THRILLER UNDER THE LIGHTS: CARSON MACEDO WAS MOTORING AT ATTICA RACEWAY PARK AFTER SETTING QUICK TIME AND FINISHING SECOND FOLLOWING A LAST LAP, LAST CORNER PASS IN THE KISTLER ENGINES CLASSIC

ATTICA, OHIO (May 17, 2024) – As most people were ending the normal work week on Friday afternoon earning their living, Carson and the JJR #41 team were in Ohio to start their weekend shift at Attica Raceway Park in the Kistler Engines Classic. They were certainly pumped to see there was no rain, even though the skies were overcast and gloomy in the area. Carson and the team were ready to get back to racing after rain washed out last weekend’s scheduled racing action at Williams Grove Speedway. Attica Raceway Park always seems to deliver on the high entertainment value side of the equation. That certainly is true when the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ competitors come to town ready to race against some of the best local teams in the country. They were primed and hoping tonight wasn’t any different as the fans streamed into the stands. There were 46 race teams unloaded and preparing for the night throughout the pit area located outside of turns three and four at the 1/3-mile, high bank entertainment center.

After each of the drivers got to test the track during the seven hot lap sessions, they climbed into their offices and rolled into the staging lane off turn four lined up for Sea Foam Qualifying. The track record at Attica was set way back on September 7, 1998, by none other than Butch Schroeder with a lap of 11.306 seconds. There would be two equal groups for qualifying – Flight 1 and Flight 2. Carson Macedo was slated to be the second showman in Flight 2 to go out and race against the clock in time trials. As the Tarlton and Son/Team Jack Foundation/Sander Engineering #41 inched closer to the front of the line, he slid on his K1 Race Gear gloves. He would be out on the track in time trials with Darin Naida in the #7N. It was Carson’s turn now to make speed. His Kistler Engines power under the hood fired and he was building up his speed to take the green flag. When he arrived the second hand on the clock was in motion and so was the driver from Lemoore, California. He completed his first lap in 12.812 seconds. He was digging for more speed the next time around. When he took the checkers this time his lap was even better at 12.649 seconds. The faster of Carson’s two qualifying laps catapulted him to the top of the speed charts, not only in Flight B but overall. It was his WoO series leading fifth Simpson Quick Time Award and his 38th career World of Outlaws quick time.

Carson would be in the third of four 10-lap heat races. He would get the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Scott Boyd Family/Durst Inc. #41 Maxim started from the pole position in row one beside Darin Naida. Behind them in row two was Kalib Henry and Zane DeVault with Cap Henry and Kraig Kinser in row three. Danny Sams III and Nate Dussel tucked in row four with D.J. Foos, Creed Kemenah, Larry Kingseed Jr., and Jerry Dahms in the final two rows.

The drivers were side-by-side entering turn three, but when they reached the chalk stripe in turn four it was all-out, high speed chaos heading into turn one. Wheel-to-wheel they were all battling for track position with Carson wheeling the JJR #41 into the top position when the first lap was recorded. Darin Naida and Kalib Henry were right behind as the Lemoore, California native showed the way.

On lap 3, Henry moved his #101 speed machine by Naida to take over the runner-up position with Carson still enjoying the clean air out in front of the pack. Carson was ripping in the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 at the halfway point of the race when the caution flag flew for a slowing Jerry Dahms.

The field would tighten up for the restart with 5 laps to go. Carson was lined up on the inside and pulled off the bottom out of turn four and back into the lead. Outside front row starter, Kalib Henry, got sideways and crossed up when they went back to green collecting Darin Naida and Cap Henry as both of those drivers flipped to bring out the red flag.

When the accident scene was cleared, where all the drivers were ok, they would try to get going again. Carson Macedo again directed the forty-one into the lead ahead of Kalib Henry. Carson would not be denied as he raced to the heat race win followed by Kalib Henry, Zane DeVault, Kraig Kinser and D.J. Foos who all earned transfer positions to the feature. 

By virtue of his heat race victory, Carson made his way out onto the horse track to draw for his starting position in the 8-lap Toyota Dash. It would be his 15th dash appearance this season. There were eight numbered pills in the oversized NOS Energy Drink can. The goal is to draw the lowest number possible. Following his trend in 2024, Carson reach his hand in and pulled the highest number. That positioned him on the outside of the last row to start the dash with Tim Shaffer to his inside. Buddy Kofoid was the lucky one as he drew the one pill to start from the pole position with fellow Californian Kalib Henry to his outside in row one. Craig Mintz and Brandon Spithaler sat in row two with Bill Balog and T.J. Michael in row three. The dash field was lined up side-by-side and when the green flag came out Buddy Kofoid raced into the lead in front of Kalib Henry. Carson was on the gas and raced through the middle if the track through the first set of turns. By the end of the first lap he was up to sixth and digging for more. With Kofoid in firm control out front all eyes shifted to the incredible three car battle for the fourth spot between Craig Mintz, Bill Balog and Carson Macedo. The three talented racers were putting on an incredible show. They were wheel-to-wheel with each owning the better position depending on where they were on the track. When it all shuffled out Carson moved the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 into the fifth position after racing side-by-side with Mintz. Buddy Kofoid drove the Roth Motorsports #83 to the win crossing the finish line ahead of Kalib Henry, Brandon Spithaler, and Bill Balog with Carson Macedo coming home fifth. Craig Mintz, Tim Shaffer, and T.J. Michael rounded out the finishing order in the dash.

The field of sprint car talent was locked in for the 35-lap Kistler Engines Classic feature at Attica Raceway Park, but getting here was only half the battle. The war ahead would determine who would be holding the $12,000 winner’s check in Victory Lane at the end of the night.

Carson Macedo would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Greber Racing Components (GRC)/ChalkStix #41 Maxim started from the inside of row three in the fifth starting position. After blasting around he pulled to the inside of Craig Mintz prepared to battle it out at Attica Raceway Park. Carson enjoys racing at this racy joint as he has quite a few laps around this place dating back to when he raced in Ohio for his buddy Craig Mintz before moving into Joe Gaerte’s #3g on the All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) tour. The California driver was ready to get after it in Ohio.

When the initial green flag waved, it was outside front row starter Kalib Henry leading early ahead of Buddy Kofoid and Bill Balog. Craig Mintz used his outside starting spot to drive ahead of Carson Macedo’s JJR #41 at the start of the race with Carson being scored in sixth.

The next time around though things were about to get shaken up with Kofoid passing Henry for the top spot. The action was fast and furious behind him, but that all came to an abrupt halt on lap 3 when 14th running Sheldon Haudenschild flipped on the inside of turn two to bring out the red flag. The NOS Energy Drink #17 team were able to make some quick repairs in the work area as the Ohio fan favorite rejoined the field.

With 33 laps to go, the green flag was back out with Kofoid leading Henry, Balog, Spithaler, Mintz and Macedo. The Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 was lined up in the outside lane this time in row three when then the green lights came on he dropped his K1 Race Gear boot and drove through the middle in turns one and two moving into the fourth position with Kofoid, Henry and Balog ahead of him.

On lap 5, Carson moved the forty-one by Kalib Henry into the third spot and without hesitation immediately set his sights on the tail tank of Bill Balog’s #17B. The next time around he slid in front of Balog in turns three and four with Balog returning the favor entering turn one to momentarily regain second. Carson used his Kistler Engines power to race around the outside of Balog down the backstretch to take command of the runner-up position.

Buddy Kofoid was leading with Carson Macedo and Bill Balog closing behind him. On lap 10, the red flag was back out as three cars – Craig Mintz, Kraig Kinser and Kasey Jedrzejek – tangled in turn three right in front of the leaders. Carson Macedo took evasive action driving up and over the outside banking to get around the track skirmish re-entering the racing surface in turn four.

The restart running order would be Kofoid, Macedo, Balog, Henry and Spithaler with 25 laps to go. Buddy Kofoid chose the inside lane for the restart with Carson Macedo pulling the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 to the outside. They went back to green flag racing, but the high speed action was quickly halted before the lap could be completed when Sheldon Haudenschild took a vicious flip off turn three coming to a stop outside turn four. Officials called an ‘Open Red’ as the teams went to work. Meanwhile, the Stenhouse Jr. Marshall Racing #17 team, along with Jac Haudenschild, went to work and did an incredible job making the necessary repairs to get Sheldon back out when the yellow lights came back on.

 It would be a double file restart and this time and Carson did not waste the opportunity as he drove ahead of Kofoid to lead lap 11. The yellow flag came out for T.J. Michael who slowed to a stop in turn three. It was Macedo leading Kofoid, Balog, Henry and Spithaler when they would go back to racing with 24 laps to go.

Carson chose to start from the inside lane with Buddy Kofoid’s Roth Motorsports #83 to his outside. The driver for the JJR #41 powered into the lead with Kofoid not too far behind. With a clear race track ahead of him he was able to put some space between himself and Kofoid. But by the halfway point of the race he was dealing with lap traffic. That allowed the driver of the #83 to close the gap and with 10 laps to go it was Macedo still leading Kofoid, Balog, Henry and Spithaler.

There was heavy traffic now in front of the leaders and the race for the top spot was intensifying. Macedo had position one with Kofoid hounding him on his rear nerf bar. Carson was doing his best to move through the lap traffic, but so was Buddy. They were masterful.

The white flag was out with Carson still holding a slight lead. He entered turn one in the middle as Kofoid took advantage of the low line. Buddy slid up as the two exited and raced side-by-side for the lead down the back straightaway. Kofoid on the inside. Macedo on the outside. Buddy cleanly slid up across the nose of Macedo’s Maxim Racing machine as they raced into turn three. Carson tried to turn back under him off turn four, but Buddy Kofoid made the last lap, last corner pass stick to earn the win in the Kistler Engines Classic! These two California stars delivered another incredible and entertaining race at Attica Raceway Park. What. A. Show. Carson Macedo came home second, his tenth consecutive top ten finish, with Bill Balog stepping up on the final step of the podium.

After the race, Carson humbly reflected, “I just got beat, outraced there. He just did a better job.” The driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 continued, “I was kind of floundering a little bit. I was trying to get my wing back, and the lappers were just throwing that stuff across, and I would get spinning a little bit. He (Kofoid) was poking his nose underneath me the lap before into three and four. So, my thought was he’s obviously getting his run in one and two running a little bit higher, so I saw the white come out and thought ‘Well, if I can just get through there, I think I have him covered.’ Then I moved up a lane, and then he slid me so obviously a horrible decision. I’m just a little dejected.”

While he did not come out on top this night, Carson and the JJR team’s best days are still ahead of them this season. It was another great run for Carson Macedo and the forty-one team.

Carson Macedo will be back in action Saturday night at Sharon Speedway to kick off the track’s 95th Anniversary season. If you cannot come out to see all of the World of Outlaw action live, be sure to tune into DIRTVision to watch the best in the business do their thing in Eastern Ohio.

Riding the Banking Around Attica Raceway Park Yields a Runner-Up Finish for the Forty-One! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

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