RPW Exclusive: Carson Macedo Helped Racing Community, & The Johnson Family, Heal With Amazing Run At Knoxville

Column By: DYLAN FRIEBEL / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – In late June of this year, the racing community was once again rocked by tragedy when World Of Outlaws Sprint Car star Jason Johnson lost his life in a tragic accident. He drove the number 41 and was 41-years-old.

An amazing outpouring of support for the family ensued, but many were left wondering, ‘what would happen with his stable of sprint cars?’ Jason and his wife, Bobbi, along with their son, Jaxx, ran their race team out of the Midwest. They took the chance just a few years to go from 360 to 410 racing full time and it was certainly a lifestyle change.

His cars sat vacant for a few weeks…not started…moved, touched, or even dusted as the grieving process took place for the family. However, they knew they needed to keep Jason’s dream alive. He would want that, but who would will fill the driver seat?

What was next proved the power of social media. A tweet was sent out about three weeks prior to the Knoxville Nationals for fans to be on the lookout for info on who might fill the seat of the JJR (Jason Johnson Racing) 41. Rumors starting swirling. Was there a big name who didn’t have a ride for the biggest and richest sprint car race in the world? It turned out to be All Star Circuit of Champions front runner Carson Macedo.

The reaction to the announcement from the sprint car world was overwhelmingly positive and supportive. However we had no idea what magic we were in store for.

When the team rolled into town for the first night of the 360 Nationals, there was a quiet buzz going around to see the infamous 41 back on track. That quiet quickly became very loud, however, as Carson took home his preliminary night win and set his sights on his first 360 Nationals triumph.

“I had a lot of fun for at 360 Nationals,” Macedo told me Sunday night at Lebanon Valley’s All Star Sprint Car stop. “I got to meet a lot of really great people. Bobbi, Phillip, Jaxx, are all great people and I had a blast working with them. I don’t think the 360 nationals could have went much better. We would have loved to win the thing, but rubber got laid down on the bottom and Terry (McCarl) got by me late in the race.”

Next up for Carson and JJR was the Capitani Classic where they showed the speed the JJR 41’s 410-Sprint Car had at Knoxville, finishing second to Brad Sweet. That led to Carson being tabbed by Tony Stewart to run his #14 360 Sprint Car in the Osky Challenge at Southern Iowa Speedway.

He won that too.

When Wednesday of Knoxville week rolled around, however, he was back to being another racer trying to grab the brass ring that is the Knoxville Nationals. He wasn’t the main story. The buzz in the air was ‘Can someone dethrone Donny Schatz?”

Once again, as soon as cars hit the track, Macedo and the Jason Johnson Racing Stable proved to be fast. They locked themselves into Saturday night’s $150,000-to-win A-main on their preliminary night (Thursday) with a 21st to ninth place run and being in the top 16 in Nationals points.

“We didn’t even make it out of our heat on our prelim night but the team worked hard,” he said. “We started 8th for Saturday’s 50-lapper and even got up to 4th at one point but blew a power steering line with about eight-to-go. We fell back a little bit at the end and just hung on for a sixth place finish. It was a huge confidence booster for me and I believe JJR was happy with the results. It was a pleasure to work for them.”

When tragedy strikes, it put everything into perspective. Each and every driver that straps in across America understands the risks he or she takes on. While we have come a long way in the motorsports world in terms of safety, and the cars may be safer than ever, there is always room for improvement.

For Jason Johnson, he knew the risks, but did what he loved anyway. Same goes for Carson Macedo. He knows what could happen, but realized that he was doing something far greater when he strapped into that 41. He was carrying on a legacy.

All drivers have the same goal on that race track when they strap in and get ready to go, which is why I leave you with this. Just before your friend or loved leaves the pit area, wish them safety and a good, clean race. Let them know you love them and how much they mean to you. Life is fragile, so don’t take it for granted.

However, let them know to kick butt too. In Jason’s now famous words, “Shit! I wanted to win!”