WORKING HARD IN HAUBSTADT: AN EXCITING NIGHT OF BULLRING STYLE ACTION AT TRI-STATE SPEEDWAY FOR CARSON MACEDO AND THE JJR #41 TEAM RESULTS IN ANOTHER TOP FIVE FINISH IN THE HAUBS TOWN SHOWDOWN

HAUBSTADT, INDIANA (April 20, 2024) – When the checkered flag flew in Kentucky on Friday night following Carson Macedo’s fifth place finish, Philip Dietz and the JJR #41 team loaded up the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 and headed 145 miles up to Tri-State Speedway (@TSS_Haubstadt on the X platform) in the Hoosier State of Indiana. This quarter-mile, high banked racetrack historically has produced some incredible racing action, exciting wheel-to-wheel competition, and even some first time winners when the World of Outlaws are in town, including Brady “Macho Man” Bacon last year. The facility is situated near Evansville, Indiana, running parallel to Interstate 41, and the team at this track do just an incredible job preparing the surface and hosting a great night of entertainment every visit. There is no doubt why they call this “The Class Track” because they work hard to separate themselves. There were 32 teams on hand throughout the pit area on Saturday night to put on a show World of Outlaws style in the Haubs Town Showdown.

While not all fans enjoy the time trial portion in racing, at Haubstadt that does not ring true as they are definitely one of the few exceptions to the rule. Here at Tri-State Speedway it emphasizes the driver . . . and the driver’s courage. The drivers have to let it all hang out during the individual portion of the show at Tri-State, which is both captivating and scary, all while keeping the fans on the edge of their seats. It usually does not matter where a driver goes out for Sea Foam Qualifying, the battle for time is a triage of excellence between the driver, the track and the car. Each competitor must optimize all three components of success in order to lay down a good lap time.

Carson Macedo would be the 17th driver out for his two daredevil attempts in his 900 plus horsepower Maxim Racing beast. He cranked up the volume in his Scott Boyd Family/Motor State Distributing/ChalkStix #41 as he went to work at Tri-State Speedway. Depending how good you are during your time trial runs, the two laps around here occur in less than 30 seconds. Those seconds though are filled with pure adrenaline and excitement. Carson was on the move and making quick work around the Indiana bullring. He completed his first lap in 13.168 seconds. He continued to dig for more the next time around. Searching at speed for less time. He found it. When he completed his second lap the clock read 12.766 seconds. Lap two was the faster of the two, which ended up being second quick overall on the night for the forty-one team. David Gravel, who went out late in the order, solved the success equation the best as he earned the Simpson Quick Time Award by just 0.005 seconds over Macedo with a stellar lap of 12.761 seconds. 

Before the headers could even cool on the cars, the timing and scoring officials put together the starting grids for the four 10-lap heat races. Carson Macedo, based on his best time aboard the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41, earned a spot on the inside of the front row in Milton Hershey School Heat Race #2 sharing the space with Emerson Axsom from Franklin, Indiana. He was ready to get back to work as the lights around the track illuminated the racing arena sun began to set beyond the horizon Midwestern style. Carson climbed into the cockpit of his racing machine and pulled on his K1 Race Gear gloves prepared to do battle.

Talented, young racers Scotty Milan and Creed Kemenah were rolling in row two, with Sterling Cling and Ayrton Gennetten in row three, and Skylar Gee and Logan McCandless in the fourth and final row. When the initial green flag waved, it was determined that the outside front row starter, Emerson Axsom, jumped the start and the yellow flag flew. He was moved back two spots putting Scotty Milan on the front row flanking Macedo now.

Carson was on the inside with Milan on the outside. When they arrived at the stripe in turn four it was Milan charging into the lead down the frontstretch and through the first set of turns. Carson was right behind in his Scott Boyd Family/Border International/Wilwood Racing #41 as they approached turn three. The Lemoore, California speed chauffeur drove under Milan’s #97 and slid into the lead off turn four to lead lap one.

Milan was now in a battle for the runner-up spot with Axsom who had his #27 moving and grooving behind race leader Macedo. Carson was throttle down and making tracks around Tri-State Speedway. He was building a huge lead as the battle behind him continued to heat up. Just before the halfway point of the race, Axsom made his way by Milan into the second position. He could not see Macedo though as the Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 had a four plus second lead.

Carson would go on to collect his fifth heat victory of the season by 4.724 seconds over Emerson Axsom who raced home second. The winner and runner-up finisher would advance on to the Toyota Dash later in the show. Scotty Milan piloted his #97 to a third place finish with Ayrton Gennetten and Skylar Gee securing the final transfer spots out of this heat race.

After drawing the highest pill in the oversized NOS Energy Drink can again, Carson would start eighth in the 6-lap Toyota Dash. Logan Schuchart and David Gravel would get the race started from the front row with Emerson Axsom and Buddy Kofoid in row two. Friday night’s winner at Paducah, Sheldon Haudenschild, was pacing from the fifth starting position with last year’s race winner here – Brady Bacon – to his outside in the sixth starting spot. Danny Sams III pulling inside Macedo in row four.

The pace was slow, but each driver’s right foot was dancing with anticipation as they were prepared to race for their starting spots in the feature. Off turn four it was go-time as the engines came to life creating instant speed. There was action absolutely everywhere throughout the field as they made their way through the first set of turns. David Gravel in the Jackson Motorplex #2 led Logan Schuchart’s Shark Racing #1s when the first lap was etched in the books. Carson had the Border International/Pro Powder Coating (PPC)/Auto Meter #41 Maxim running in the seventh position just ahead of Sams III.

The Albaugh – Your Alternative #41 was fast and he had his sights set on Sheldon Haudenschild who was racing with Emerson Axsom right in front of him for position. On lap 3, Carson made a two-for-one pass as he slid underneath both of them moving into the fifth position.

Carson’s next feat on the mission agenda was to chase down Buddy Kofoid who was the next car ahead of him in the Roth Motorsports/Mobil 1 #83. One Californian chasing another for track position. Carson was making some progress but ran out of laps. David Gravel raced under the checkers first followed by Schuchart and Bacon. Buddy Kofoid secured a fourth place finish with Carson coming home fifth, Emerson Axsom was sixth, Sheldon Haudenschild seventh, and Danny Sams III completed the finishing order in eighth.

Following some track work, the horns sounded summoning the drivers and teams to the track for the running of the 40-lap NOS Energy Drink Haubs Town Showdown feature event. The action had been tremendous up until this point of the night . . . and was about to go to the next level when the green flag flew to start the feature. Carson would get the Albaugh – Your Alternative/FK Rod Ends/High Performance Lubricants #41 started from the fifth position in a field full of talented sprint car racers that were about to entertain World of Outlaws style.

Carson was ready to get his elbows up and put on a show. The flagman dropped the green flag as the drivers lowered their foot on the accelerator and started the show. David Gravel, the series point leader, would lead the field to the green from the pole position with third starting Brady Bacon quickly moving into the runner-up spot in the TKH Motorsports #21H ahead of Logan Schuchart. Carson got shuffled back to eighth at the start putting a look of determination on his face early. It was on at Tri-State Speedway in the Hoosier State!

On lap 2, Carson moved the forty-one back by Danny Sams III into seventh. The next time around he passed Emerson Axsom for sixth and he quickly focused his attention on tracking down the NOS Energy Drink #17 that was just ahead of him.

Up at the front of the pack the leaders were now in traffic. Brady Bacon used the opportunity to close in on race leader David Gravel. On lap 9, Bacon made the pass for the lead in his #21H. The next time by Gravel took it back, but Bacon was not going anywhere. They swapped the lead again with Bacon holding down the point now.

A little further back, Carson was in the mix now racing with Haudenschild for position. On lap 14, Carson motored the Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) #41 underneath Haudenschild entering turn one and was now running in the top five with Logan Schuchart now in his sights.

Two laps later, on lap 16, the yellow flag waved when Danny Sams III and Landon Crawley tangled in turn two after Crawley tried to avoid Brian Bell who got sideways in front of him. The paced was slowed as the leaders used the break in high speed action to catch their breath and re-focus on their race strategies.

When the green lights came back on it was Bacon holding down the top spot with Gravel chasing. Sheldon Haudenschild used the double file restart to work his way back ahead of Carson Macedo who now was running sixth. Carson followed for a few laps until an opportunity availed itself on lap 19 for him to move back by the #17 of Haudenschild to regain the fifth position.

The crossed flags were shown to the field with Bacon leading Gravel, Kofoid, Schuchart and Macedo. Carson was trying to hold off Haudenschild while racing Schuchart for fourth. All the action was halted though when Brock Zearfoss flipped the Moose’s LZ Bar & Grill/Milton Hershey School #3z at the end of the back straightaway.

They were green again with 20 laps to go after the nose-to-tail, single file restart. Brady “The Macho Man” Bacon again was showing his prowess on this bullring racing in the lead just in front of David Gravel. Carson was staring at the tail tank of the Shark Racing #1s looking to take the spot away from the Outlaw from Hanover, Pennsylvania.

On lap 24, Carson struck as he raced under Schuchart through turns one and two and raced down the backstretch in fourth. He was trucking and now trying to see if he could catch Buddy Kofoid for the show position in the running order.

With 10 laps to go it was Bacon, Gravel, Kofoid, Macedo and Schuchart. The stars of the sport were not disappointing as they were putting on a heck of a show at Tri-State Speedway. The fans were engaged. The racers were doing a terrific job. Who was gonna win the Haubs Town Showdown?

When the finals laps elapsed and the checkered flag flew, it would be Brady Bacon going back-to-back as he took the race win over David Gravel and Buddy Kofoid. Carson Macedo drove the Albaugh –Your Alternative/C&R Racing/Saldana Racing Products #41 to a fourth place finish with Logan Schuchart rounding out the top five.

Another good run for the forty-one! It was Carson and the team’s 11th consecutive top ten finish of the season. They look to continue that momentum as they head to Knoxville Raceway next weekend for the two night Premier Chevy Dealers Clash Friday April 26th and Saturday, April 27th. If you can’t be at the track to catch the entertainment live, be sure to tune in to catch all of the action on DIRTVision.

Scrolling His Way through the Competitive Field to Garner a Fourth Place Finish at Tri-State Speedway! Photo Credit: Cameron Saich – CS Productions

JJR’s Valued Sponsorship Partners: 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); RaceDiecast.com; 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; Buckwalter Trucking; CASM Safety Products; C&R Racing; ChalkStix; Crow Enterprizes; CS Productions; Engler Machine & Tool, Inc.; Factory Kahne (FK Shocks); Fibreworks Composites; FK Rod Ends; Fuel Safe Racing Cells; Greber Racing Components; Hoosier Racing Tire; Indy Performance Composites (IPC); ISC Racers Tape; Jansen Transportation; K1 Race Gear; KSE Racing Products; LogoDaddy; Motor State Distributing; Mr. Jim’s Racing; Premium Coach Group; Saldana Racing Products; Sam I Am; Schoenfeld Headers; Smith TI; Vortex Racing Products; Walker Performance Filtration; Wilwood Racing; and Winters Performance Products.

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

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