Carson Macedo Makes History at Kennedale

Carson Macedo celebrating in Victory Lane at Kennedale Speedway Park after winning the Cowtown Roundup (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

KENNEDALE, Texas — After the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race on Friday got canceled due to rain, the series traveled to Kennedale Speedway Park for the Cowtown Roundup.

Things got off to a rough start as the start time was delayed by two and a half hours due to a transformer blowing earlier in the night and causing the lights at the track to not work at full power. During the waiting period, the track brought in some temporary light towers as well as a generator to power the lights.  

Once things were set in motion, the racing program got underway. During initial qualifying, Carson Macedo would set the track record with an 11.467 lap. He went on to win his Heat Race, Dash and 35-lap main event.

Also during qualifying, Jacob Allen wrecked pretty harshly by flipping and getting caught in the fence. He decided unanimously with his team to not come back out again for the duration of the night.

Jacob Allen’s car stuck in the fence after wrecking at Kennedale Speedway Park during the Cowtown Roundup (Photo: Mike Frieri)

Each Heat Race was five laps with the top five finishers going to the main event. The first race saw Bill Rose win with David Gravel, Donny Schatz, Kraig Kinser and Jason Martin rounding out the top five. It was Rose’s first heat win since 2013.

The next race had Brent Marks taking the lead, with Sheldon Haudenschild, Scotty Thiel, Brock Zearfoss and Brett Becker following close behind.  During this race though, Ryan Gossel hit the wall and climbed up the fence.

Macedo took the cake with Heat Race No.3. Bill Balog, Austin McCarl, Logan Schuchart and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid completed the top five.

No. 4 had Ryan Timms be victorious with Aaron Reutzel, Jace Park, Brenham Crouch and Giovanni Scelzi making the grade.

To determine the top eight starters for the feature race, the drivers compete in a six-lap dash to the checkers. Balog and Macedo started on the front row and would stay that way until the end. The only difference was that they swapped positions as Macedo won while Balog got second.

To determine the final four drivers who will compete in the main event, the drivers competed in a Last Chance Showdown for 10 laps. Due to drivers not coming to the staging area to race in the Showdown, the race was cut down by two laps. Claud Estes III flipped during the race, but Koty Adams won. It was Adams’ first Showdown win as well as his first World of Outlaws appearance.

After some track preparation, the 35-lap main event was set to go underway. As the green flag flew, two cars got together in the first turn: Martin and Becker.

When the green showed up again, Marks and Gravel were battling for fifth. Gravel tried everything in his power to get around Marks, but just couldn’t find the right ingredient.

Macedo started hitting lapped traffic on Lap 6. Macedo also started lapping cars on that same lap. Lap 6 also saw Reutzel gaining on Haudenschild.  The two got close with Reutzel drifting up from underneath, but no contact was made.

Two laps later, lapped traffic became a problem. Balog almost passed Macedo on the high side down the backstretch due to a slower car in front of Macedo. Macedo got around the car though and maintained his lead.

Carson Macedo competing in the Cowtown Roundup at Kennedale Speedway Park (Photo: Trent Gower | World Racing Group)

Lap 9 saw Balog fall back. Haudenschild passed Balog and battled with him for second for the duration of the lap, as well as the entire next lap.  But Balog just couldn’t get around Haudenschild and would eventually fall back even more by going high.

On Lap 12, Timms passed Gravel for fifth by going on the low side coming out of Turn 2. This lap also saw Macedo hit even more traffic.  

Laps 15-16 had some action take place between Reutzel and Balog.  They were side-by-side down each stretch and tried a different maneuver in each turn. As much as Balog tried to pass Reutzel, he just couldn’t do it. A lap later, Timms passed Balog, putting yet another car between him and the win.

On Lap 18, Timms passed Reutzel for second by going on high side and sliding in front of Reutzel, but that second placement was short-lived as he made contact with Landon Crawley, causing him to let off the gas.

Two laps later, the 900 horsepower cars raced down the front stretch heading into Turn 1.  But Haudenschild wasn’t one of those drivers as he slowed on the straightaway and came to a complete stop on the bottom. Behind him was a stream of fluid and smoke was being emitted from the engine area. Zearfoss slammed into the back of Haudenschild when Haudenschild’s engine blew up.

On the restart, Timms came for Reutzel. But that competition didn’t last long as three cars flipped going into Turn 2: Rose, McCarl and Park.  McCarl’s wing flew off when he wrecked, as well.

On Lap 20, Timms challenged Reutzel once again but just couldn’t find his cushion. Both Balog and Gravel caught up to Timms in just a few laps.  

Gravel passed Balog on Lap 24 and gained heavily on Timms who was running third. But five laps later, Gravel no longer had to battle with Timms because Timms got completely sideways in Turns 1 and 2 but got his car back on track only losing four spots.

On Lap 33, Reutzel began gaining on Macedo. His strategy of going high seemed to be working for him until Gravel got into him on Lap 34. Gravel passed Reutzel as Reutzel straightened his car back out and got second. Reutzel got third.

When asked about his first win for the 2024 season, Macedo was very appreciative.

“I could feel and see everybody,” said Macedo. “I kept telling myself to be patient. I was just watching it every lap. Great job to this team. This car was exceptional.”