition Bell Helmet to match the car as he stomped on the loud pedal to generate speed thinking “I wonder how fast this slick looking Albaugh/MVT #41 can really go?” Carson was ready to answer that question when he exited turn four with a full head of steam. He raced by the flagstand to start his timed session. He used his JOES Matador Steering Wheel to turn left through the first set of turns and was digging down the backstretch. Macedo charged out of turn four towards the waving white flag to indicated he only had one more chance to lay down another lap. The driver of the forty-one turned in a good first lap with the clock recording his performance in 15.393 seconds for the first half mile. He was hungry for more with a relentless focus on speed during his second lap. Carson carried his momentum out of turn four this time and across the finish line with the checkered flag waving in 15.315 seconds to end lap two. The faster of Carson’s two time trial attempts was the second lap, positioning him fourth quick overall and earning 194 event points for his efforts in time trials to start the night. Brad Sweet driving the NAPA Auto Parts 100 Anniversary #49 earned the Simpson Quick Time Award and collected the 200 maximum event points in time trials after making his way around Knoxville Raceway in 15.002 seconds.

The race format of this event is intended to be challenging and extremely difficult which brings the best out in these racecar drivers. That is what makes it the Knoxville Nationals a special event. From the event points every time they hit the track to the inversion of the fastest eight drivers in each qualifying Heat races, this event is not for the faint of heart. The next point scoring opportunity for the drivers and teams was in the five 10-lap Heat races where each of the race winners would receive 100 points, with a three point drop off for every finishing position behind the race winner. The inversion of eight makes it much spicier with the fastest drivers back in row four at the start of the race. To top things off, only the first four finishers in each qualifying race transfer to the feature. As the fourth quickest driver in time trials, Carson paced around in the eighth starting position of Toyota Heat Race #4 aboard the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Sander Engineering/Saldana Racing Products #41 Maxim. He would share row four with Jake Bubak #27B.

Out front in the first row was the talented duo of Christopher Thram #24T and Roger Crockett #11 with Clint Garner #40 and Derek Hagar #45C pacing behind in row two. Chase Dietz #23D and Brenham Crouch #5 were side-by-side in row three ready to get after it when the green flag waved with Tyler Drueke #95 and Matt VanderVere #10W slipping into the fifth and final row.

The driver’s blood began pumping faster as their heart rate rose when the green flag came out. They dropped their foot on the accelerator to start speed school. Christopher Thram jumped into the early lead and led the opening lap with Roger Crocket and Derek Hagar following right behind. Carson made a bold move building speed down the frontstretch as he split the middle between Dietz and Crouch entering turn one before exiting turn two in fourth as he made some noise in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41.

Carson was up on the wheel and began to quickly close the space between himself and third running Derek Hagar. The next time around he moved by the Arkansas driver to take over the show position. He was not done yet though as he was chomping at the bit as he began reeling in second place running Roger Crockett. It took five laps to catch him, but on lap 7 he moved by Crockett to take over the second position 1.2 seconds behind the race leader.

Carson did not just settle in. He used the remaining 1.5 miles of racing to close in on the leader coming off turn four on the final as they raced towards the checkered flag. Christopher Thram #24T was the first driver to cross under the checkered flag taking the Heat race win by just 0.259 seconds to earn those valuable 100 event points awarded to the winner. Carson Macedo hustled the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41 across the finish line in second place finish (97 points), Roger Crockett #11 raced home third (94 points), Derek Hagar #45C fourth (91 points), with Jake Bubak #27B rounding out the top five (88 points).

Carson’s runner-up finish brought his event point total following the Heat races to 291 points, which was the best overall at that point of the racing action locking him into the A-Main.

When all the qualification action was done, the starting lineup was set for Thursday night’s Toyota Qualifying Night preliminary night 25-lap feature at the 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals based on the event points accumulated by each driver to that point of the night for the cars that transferred out of the qualifying races. The top eight drivers in event points were inverted putting the highest point earner back on the outside of row four to start with the eighth highest point earned on the pole position for the A-Main.

That format put Derek Hagar #45C and Spencer Bayston #14 on the front row with Giovanni Scelzi #7BC and Bill Balog #17B paired together in row two. Lined up in the third row were two talented speedsters that included three-time Knoxville Nationals winner Kyle Larson #57 and Logan Schuchart #1s as Lynton Jeffrey #39 joined Carson Macedo in row four.

It was shaping up to be a gem of a race even before the green flag flew. Focused and poised in the cockpit, Carson paced from the eighth starting spot on the grid behind the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/BR Motorsports/Walker Performance Filtration #41 Maxim. Knoxville’s flagman Justin Clark, who took the reins when his father Doug Clark retired in 2019, indicated to the field that the next time by they would be released to race. The drivers at the front of the pack would dictate when the drivers could stomp on the loud pedal out of turn four when they arrived at the chalk stripe.

The green flag was out with Derek Hagar standing on the gas as Spencer Bayston stayed with him as they approached the first turn. Carson was tracking behind as he entered through the middle trying to make the pass on Brock Zearfoss in the Moose’s LZ Bar & Grill #3z during the opening lap of the race.

With one lap in the books, it was Derek Hagar continued to lead Spencer Bayston and Giovanni Scelzi with Carson Macedo wheeling the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41 from the eighth spot in the running order dueling with Brock Zearfoss. Spencer Bayston worked his way into the lead on the third lap and had his racecar moving out front.

By lap 5, Kyle Larson began to charge as he moved up to the second position with Hagar hanging on in third place. Carson eventually powered his way by Zearfoss and was running seventh behind Bayston, Larson, Hagar, Scelzi, Schuchart, and Balog. Carson continued to stay glued to Balog’s rear nerf bar as they both gained a spot in the running order when they moved by Derek Hagar for position on lap 9.

At the front of the pack, Kyle Larson closed in on the race leader in traffic and took the lead from Bayston the first opportunity he had on the racetrack with 13 laps in the books.

On lap 15, it was Kyle Larson leading Spencer Bayston, Giovanni Scelzi, and Logan Schuchart with Carson Macedo rounding out the top five after he raced by Bill Balog through the turns.

The next time around Logan Schuchart had the Shark Racing #1s on the move and was up to third with Giovani Scelzi now in fourth. Carson had a fast racecar and began to close in on Scelzi. Those two drivers along with Logan Schuchart were rapidly catching up to second place running Spencer Bayston. Carson was in good position as he was able to stay close enough to make a pass, but his car would get tight when he got not dirty air. He continued to stay in the mix searching high, then low, and high again to no avail.

Kyle Larson secured the top step of the podium with the victory, along with the 200 event points, with Logan Schuchart racing home second (198 points) and Spencer Bayston standing on the last step of the podium with his show position finish (196 points). Giovanni Scelzi (194 points) raced across the finish line fourth with Carson completing the top five.

With the heat still emanating from his Schoenfeld Headers following the racing action, Carson climbed out of the cockpit of his Maxim Racing machine and debrief with Philip and the JJR crew. Carson’s fifth place performance in the A-Main earned him another 192 points to bring his event point total following the night of competition to 483 points. His point total positioned him as the highest point driver during Thursday’s preliminary night and second overall to Ryan Timms when the points for both qualifying nights consolidated to lock him into Saturday night’s A-Main at the 64th Annual NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s where he would start on the outside of the front row. Another great run for Macedo and the forty-one!

The 16 drivers that were locked into Saturday night’s A-Main were: (1) Ryan Timms #10 (489 points); (2) Carson Macedo #41 (483 points); (3) Logan Schuchart #1s (471 points); (4) Brad Sweet #49 (471 points); (5) Sheldon Haudenschild (469 points); (6) Corey Day #14BC (468 points); (7) Rico Abreu #24R (468 points); (8) Emerson Axsom (467 points); (9) Kyle Larson #57 (463 points); (10) Justin Peck #26 (460 points); (11) Garet Williamson #23 (460 points); (12) Austin McCarl #88 (455 points); (13) Bill Balog #17B (449 points); (14) Giovanni Scelzi #7BC (448 points); (15) Cameron Martin #4C (447 points); and (16) Spencer Bayston (446 points);

Making Speed and Topping the Points During the Preliminary Night Action in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

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.

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

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