RISING TEMPERATURES: THE ACTION HEATED UP ON THE TRACK AT CEDAR LAKE WITH CARSON MACEDO AND THE ALBAUGH #41 TEAM FINDING THEIR WAY BACK TO VICTORY LANE IN THE FINALE OF THE INDEPENDENCE SPECTACULAR

NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN (June 28, 2025) – The alarms sounded early as the heat maker in the sky made an appearance as it came up over the horizon from the east to start a new day in the beautiful state of Wisconsin. It was a remarkable sight after overcast, grey, and dreary skies coupled with multiple days of rain swept through the area. On Friday night, Carson drove a heck of a race as he wheeled the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 back to a runner-up finish to open the two nights of racing at Cedar Lake Speedway. As the sun continued its daily pathway around the earth, race day inched closer on Saturday night as the finale of the Independence Spectacular was awaiting the race teams. The track crew was prepping the race surface as the pyrotechnics experts prepared for an explosive night of fireworks. There were 22 competitive drivers back at the Wisconsin track eager and ready to get rolling to entertain the fans in the stands in World of Outlaws action in The Badger State.

After WEDG High Performance Karts hot laps concluded, the drivers began to stage for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying. The order for time trials was set by a random number drawn by each team in the Eloy Gutierrez Pill Draw. The drivers that pulled the lowest numbers would go out early for their two laps around the three-eighth mile oval with the highest numbers going out late. Their speed on the track would be measured down to the thousandths of a second each lap with the quickest one representing them for the rest of the night. The Tarlton and Son/Vortex Racing Products/Smith TI #41 Maxim with Carson behind the wheel would go out late as the 15th car out on the track. The Kistler Engines power under the Prime Composite Innovations carbon fiber hood was ready to get start working. The gasser in the forty-one dropped his right foot on the speed pedal to let the horses out to run. He was up to speed as he darted by the flagstand with the green flag out. Carson made quick work of lap one as he circled Cedar Lake Speedway in 11.525 seconds. He continued to be relentless the next time around hoping his tenacity and prowess would produce a lower number. When the Albaugh #41 came out of turn four and raced under the waving checkered flag the clock recorded the driver’s efforts this time in 11.732 seconds. The quicker of the two attempts positioned Carson second quick in the final overall time trial results. Garet Williamson chauffeuring the Fischer Body Shop/S&S Insurance #23 showed of his speed making skills turning the quickest lap of the night after going out fifth in the order to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award with a lap of 11.466 seconds around Cedar Lake’s oval.

It did not take long before the starting grids were compiled and posted for the three 10-lap Heat races which were up next on the racing agenda. Based on his best time trial lap, second quick overall, Carson would get the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication/ISC Racers Tape #41 started from front row in the pole position in Real American Beer Heat Race #2. It would be an all-California front row with Giovanni Scelzi driving the cool looking orange and blue KCP Racing/Logan Contractors Supply, Inc #18 joining him on the outside of the row. Hunter Schuerenberg TK Concrete #55 and Buddy Kofoid in the Roth Motorsports #83 were in row two with Kelby Watt driving the KRM Custom Homes #1K and Conner Morrell Tub O’ Towels #28 behind in row three and Luke Nellis in the Intestate Companies #74N solo in row four.

The field aligned perfectly in the traditional two-by-two starting formation as the yellow lights turned off around the track. The drivers paced towards turn four. Upon arrival, the front row starters smashed the loud pedal to get the race started. Carson hustled the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the early lead driving off the bottom with Giovanni Scelzi and Hunter Schuerenberg behind feverishly chasing leader like foxes trying to track down a rabbit.

The hare was too fast though as he was putting space between himself and the predators. Time was running out in the pursuit as the white flag waved over race leader Carson. He would lead the remaining distance of the race to secure the victory by 2.509 seconds over Scelzi with Kofoid coming home third followed by Schuerenberg and Morrell to round out the top five. Carson was the rabbit in this one and won.

The six drivers that made the 8-lap Toyota Dash headed to the front straightaway to draw for their starting position in the short sprint race to determine where they would start the feature. When each of the driver’s were done pulling the circular numbered pill out of the oversized NOS Energy Drink can the starting line up for the Dash was set. Carson Macedo would start from the pole for the second night straight to get the SPA Technique #1 Redraw honors with Wisconsin resident Bill Balog #17B to his outside on the front row. Chris Windom #7s and Giovanni Scelzi #18 shared row two with Sheldon Haudenschild #17 and David Gravel #2 beside each other in row three. When the green flag came out, Chris Windom charged from his third starting position to take the lead at the end of the first lap with Macedo in second. Carson never wavered and began to chase the NOS Energy Drink #7s. The driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 would catch the wheelman from Canton, Illinois and move back into the top spot the next time around. From that point forward Carson would not be challenged again as he raced to a win by the margin of 2.953 seconds ahead of Windom with Gravel, Scelzi, Haudenschild, and Balog completing the finishing order.

The engines began to fire for the 30-lap Independence Spectacular feature finale at Cedar Lake Speedway. The 21 of the 22 drivers who locked into the starting lineup were ready to put on their own show for the fans from the great state of Wisconsin. Brandon Allen #55A was unable to start the race after a viscous crash in his qualifying race that ended his race . . . and hopefully not his season. It was time to go racing in Wisconsin!

After getting penalized on Friday night from his pole starting position, Carson carefully led the field from the inside of row one with Chris Windom to his outside. When he arrived at the chalk stripe, he dropped the hammer and raced into the early lead with Giovanni Scelzi making a big run from his fourth starting spot into the runner-up position. Scelzi was working the high side with Macedo sticking to the bottom groove. Both Golden State chauffeurs were fast, but Scelzi was carrying his speed and momentum around the top.

Carson led the first two laps before Scelzi raced by to lead lap three. David Gravel was perched back in third with Sheldon Haudenschild and Chris Windom in the top five early. Giovanni Scelzi had his Aspen Aire #18 cutting through the air as he built an enormous lead by the halfway point of the race. He was leading Macedo by 2.368 seconds with Gravel still holding down the show position.

The show was on, but all eyes were on David Gravel and Buddy Kofoid as they raced for position. The two talented racers exchanged clean slide jobs in every corner swapping the better position numerous times. At one point it was Kofoid, but that changed often, and it was now Gravel’s spot again. What a great battle.

On lap 18, Giovanni Scelzi still had a huge lead over Carson when the red flag came out for Kelby Watt #1K who flip hard exiting the speedway. He was ok, but his race equipment was unfortunately junked ending his evening of competition. Officials would use the break for an Open Red so teams could refuel and prepare for the last twelve laps of the Independence Spectacular.

The horn sounded as the crews wrapped up their work out on the track. Giovanni Scelzi would line up from the pole with Carson Macedo to his outside. When they got back up to speed Carson was pressuring Scelzi who was racing the high line through the first set of turns. Carson was lower on the track and Scelzi caught the outside fence with his right rear exiting turn two. The driver of the forty-one used that opportunity to drive by to claim the lead back on lap 19.

On lap 23, the yellow flag waved for Scelzi as he shredded that right rear tire and broke the Jacob’s Latter. It would be a single file restart with seven laps to go with Macedo now pacing in front of Gravel, Haudenschild, Balog, and Kofoid before getting back on the power pedal.

When the flagman showed the green flag, Carson pedaled down and accelerated into the lead. He built a one second lead over Gravel with Kofoid moving up two spots as he pressured Haudenschild for the show position. Carson would show the way the remainder of the race to take the win by 1.694 seconds over David Gravel with Buddy Kofoid stealing the last step of the podium on night two of the Independence Spectacular. It was the same three drivers on the podium with Carson and David swapping steps.

After his first career victory at Cedar Lake, Carson shared, “I’ve lost a couple races here literally doing exactly what just happened there on the start of that race, just not really knowing where to be. I felt like I was fully in the grip, and Gio (Scelzi) ripped around me.” He continued, “I never really heard him. I heard him one time off turn two and then I went into turn three and four.” Pausing he reflected, “Hats off to Philip Dietz (owner and crew chief), Robby McQuinn (Car Chief), and Adam Zimmerman (Tire Specialist). Philip gave me a great car all night. We laid down a really nice lap and just put this Albaugh JJR #41 right where it needed to be to be in position to get in the Dash, where you got to capitalize to win races.” It was victory number five of the 2025 season for Carson and the Jason Johnson Racing #41 team. Another great run for Macedo and the forty-one!

Carson along with all the hard working, industrious race teams with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series are off next weekend for a mid-season breather and to allow each team time to celebrate the Independence Day holiday before heading to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota on Thursday, July 10. Be sure to always tune in to catch every lap of World of Outlaws high speed action on DIRTVision if you cannot be at the track to catch the entertainment live.

Beating the Fireworks in Wisconsin with a Victory in the Independence Spectacular Finale! 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; 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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