WORKING HARD AT PEVELY: AFTER FIFTY FIVE GRUELING LAPS AT SPEED, CARSON MACEDO PILOTS THE SANDER ENGINEERING #41 TO A DETERMINED PODIUM FINISH AT THE 16TH ANNUAL IRONMAN 55 EVENT AT I-55 RACEWAY

PEVELY, MISSOURI (August 3, 2024) – Carson Macedo raced under the waving checkered flag in the Night Before the Ironman race on Friday night at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 in fourth place. Team owner and crew chief Philip Dietz processed all of the race information, and along with Robby McQuinn and Adam Zimmerman, went to work during the day to complete their daily maintenance routines and make some strategic setup improvements aimed at continued speed and performance improvement. All of the teams were busy working to make their cars better for their drivers on a beautiful day under the warmth of the sun. Many times, alright more times than not, fans do not get to see or genuinely get to appreciate all of the time and hard work these teams do away from the track to prepare for each night of racing. These crew members are some of the hardest working and most dedicated individuals to their craft you will ever come across in any work environment, yet alone just racing. They are willing to invest their valuable time and refined expertise so their driver and team has the best possible chance for success each and every night. A big kudos to them all! There were 41 teams back and lined up throughout the pit area to complete in the longest race, by laps, on the World of Outlaws (WoO) schedule each year – the 16th Annual Ironman 55. It was time to go racing in front of a capacity crowd, the largest recorded crowd to see a race at I-55, World of Outlaws style again in Missouri!

After each driver got to shake down their initial setup during hot laps, they were all congregated in the infield pit area waiting for their turn to get out on the track in Sea Foam Qualifying. There would be once again to separate time trial groups, Flight 1 and Flight 2, for qualifying. The track was very different from Friday night as it had more moisture and grip. The JJR crew was busy making some last minute adjustments as they got ready for Carson’s two laps at speed around Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 aboard the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT)/Bandy & Associates/Team Jack Foundation #41 Maxim. The Lemoore, California native pulled a high numbered pill and would be the 18th competitor out on the track in Flight 2 (39th car out of 41 overall entries). The Kistler Engines power under the Indy Performance Composites (IPC) carbon fiber hood came to life, the cylinders were in full motion in a synchronized manner creating the speed needed off turn four as he headed towards the green flag. Upon arrival, the second hand on the clock started to tick as his Hoosier Racing Tires dug into the surface for grip. Carson needed to generate speed, maximize traction, and run a clean lap in order to lay down the most optimal time. When the numbers on the scoreboard lit up 10.552 seconds after lap one he catapulted to the top of the speed charts, bumping Ayrton Gennetten, not only in Flight 2 but overall. He continued to let it all hang out as lap two began and he exited the second turn with a head of steam to carry him to the end. He aggressively dove into turn three and exited turn four with the checkered flag waving. His second lap was slightly slower as he timed in 10.758 seconds. Carson’s fastest lap was his first one, which stood the test of time to end up being the quickest overall on the night. After going out late, Carson and the Albaugh – Your Alternative team did their job and earned the Simpson Quick Time Award, their series leading ninth of the season and Carson’s 42nd WoO career quick time. Sheldon Haudenschild was the fastest driver in Flight 1 at 10.600 seconds.

Qualifying in time trials is just one part of the night. It is an important part though because it defines where each driver will start in one of the four 10-lap heat races when they are posted. For Carson that meant he would line up on the pole position in the third heat race with 10-time World of Outlaws Champion to his outside on the front row. They would have to get to work quickly because they would be surrounded by some high speed talent because Buddy Kofoid and David Gravel were in row two. Thomas Meseraull and Sterling Kling would get started from row four with Bryce Norris and Landon Crawley in row four. The fifth and final row was home for two Colorado competitors, Geoff Dodge and Scotty Milan.

The drivers flipped down the shields on their helmets and were ready to get down to some high speed business deals at Pevely. Off turn four they saw their signal to go as the green flag was waving. Carson drove off the bottom off turn four and was the first driver into turn one with Donny Schatz and David Gravel flying after him early during this high speed chase.

The driver of the Albaugh – Your Alternative/Border International/Motor State Distributing #41 led the first lap with Schatz, Gravel, Kofoid and Cling racing behind him. Carson had a lot of speed and was starting to put some distance between himself and the field. That gap continued to grow with each completed lap as he started to chase down the cars in the rear of the field.

On lap 7, Carson caught up to the slower car of Scotty Milan and moved by him cleanly as he began to put cars down a lap. The driver of the forty-one would not look back as he raced to the win in his heat race, his fifth consecutive heat race win in a row. Carson raced across the finish line 2.604 seconds ahead of Schatz, Gravel came home third, with Buddy Kofoid racing to a fourth place finish. Sterling Cling coming home in the fifth and final transfer position.

Carson earned his 32nd WoO ticket to advance into the 6-lap Toyota Dash this season. He would head to the frontstretch to pull for his starting position in front of the large crowd. When the numbered pill was revealed out of the oversized NOS Energy Drink can it was a three. That would put the talented racer of the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 on the inside of row two beside Ayrton Gennetten. The front row was inhabited by Donny Schatz and Giovanni Scelzi with Will Armitage and Sheldon Haudenschild in row three as Logan Schuchart and Corey Day lined up in row four.

They were racing for their starting positions. Where they finished would be where they would start the feature. When the green flag waved it was Scelzi to the lead with Schatz sliding into second. Macedo and Gennetten were in a tight battle for the show position before the driver of the forty-one drove around the outside of the Versailles, Missouri native as he exited turn four in third.

Carson immediately started to close in on second running Donny Schatz. He was able to stay with the 10-time WoO champion and was looking for an opportunity to make a move. Catching greatness is one thing. Making the pass for position is another. But Carson was right there with the driver of the Ford Performance #15 before hitting a bump in the racing surface upsetting the balance of the car as Carson lost some valuable ground.

Giovanni Scelzi was checked out by this point with Schatz now running comfortably in second. Carson regain his speed and momentum and was running third. Scelzi raced to the win to earn the pole position in the feature with Schatz coming home second, Macedo third, Gennetten fourth, with Corey Day rounding out the top five. Sheldon Haudenschild, Will Armitage, and Logan Schuchart completed the finishing order.

All of the qualification action was now in the rearview mirrors. The only work left to do on this night at Federated Auto Parts Raceway for the 24 talented drivers in the field was the 55-lap 16th Annual Ironman 55 feature finale. Who would be holding the barbell trophy at the end of the race when the flagman waved the checkered flag? Only time would tell after the work was completed.

Carson’s pursuit of the $25,000 winner’s share of the purse would begin from the inside of row two. Ayrton Gennetten would again be his partner in the starting lineup as they paced behind Giovanni Scelzi and Donny Schatz on the front row. Corey Day and Sheldon Haudenschild were behind in row three.

There was a heavy lift in front of each of the drivers as the race officials turned off the yellow lights in anticipation of the green flag waving when the front row starters arrived to turn four. Just like that the quiet purr of the engines turned into an angry growl as these beasts got up to full speed. Giovanni Scelzi took the early race lead before the yellow flag was quickly thrown for Noah Gass and Ayden Gatewood who got together and collected Christopher Thram negating the initial start.

They would try again and Scelzi led the opening lap ahead of Schatz and Macedo with Day in fourth and Gennetten in fifth. There was action everywhere throughout the field from the front to the back of the pack. Behind the top five everyone had their eyes on Friday night’s winner, Kyle Larson, who started back in 12th place and was already up to seventh by lap three.

By lap 7, Larson had moved the Folken Brothers Trucking/Flo Racing #57 into the top five and was making his presence known to all . . . as if everyone didn’t have their eyes glued to him from the start. Giovanni Scelzi though was fast in clean air and was flying around I-55 aboard his KCP Racing #18 with Schatz, Macedo, and Day trying to keep up with his pace.

With 10 laps in the books, Corey Day was peaking under Carson trying to take away third. Carson held him off and on lap 13 the yellow flag was back out, this time for Will Armitage who spun and backed into the third turn wall.

The green flag would come back out with 32 laps to go with Scelzi showing the way ahead of Schatz and three California speed chauffeurs – Macedo, Day, and Larson. Kyle Larson moved by Day to take over fourth and was now looking to become a problem for Carson for the third spot. Day wasn’t going away either.

Things were heating up as the three Cali racers were three wide with Carson racing the high line, Larson in the middle, and Day on the bottom entering turn one on lap 21. It was a three car battle for third, but the yellow came out for Sedalia, Missouri’s Gunner Ramey’s #21R who got into the wall right in front of Carson who narrowly avoided making any contact.

Carson would restart from third behind Scelzi and Schatz with Kyle Larson to his outside. The green flag was back out with 34 laps to go. Carson hustled the low side and moved into the runner-up position behind Scelzi with Schatz and Larson fighting for the third spot.

The action was heating up before the red flag was thrown on lap 32 for Corey Day. Day had made his way by Larson for fourth and was dueling with Schatz for third when Ayden Gatewood slowed off the pace in turn four. Corey Day slowed up to avoid him, but then came down the track a bit and made contact with Buddy Kofoid sending him flipping to end his night. Day was okay as Kofoid headed to the work area. The crew of the Mobil 1/Roth Enterprises #83 made the necessary repairs and rejoined the field at the back of the lead lap cars.

Officials used this time to throw an “Open Red” so teams could re-fuel and make some minor changes for the final 23 laps of the Ironman 55. The engines re-fired with Scelzi and Macedo leading the field back to green flag racing. Carson got caught on the outside and he shuffled back to fourth after his car stumbled a bit on the restart as Schatz and Larson moved by the Albaugh #41.

On lap 33, the yellow flag was back out for Brock Zearfoss who slowed to a stop on the frontstretch to cool the action. It would be Scelzi, Schatz, Larson, Macedo, and Schuchart in the top five when they lined back up to restart the race.

When the green lights tuned back on with 22 laps to go, Kyle Larson drove into the runner-up spot as he moved by Donny Schatz. The driver of the fifty-seven was patient, but fast and eager for more. With 11 laps to go his patience ran out as when an opportunity presented itself as he moved by Scelzi into the lead.

The 44th lap was in the books when the yellow flag was thrown again, this time for the #6R of Kelby Watt who slowed to a stop on the inside if turn three. It was Kyle Larson out front with Giovanni Scelzi, Donny Schatz, Carson Macedo, and David Gravel in the top five.

The flagman dropped the green flag again with 11 laps to go. Larson raced off into the clean air as Schatz moved by Scelzi into the runner-up position. Carson followed Schatz’s lead two laps later as he dove under and slid up off turn four to move by Scelzi into third place.

Kyle Larson roared to victory, his third Ironman 55 career win, crossing the finish line 1.937 seconds ahead of Donny Schatz who came home second. Carson Macedo raced home to a third place finish, his 19th podium finish of the year, as Giovanni Scelzi and Logan Schuchart rounded out the top five.

On the front straightaway after the race speaking with pit reporter Conner Wade, Carson explained, “I think Philip Dietz, Adam Zimmerman, and Robby McQuinn gave me a great race car.” He continued, “I feel like I was pretty versatile. I’d get to bouncing a little bit through the middle, but I could make a lot of speed up top. I just had one big mistake on my part. I think I got a little eager on the fuel and kind of maybe got it too loaded up. Then when I went to fire off on the restart there and kind of got stuck out there and let Donny and Kyle get by.”

Another good run for Macedo and the forty-one at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55! Carson and the JJR #41 team will look to continue their momentum as they will be back in action Sunday night at the 12th Annual Capitani Classic, a non-sanctioned race, at Knoxville Raceway!

Hustling throughout the Demanding Workout at the 16th Annual Ironman 55 Delivers a Third Place Run for Macedo and the Forty-One! Photo Credit: World of Outlaws

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