WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND: THE ALBAUGH – YOUR ALTERNATIVE #41 TEAM EARNS A SIXTH PLACE FINISH TO OPEN THE EMPIRE STATE CHALLENGE WEEKEND AT WEEDSPORT SPEEDWAY ON A VERY TECHNICAL SURFACE

WEEDSPORT, NEW YORK (July 30, 2022) – After a much need respite from the busy mid-season racing schedule, the JJR #41 team regrouped throughout the week before heading North for the two-day Empire State Challenge at Weedsport Speedway in New York. Weedsport is a village nestled in Cayuga County that was named after Elihu and Edward Weed, who were merchants who helped found the area located to the West of Syracuse. The track is in the heart of northeast dirt modified country. This beautiful facility is always packed when the stars of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series comes to town and this night was no different. The grandstands were filled to capacity as they milled around the merchandise trailers in the midway to stock up on the favorite drivers apparel. The haulers arrived early and were waiting to pull into their pit stalls. There were 29 410 sprint car teams registered and ready to put on an entertaining show for the fans in the stands.

After heat in the engines and hot laps were completed, the drivers climbed into their offices to make speed during their two laps in My Place Hotels Qualifying. Carson Macedo would be the sixth driver to hit the track aboard the Tarlton and Son/Factory Kahne Shocks/C&R Racing #41 Maxim. He secured his safety belts and when Jordan Thomas completed his two laps the Kistler Engines power came to life under the hood of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41. Carson dropped his right foot and powered his way under the waving green flag to start the clock. He was digging. He circled the 3/8-mile, D-shaped oval the first time as he got mightily close to the wall in turn two and when he completed the lap in 14.310 seconds he moved to the top of the speed charts. Always trying to achieve at a higher level he kept his right foot planted in the loud pedal as he wheeled his way around Weedsport one last time in time trials. This time the clock read 14.361 seconds to conclude the solo portion of the show for the forty-one. The faster of his two attempts was quick time overall on the night for the driver of the forty-one. It was the driver’s and team’s eighth Slick Woody’s Quick Time Award of the season.

When the lineups for the three 8-lap heat races were posted, Carson Macedo and the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 would be poised on the pole of the first heat race beside Jacob Allen. Brock Zearfoss and Paulie Colagiovanni were in row two with Kasey Kahne and Jordan Thomas in row three. David Franek, Austin Bishop, Floyd Billington, and Bill Rose filled in the remainder of the heat race field. There were five transfer positions up for grabs in each of the heat races so there was no time to wait. When the green flag dropped each driver would have to be on the hammer and making their way forward to battle for one of these five coveted positions. Carson did just that as he drove into the top spot at the start of the race over Allen. Jacob was competing and right there when the yellow flag came out for Austin Bishop who slowed to a stop at the end of the front straightaway. They restarted two-by-two and when they went back to green it was Allen to the lead over Macedo. After another laps was completed another yellow flag was displayed, this time for Brock Zearfoss, after he spun in turn one after contact with Colagiovanni for the third spot. This time it was a single file restart with Allen bringing the field back to the flagstand. He led the remaining laps to secure the win over Carson with Paulie Colagiovanni coming home third, Jordan Thomas fourth, Kasey Kahne fifth, and David Franek in the sixth and final transfer position.

Carson earned another opportunity in the 6-lap DIRTVision Fast Pass Dash. When he drew the four pill it positioned him on the outside of row two with Brad Sweet on the inside. Sheldon Haudenschild and Jacob Allen paced behind row two with Donny Schatz and David Gravel on the front row. When the green flag flew, Carson Macedo drove into third ahead of Sweet and behind Schatz and Gravel. Brad Sweet wrestled the position back and Macedo was now contending with the hard charging Haudenschild for position. The driver of the NOS Energy Drink #17 took the fourth position from Macedo’s Albaugh #41 with two laps to go as Gravel took the lead from Schatz at the same time. David Gravel collected the dash win over Schatz, Sweet, and Haudenschild with Macedo coming home fifth and Allen in sixth.

The lineup for the opening night 30-lap feature to kick off the Empire State Challenge was set with Carson Macedo rolling on the inside of row three aboard the Complete Parts & Equipment Solutions/Durst/FK Rod Ends #41 Maxim with Jacob Allen to his outside. With fireworks blasting overhead of the four-wide salute to the fans it was time to go racing. When the yellow lights dimmed and the green flag waved it was Schatz to the lead over Gravel with Sweet into third and Macedo driving the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 around Haudenschild into the fourth spot. Om lap 3, Logan Schuchart did a 360 degree spin in turn four without stopping but the yellow lights came on. The field realigned and came back to the waving green flag for the restart as Carson wheeled his mount into the third position with Schatz leading Gravel in front of him. The field was working the bottom trying to find grip. There were some drivers ripping the top, but it only seemed to work at the start as they field got up to speed. On lap 13, David Gravel drove by Schatz for the lead and checked out in the Big Game Motorsports #2. With 10 laps to go, Paulie Colagiovanni worked underneath Carson Macedo to move into a podium position. With just 3 more circuits to go the yellow came out again, this time for Sheldon Haudenschild who was sitting on the infield of turn one where he was spun a few laps before and the yellow never was displayed. The field realigned in single file order with Gravel leading the remainder of the race to collect the win over Schatz and Colagiovanni with Brad Sweet and Jacob Allen rounding out the top five. Carson relinquished two spots on the last restart to bring home sixth with Larry Wight, Spencer Bayston, James McFadden and Danny Varin rounding out the top ten. A good run for the forty-one!

Remember, if you can’t come out to the track to catch the action live, be sure to subscribe and catch all of the action on DIRTVision as the best in the business will continue their only visit to New York on Sunday night to conclude the Empire State Challenge at Weedsport Speedway.

Quick Time and a Sixth Place Finish to Open the Empire State Challenge at Weedsport! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich

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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.