RECOVERING IN OKLAHOMA: AFTER BATTLING EARLY IN THE SOONER STAMPEDE, CARSON MACEDO SPINS RACING UP FRONT AND DRIVES BACK TO A 16TH PLACE FINISH ABOARD THE T-FAB CUSTOM METAL FABRICATION #41 AT LAWTON SPEEDWAY

LAWTON, OKLAHOMA (March 20, 2026) – A sad and tragic event last Saturday at Kennedale Speedway Park stopped the racing action abruptly as Billy Hurt lost his life and Jerry Myers was seriously injured as the two heroes were responding to an on track incident as part of the safety team. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with these individuals, their families and friends, the racing community, and the World Racing Group (WRG) during this tough time.

These types of situations are never easy, but the racing community always rises and embraces each other giving strength and hope for a better next day. They are truly incredible. As hard as it may seem, getting back to what these individuals do across the country is often the best therapy as they are surrounded by similar minded individuals who love the sport. That is exactly what the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Series competitors did on Friday night as they traveled to Lawton Speedway for the Sooner Stampede. A total of 40 race teams pulled through the pit gates on Friday afternoon and into their parking stalls for the Sooner Stampede at Lawton Speedway. It was time to go racing in Oklahoma.

After Race//Ready Hot Laps, the next thing up for the drivers was Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying where they would challenge themselves and their speed machines against the clock in two separate qualifying groups. Each driver would get two time trial laps around the 3/8-mile, paperclipped shape dirt oval located south of Oklahoma City. While those laps do not have to be perfect, any imperfection along the way is magnified and costs them valuable time. Speed truly is a game of inches, and in this sport are measured down to the thousandths of a second. After the random draw set the qualifying order, the drivers began to line up in the staging area. The driver of the High Performance Lubricants/Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication #41 Maxim would be the first driver out in Flight B. The engine rumbled under the Prime Composite Innovations carbon fiber hood and Carson’s K1 Race Gear boot unleashed all the horses to get up to speed. He raced under the waving green flag and carried the speed generated through the first set of turns and down the backstretch. The Californian roared off turn four and ended lap one in 13.448 seconds in the Sooner State. With his right foot still planted on the loud pedal, Carson was leading the charge the next time around looking for slightly better results. He looked smooth. He looked fast. And when the numbers popped up on the clock, he was better with a lap of 13.395 seconds. That lap positioned him fifth quick overall on the speed charts when the final qualifier, Emerson Axsom #27, completed his two circuits setting quick time in Flight B with a lap of 13.294 seconds. Hustling the quickest way around Lawton Speedway in Flight A on this night to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award was the Oklahoma born racer Brady Bacon #21H laying down a lap in 13.258 seconds.

As the Sooner Stampede racing agenda moved along, the four Heat Races were up next on the evening’s showcard. This would be the first time multiple cars would be out on the track together competing for the five coveted transfer spots up for grabs in one of the four qualifying races. The further forward the drivers finish in these qualifying races, the better their starting position would be in the feature race later in the evening. So, they all had something to work hard for during the 10-lap races. Slated to start from the third position in WIX Filters Heat Race #3, Carson pulled the Smiley’s Race Products/Schoenfeld Headers/Engler Machine & Tool #41 up alongside Conner Morrell in the Tub O’ Towels #28M in row two. They would tuck in behind the front row starters, Emerson Axsom #27 and Donny Schatz #15, who would lead the field to the green flag. Behind in row three were Bill Balog #17B and Bryce Lucius #32 with Garet Williamson #23 and John Carney II in row four as Christopher Thram #24T and Alex Sewell #32s were lined up in row five.

The colorful field of entries paced slowly towards the chalk stripe in turn four before pedaling down and making noise out of turn four. The polesitter, Emerson Axsom, blasted into the early race lead and immediately started to put some distance between himself and second running Donny Schatz. Carson pulled into the show position behind Schatz keeping him within his sight early, Macedo started to reel the 10-time champion in and was closing at the midway point of the race with Axsom still out front showing the way.

Carson stayed on the hammer as his Hoosier Racing Tires searched for grip and speed throughout the last half of the race. Emerson Axsom secured the win over Donny Schatz by 2.171 seconds with Carson coming home third. Conner Morrell finished fourth with Garet Williamson securing the final transfer spot out of the third Heat race. Winning the other Heat race were Sheldon Haudenschild #18 (Heat #1), Scotty Thiel #16C (Heat #2), and David Gravel #2 (Heat #4).

The field was set for the 35-lap Sooner Stampede feature finale at Lawton Speedway. The first four rows were earned based off where each driver finished in the Toyota Dash. That put David Gravel #2 and Brady Bacon in the #21H on the front row with Emerson Axsom #27 and Sheldon Haudenschild #18 beside each other in row two. Kasey Jedrzejek #6 and Chris Windom #7s were rolling in row three with Donny Schatz #15 and Scotty Thiel #16C together in row four. Carson got situated in the tenth starting spot behind the wheel of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/CASM Safety Products/BR Motorsports #41 Maxim. He shared row five with Scott Bogucki #51 as the two were ready to put on a show worthy of some Oklahoma applause.

Following the four-wide salute that included the safety crew, which included the missing man formation for Billy Hurt, the drivers were ready to stomp the gas pedal in sync when the race started. When David Gravel initiated speed when the green lights turned on around the track, everyone followed.

Brady Bacon used the high side of the track to build up momentum to seize the lead on the opening lap ahead of Gravel, Bacon, Axsom, and Haudenschild. Carson was already showing speed early and running in the ninth position. By the third circuit he made his way up to sixth place after scooting by Donny Schatz. He had the forty-one on the move.

Brady Bacon was still out in front of Gravel and Axsom when the first caution of the night came out for Conner Morrell who did a 360 spin and was off the pace. He would have to rejoin the back of the field. Carson would restart from the sixth spot in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 with Chris Windom to his inside.

When the green flag was back out, Brady Bacon drove back into the lead ahead of Gravel, Axsom, and Haudenschild with Macedo moving into the top five. Over the next few laps, the action was high paced with Haudenschild tracking down and taking the third position from Axsom.

On lap 9, the second caution of the race was thrown for a three car accident involving Spencer Bayston #17, Bill Balog #17B, and Matt Covington #95 who tangled in turn two.

Brady Bacon led the racers back up to speed with everyone giving chase. Carson was closing in on Sheldon Haudenschild for the third position with ten laps in the books. The next time around he entered high, and the back end came out from under him as he spun doing a 360 which forced him to go to the back of the pack with 24 laps remaining. Tough luck for Carson and the forty-one.

The green flag was back out as the engines roared back to life. Brady Bacon was having a night out front, but David Gravel was lurking behind licking his chops. Carson battled his way forward and was running just outside the top 15 at the halfway point of the race.

On lap 19, David Gravel tracked the leader down and drove underneath him after Bacon got up over the cushion. It was now the Big Game Motorsports #2 out front with everyone chasing the defending and two-time World of Outlaws champion. Gravel would lead the remaining laps to capture his second win of the season with Scott Bogucki and Brady Bacon rounding out the podium with Sheldon Haudenschild and Chris Windom completing the top five.

Carson recovered and had to settle for a 16th place finish in the Sooner Showdown after contending early. The JJR #41 team will move on and focus on getting back on track. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series teams will stay in the Sooner State on Saturday night as they head over to Sapulpa to Creek County Speedway for the Creekadega 40. Make plans to come out to see some of the best in the business entertain at speed in Oklahoma. If you cannot be there in person to watch the incredible action, make sure to tune in on DIRTVision.

A 16th Place Run in the Sooner Stampede at Lawton Speedway for Carson Macedo and the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 Team! Photo Credit: Tyler Carr

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners for 2026: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); 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; Crow Enterprizes; CS Productions; Dale “Mickey” Snyder; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Greber Racing Components (GRC); 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; PWR Advanced Cooling Technology; 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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