Column By: DERICK KRINER / RPW – ROSSBURG, OH – The Eldora Million has presented the world’s top sprint car teams and drivers with a life changing opportunity. California’s Carson Macedo has put himself in a prime position to be the one standing on the stage at the end of 50 laps.
Macedo has had previous success at the Ohio half mile and has scored several preliminary night victories with the Jason Johnson Racing 41. In talking with Macedo about the potential of this year being the year to check off a “big race win” for the team, Macedo answered “I have a good shot at it.” Macedo went on to talk about how they haven’t won a big money race in a while, since the National Open in 2021, to be exact. “We have the speed and we are capable of it,” said Macedo.
From the start of the Wednesday night program, Macedo showed great speed and an ability to pass cars. Going 4th quick in Group B and then storiming from 8th-1st in the heat race, proved Carson and the Albaugh 41 had plenty of speed. “I felt like my car was really stuck and I felt like I could make speed,” said the driver of the 41. He’s looking forward to getting to the feature and just being in contention for the win.
With the race slated to have a halfway break somewhere between laps 20 and 25, confidence on making the JJR 41 even better with the break, is high. “Our crew chief is Phillip Dietz,” said Carson. “He’s amazing at what he does. He’s going to make the right adjustments and give me a good idea about where to be and help to make the right decisions.”
To win the million dollar top prize at the end of Thursday’s program has to be on the mind of all racers. The cliche of saying it’s just another is often heard when talking about the crown jewel events. The California racer was adamant that this truely will not be much different. “I don’t know if it’s any tougher than any Outlaw race, other than it’s a longer distance.” Macedo went on to state that “it pays a lot more money and everybody will be on edge and trying their best.” The question is what will the drivers, and teams, do to be the first to the checkered flag, and what needs to happen to give them that chance?
Starting on the pole of Heat 1, Carson Macedo and team will have to race smart and just make the top 3 transfer, to put themselves in a good position for the feature. Winning the heat puts the 41 into the top 6 redraw, and in the best position to be the first sprint car millionaire.