THE OPENING BELL RINGS: ROUND ONE OF SHELDON HAUDENSCHILD’S BUCKEYE BRAWL STARTS AT MILLSTREAM SPEEDWAY AS THE CALIFORNIA BORN RACER ENDS THE FIRST FIGHT WITH A TOP 10 RUN IN THE FORTY-ONE
FINDLAY, OHIO (October 8, 2026) – The team’s season journey continued taking them from the “Keystone State” of Pennsylvania last weekend to the “Buckeye State” of Ohio this weekend. These two states represent are the nation’s richest sprint car areas in the country along with California. Carson Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing (JJR) #41 team pulled into town for the opener of Sheldon Haudenschild’s Buckeye Brawl at Millstream Speedway. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Series first return visit to the track was back in 1994 with the last series race held here last year. This event kicked off three consecutive nights of intense sprint car racing across the state with pride on the line and hefty purse money offered to stuff in their pockets. How much? Well that all depends on how hard they compete and where they finish each night, but each night there would be an eighteen thousand dollar check awarded to the race winner. Matt and Beth Cogley’s Millstream Speedway is a family-owned 3/8-mile racetrack that sits just off I-75 in the northern part of the state. Re-opening in 2025, Millstream Speedway is one of Northwest Ohio’s historic dirt tracks with a rich history and legacy of good racing. The race haulers arrived early and began lining up to register at the pit gate. There were 39 teams at Millstream Speedway ready to kick off all the action during Round #1 of Sheldon Haudenschild’s Buckeye Brawl.
Each driver had the opportunity to race around Millstream Speedway a couple times in Race//Ready Hot Laps before they would be on the clock in time trials. The time trial order for Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying was based on a random draw with the drivers who selected pills with a lower number going out early and those not so lucky going out late. For Carson that meant he would be the 17th speedster in Flight A to assess his ‘go fast’ skills and ability wheeling the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Team Jack Foundation/Engler Machine & Tool #41 Maxim. He waited patiently in the staging lane until Steven Snyder Jr. #51 and Cap Henry #33W ended their two laps. The race officials signal to Carson that it was his turn now to make speed at Millstream Speedway. He dropped his right K1 Race Gear boot and his Kistler Engines power responded in kind. Carson was joined on the racing surface by brother Cole Macedo in the TwoC Racing #2c. The Macedo brothers quickly passed the flagstand putting Carson on the clock. Carson made tracks and never looked back circling around the facility in 14.246 seconds during his first oval excursion. He stayed on the course searching for more speed and less time during his second lap. This time when Carson passed by the flagman the black and white checkered flag flew ending lap two in 14.124 seconds. The quicker of his two attempts stood as the third best time on the final speed charts in Flight A for the night with Bill Balog #17B sitting at the top of the speed chart for that group at 13.956 seconds. Race host and Ohio native Sheldon Haudenschild #18 was the fastest driver in Flight B, and the fastest overall, at 13.690 seconds to earn the Simpson Quick Time Award.
The 8-lap Heat races were up next as the crew members continued to work on their speed chariots in search of more speed while installing new wicker bills and making some small adjustments. Carson climbed into the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Smith TI/ISC Racers Tape #41 Maxim and headed to the staging lane before the start of NOS Energy Drink Heat Race #1. Prepared to get his race started from the outside of the front row, Carson pulled the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 alongside polesitter Bill Balog. They rolled in front of row two starters Skylar Gee #16c and Steven Snyder Jr. #51 with Cap Henry #33W and Chris Andrews #15c trailing behind in row three. Row four found two talented racers in Travis Philo #5T and Brandon Spithaler #22 with Gauge Garcia #16 and Logan Seavey #24 in row five.
There were only five transfer spots up for grabs, so it was imperative to get a good start when the green flag dropped. The cars paced slowly down the backstretch one final time in route to turn four where everyone would stand on the gas. When the polesitter, Bill Balog, arrived at the chalk stripe, he initiated the action drag racing Carson down to turn one. Exiting turn two Balog led Macedo and Gee with Carson chugging to keep pace with Balog’s Anderson’s Pure Maple Syrup #17B.
Bill Balog had a fast racecar and lap after lap added to the distance between himself and the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 of Carson Macedo. The native of North Pole, Alaska led from the drop of the green to the waving of the checkers never contested. Carson drove home in second place as they both would advance onto the Toyota Dash. Skylar Gee raced across the finish line in third place with Steven Snyder Jr. and Cap Henry completing the top five. Each of those drivers locked themselves into the purse paying feature event.
The eight drivers who earned spots in the 6-lap Toyota Dash drew for their starting positions. It was not where they started the Dash that really matter, but rather where they finished because that determined where they would start the A-Main. David Gravel drew the lowest pill to earn the SPA Techniques #1 Redraw spot with Buddy Kofoid joining him on the front row. Behind them were Garet Williamson and Carson Macedo in the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Tarlton and Son/Kistler Engines #41 Maxim. Occupying row three was Bill Balog #17B and Spencer Bayston #17 with Sheldon Haudenschild #18 and Chris Windom #7s side-by-side in row four. When the green flag fluttered overhead, it was Kofoid leading Gravel with Macedo tucking into the show position followed by Williamson and Balog at the end of the first lap. Buddy Kofoid led the entire distance taking the Dash victory by an impressive 2.891 seconds over David Gravel with Carson finishing in third place. Garet Williamson hustled home in fourth followed by Balog, Bayston, Haudenschild, and Windom.
With all the qualifying action now in the books, it was time to get this party started again with the 30-lap, opening round of Sheldon Haudenschild’s Buckeye Brawl A-Main event with eighteen grand on the line for the winner. The starting grid from the front row to the back row represented some of the best in the business – locally grown talent alongside the traveling stars of the World of Outlaws series. After winning the Toyota Dash, Buddy Kofoid pulled his Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1 #83 to the inside of the front row with David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports #2 to his outside. Rolling behind them in row two was Carson Macedo #41 and Garet Williamson #23 with Bill Balog #17B and Spencer Bayston #17 nerf bar to nerf bar in row three. Together in row four were Sheldon Haudenschild #18 and Chris Windom #7s with Skylar Gee #16c and Brock Zearfoss #3z peering through their helmet shields from row five.
Philip Dietz and the JJR crew finished their work before turning the reigns over to Carson to take the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Sander Engineering/Dale “Mickey” Snyder #41 Maxim for an expedited ride at Millstream Speedway. He climbed into and cinched his Crow Enterprizes safety belts tight before locking his JOES Racing Products Matador Steering Wheel into place.
It was soon time to go racing, but not before these stars went four-wide to salute these amazing fans who came out to support this race. There was an amazing crowd on hand as Millstream Speedway place was jam packed. Following the salute, the drivers quickly realigned in the traditional starting formation as the yellow lights dimmed around the track. The nervous tension in the air was palpable. The determination in the cockpits of these 900 horsepower beasts was equally intense.
Out of turn number four the race was on at Millstream Speedway. Buddy Kofoid jumped out into the early lead as the dirt was flying and the engines were growling with ferocity. After the first lap completed, David Gravel was running in the second position behind race leader with Williamson taking over the third spot as Macedo and Bayston filled the remaining positions in the top five.
The show was on, but all eyes began to shift to the drivers of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 and the NOS Energy Drink #17. These two talented racers sliced and diced trading wicked slide jobs as they exchanged the fourth and fifth spot multiple times over the course of two laps. Carson did a wheel stand coming off turn four enabling Bayston to take control of the lowered number spot temporarily. Carson battled back and with four laps in the books reclaimed fourth place.
The exciting action slowed on lap 4, when tenth place running Brock Zearfoss #3z slowed in turns three and four with mechanical issues ending his night. Cole Macedo, who was running twelfth when the caution flew, headed to the Federated Car Care Work Zone, and rejoined the back of the pack.
The green flag was back out with the driver from Penngrove, California, Buddy Kofoid, leading the way over Gravel and Williamson with Macedo and Bayston directly behind them. They had their momentum built up and ran in that order through the hallway point of the race. Third place running Garet Williamson was doing a masterful job maneuvering the Fischer Motorsports #23. He was closing in on David Gravel quickly for the runner-up position and made the pass for the better position with ten laps to go. It was now Kofoid leading Williamson, Gravel, Macedo, and Bayston.
Still embroiled in a fierce battle for position, Macedo and Bayston were still going at it trading blows when the caution flag flew for Steven Snyder Jr. whose engine expired while running in tenth place. When they got back up to speed, Buddy Kofoid set sail in front of Williamson and Gravel with Macedo and Bayston still in tow.
On lap 22, the caution flag was back out as Cap Henry spun in turn three while running in tenth place. What was it about that last spot in the top ten on this night? Buddy Kofoid lowered his right foot again and held the lead ahead of Williamson and Gravel. Spencer Bayston snuck by Carson relegating the driver of the forty-one back to fifth place with seven laps to go.
On lap 25, the yellow flag waved again this time for Bill Balog who was running in sixth place and rolled to a stop in turn four after a string performance racing up front all night. With five laps to go, Buddy Kofoid dictated the speed pick up and raced out into the clean air again with Williamson and Gravel trying to muster something up to attempt to steal the win. Parker Price-Miller hustled by Carson on the restart with Macedo now running in sixth place. Throughout the remainder of the race, Carson would get passed by two more cars, Chris Windom and Sheldon Haudenschild respectively, positioning him with an eighth place finish at Millstream Speedway to start this trek through Ohio.
Buddy Kofoid collecting his series leading 15th win of the season with Garet Williamson and David Gravel rounding out the podium spots. Spencer Bayston finished in fourth place with Parker Price-Miller rounding out the top five. Chris Windom finished in sixth with Sheldon Haudenschild scored in seventh place. Carson finished eighth with Cole Macedo charging back to a ninth place run after going to the work area as Emerson Axsom completed the top ten.
With Round #1 of Sheldon Haudenschild’s Buckeye Brawl now in the books, it was time to move onto Mansfield Speedway on Friday night for the second of three rounds of fighting in the dirt throughout the state of Ohio. The teams would use tonight and all day tomorrow to refresh themselves and their race machines in preparation of putting on another incredible show for the fans in the stands. If you cannot attend the event in person, be sure to tune in and catch every lap on DIRTVision. #BuckeyeBrawl
Digging in the Dirt at Millstream Speedway During Round #1 of Sheldon Haudenschild’s Buckeye Brawl! 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.
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