THURSDAY EXCITEMENT AT JACKSONVILLE: MACEDO IS MAGNIFICENT IN ILLINOIS AS HE GETS HIS ELBOWS UP AT THE SMALLEST TRACK ON THE SCHEDULE AND WHEELS THE JONESTOWN KOA #41 MAXIM TO A 4TH PLACE FINISH

JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS (April 29, 2021) – After the completion of the Bristol Showdown at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon, the largest track that the World of Outlaws will race on this season, the team headed back to the Midwest to the smallest track on the schedule, Jacksonville Speedway, for some action on Thursday night. With temperatures in the mid-50s and Mother Nature visiting earlier in the day, the track officials did a great job to have the facility ready for racing. Carson and the JJR #41 have been very consistent so far this season no matter what the track size has been. In addition, Macedo won the WoO race here two years ago, which always boosts a driver’s confidence when they return. It is a track he characterizes as “awesome” and he gets excited to visit. The team was eager to race and looked to continue their consistency in the Jonestown KOA/Maxim Racing/High Performance Lubricants #41 Maxim. There were 29 teams registered and situated in the pit area ready to take on the thrilling, close quarter racing facility.

The time trial order for Slick Woody’s Qualifying was posted. Carson would push off eleventh for his two lap attack on the quarter mile oval. The track record was set back on April 28, 2019, by Aaron Reutzel with a blazing lap in 10.028 seconds. Macedo buckled into his Crow Enterprizes safety belts and pulled on his K1 Race Gear racing gloves. When Andy Bishop completed his time trial laps, the Lemoore, California racer flipped the shield down on his Shifty Illusions custom painted Bell Helmet and prepared for speed. The Kistler Engines/Engler Machine & Tool power came to life under the hood as he pounded the right pedal as he started to fly. He was off and racing against the clock. The goal was to make quick work circling the small bullring. His first lap timed in at 10.306 seconds, with his second lap recorded at 10.312 seconds. Both good laps, but his first lap was the quicker of the two, which ended up being 10th quick overall on the night. Of note, Sheldon Haudenschild set a new track record with a sub-10 second lap at 9.990 seconds.

With the 10-lap Drydene Heat Race lineups set by time trials results for each driver, it put the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Border International #41 Maxim in the first of three heat races. Carson would get started from the fourth position in the starting grid as he shared row two with Shark Racing’s Logan Schuchart. The talented duo paced behind the front row of Sheldon Haudenschild and Brad Sweet, with Kraig Kinser and Garet Williamson in row three as Andy Bishop, Joe B. Miller, Zach Daum, and Robert Ballou rounded out the starting grid. When the green flag waved, Haudenschild jumped into the lead with Sweet, Schuchart, and Macedo following. The low line was the quick line, but they were racing in multiple lanes. Carson worked his way to the bottom and found speed as he made the pass on Schuchart to take ownership of the third position following a lap 2 yellow for Andy Bishop who tagged the wall in turn one to end his race. When racing resumed, Haudenschild checked out in clean air at the front, but Macedo was now closing on Sweet and pressuring him for the runner-up position for a chance to advance to the DirtVision Fast Pass Dash. He would be denied as Haudenschild crossed under the checkered flag 1.512 seconds ahead of Sweet with Macedo coming home third, followed by Schuchart, Kinser and Ballou who locked also locked into the feature by finishing in the top six positions.

Track officials completed the track prep process and the 8-minute horn sounded to alert the teams to finish up their final changes and roll their entries onto the track for the beginning of the 40-lap feature at Jacksonville Speedway. Carson would get rolling from the seventh position with Sheldon Haudenschild and Brad Sweet perched on the front row. They came to the stripe in their side-by-side starting order with Haudenschild charging into the lead over Sweet. Macedo moved the Liquid Trucking/Pro Powder Coating (PPC) #41 Maxim into the seventh position and then made the pass for position on Rico Abreu the next lap to move into sixth. The first yellow of the night was displayed for Robert Ballou and Zach Hampton who got together with both cars ending up with their noses facing towards the fence in turn one. When racing resumed, Haudenschild maintained the lead as Carson got his elbows up and moved into the top five as he passed Aaron Reutzel using the low side of the speedway. He was on the move and looking for more but lost a few spots on the track in close racing action when another yellow came out, this time for Garet Williamson who got stuffed into the wall in turn four after contact with Hampton. Macedo would restart from the seventh position. When the field restarted, Brad Sweet used the outside starting spot to drive into the lead over Haudenschild. A determined Carson Macedo started his march forward moving into the sixth position before chasing down James McFadden for fifth on lap 21. The Lemoore, California born speedster was not done as the next lap he passed Kyle Larson for the fourth spot. On lap 28, Sheldon Haudenschild moved back into the lead over Sweet as Macedo passed David Gravel to move into the show position. Things started to get interesting with 11 laps to go when the red flag came out for Wayne Johnson who flipped in front of third running Macedo who avoided him, but Aaron Reutzel was not as fortunate and was collected. Simultaneously, James McFadden also flipped collecting Logan Schuchart. Both Reutzel and Schuchart were able to rejoin the filled after work was completed in the work area. Macedo was now running third in the Bandy & Associates Accountancy Corporation/Bell Racing/FK Rod Ends #41. He would restart on the outside of row two as the leader chose that lane for the odd numbered drivers in the running order. There was a divot emerging in turns one and two that would enter into the theme of the race. When they restarted, Macedo maintained the third spot behind Haudenschild and Sweet with Gravel right on his tail tank. With 8 laps to go drama ensued when the leader, Sheldon Haudenschild, rolled to a stop with a flat right rear tire. Brad Sweet would inherit the lead with Macedo now running second. On the next restart. Sweet hit the divot biking it. Macedo was on the high side and turned the forty-one left to split Sweet on the top side and Gravel on the bottom side to take the lead exiting turn two. The next lap when they entered turn one Macedo hit the divot as Kyle Larson dove under Gravel and Sweet challenging for the lead. Macedo bounced down and smacked wheels with Larson sending Larson spinning to a stop to bring out the yellow flag. Officially a full lap was not recorded, so Sweet got the lead back with Macedo restarting second with Gravel in third. When they restarted, Sweet led as Macedo got shuffled back to fifth in the running order. A few more yellow flags, one inadvertent one, slowed the action a few more times, but when the checkers flew over the very exciting feature it was Brad Sweet earning his sixth win of the season over a hard charging Donny Schatz, with Gravel rounding out the podium. Carson Macedo finished his exciting night in fourth with Rico Abreu rounding out the top five. An exciting night for Carson Macedo and the JJR #41 team . . . oooooh so close! It is never too early to set your sights on the next visit to Jacksonville Speedway.

40 Laps of High Speed Excitement at Jacksonville Speedway Ends with A Fourth Place Finish for Carson Macedo! Photo Credit: Trent Gower

Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT); Tarlton and Son Inc.; Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions; Saich Family; Border International; Dissolvalloy Downhole Revolution; Jonestown KOA; Durst Inc.; Maxim Racing; The Boyd Family; Liquid Trucking; Meyers Constructors Inc.; Tiger Towing; Pro Powder Coating (PPC); Waco Metal; High Performance Lubricants, LLC; Kistler Engines; Team Jack Foundation; Mark Burch Motorsports; All Pro Auto Reconditioning; K1 Race Gear; AutoMeter; Bandy & Associates Accountancy Corporation; Bell Racing USA; Blackbeard LTD; Brown & Miller Racing Solutions (BMRS); Buckwalter Trucking, LLC; C&R Racing; Chalk Stix Torsion Bars; Crow Enterprizes; 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; KSE Racing Products; Larry Davis Farms; Logo Daddy Graphics; Mr. Jim’s Racing; MSD Performance; RaceDiecast.com; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; T-FAB Custom Metal Fabrication; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Weld Wheels; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.

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

To stay up-to-date with Carson Macedo and his success journey on and off the track, as well as to purchase his gear and merchandise directly, visit www.carsonmacedoracing.com.