By T.J. Buffenbarger
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (August 10, 2023) – In June at Knoxville Raceway Carson Macedo left in the back of an ambulance after a terrible crash and fire. Macedo triumphantly returned to Knoxville Thursday to win the preliminary feature during Iowa Lottery Qualifying Night during the 62nd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s.
“It was a tough road back. You just take for granted or youth I think. I had not had a wreck that bad before, but the recovery process was tough. Beaver Dam that next weekend was hell on earth with my ribs being broke and still trying to race. To come back here and win is pretty incredible. The flame paint scheme on the car is a little bit of a joke for what happened last time to kind of make light of a bad situation, but thankful for my team. JJR is amazing and I think Jason maybe was riding with me tonight there after having a bad one he was he loved Knoxville Raceway and I love it to”
Macedo, from Lemoore, California, took the lead on lap 16 from Anthony Macri and held on through multiple late race cautions including a green/white checkered finish for his 10th feature victory of the 2023 season.
Macri and Garet Williamson started on the front row of the 25-lap feature. Macri took the lead on the opening lap, but was immediately under pressure from Dusty Zomer. Zomer was able to slide by Macri for the lead, only to have Macri take the lead back on the other end of the racetrack before they crossed the start finish line.
Williamson dropped Zomer to second on lap three while Macedo did the same to take third one lap later.
On lap eight Macri slipped off turn two and allowed Williamson and Macedo to close. Further back in the field Kyle Larson and Spencer Bayston traded fifth position with multiple slide jobs.
Up front Macedo pulled a slide job on lap 12 to pass Williamson, forcing Williamson high and bounced off the fence, losing several positions.
On lap 15 the first red flag of the feature appeared when Daryn Pittman lost a wheel in turn three and turned over. Pittman exited the car under his own power.
During the restart Macedo was able to slide by Macri for the lead in turns one and two. Macri was able to counter to pull alongside but could not get back in front of Macedo. One lap later the first of multiple cautions and red flags at the close of the race appeared when Ian Madsen slowed in turn four.
Bayston, who was in third, was able to blast around the top of the racetrack to pass Macri off turn two before the caution appeared for a cone that was knocked onto the racing surface.
Macedo pulled away again during the restart, but the racing was short lived when the red flag appeared again with three laps to go when Brad Sweet blew a right rear tire and flipped between turns one and two. Sweet exited the car under his own power.
Larson, who had driven up to fourth at that point, was able to get by Macri during the restart and set out after Bayston.
As Macedo had the checkered flag in sight the final red flag appeared when Jamie Veal flipped in turn two. This setup a green/white/checkered finish.
Macedo’s car was once again strong on the restart as he motored away from the field. Larson was able to slide by Bayston for second while Bayston held on for the final podium position.
Afterwards Macedo expressed what it was like seeing the race nearly end, only to have to hold off the field for one more restart.
:I knew Spencer (Bayston) was gonna be good. I knew that obviously Kyle and Abreu were fast. Rico’s doing a good job lately and I knew that if I just fire it off nice on the bottom there off a turn four and got to turn one it’d be tough to beat me,” said Macedo. “I was coming at the checker he was waving and then heard ‘red red red’ and I just thought ‘man if I were to blow a tire or something crazy would have happened it’d be pretty unfortunate’ but super thankful for this team. JJR is amazing. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
After battling with all of the front runners Macri held on for fourth spot while Abreu charged from 21st starting position to fifth.
Larson’s second place finish secured the pole position while Abreu earned the outside front row position.
Abreu was the fastest qualifier over the 54-car field with a lap of 15.703 seconds. Abreu was unable to transfer through his heat race but won the B-Main event.
Heat races were won by Zach Hampton, Kevin Thomas Jr, Kalib Henry, Kyle Larson, and Ayrton Gennetten. Shane Golobic won the C-Main following an engine change that forced him to miss his heat race event.
62nd NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s
Iowa Lottery Qualifying Night
Knoxville Raceway
Knoxville, Iowa
Thursday, August 10, 2023
Qualifying
1. 24-Rico Abreu, 15.703[2]
2. 49-Brad Sweet, 15.795[9]
3. 83JR-Michael Kofoid, 15.819[21]
4. 1S-Logan Schuchart, 15.841[25]
5. 4-Ian Madsen, 15.911[26]
6. 18T-Tanner Holmes, 15.920[14]
7. 5X-Daryn Pittman, 15.942[17]
8. 17B-Bill Balog, 15.974[41]
9. 57-Kyle Larson, 15.984[40]
10. 4CW-Chris Windom, 15.985[15]
11. 41-Carson Macedo, 15.993[20]
12. 71-Shane Stewart, 16.003[3]
13. 3J-Dusty Zomer, 16.081[50]
14. 20-AJ Moeller, 16.084[52]
15. 3P-Sawyer Phillips, 16.094[11]
16. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr, 16.105[36]
17. 17W-Shane Golobic, 16.106[44]
18. 6G-Garet Williamson, 16.106[5]
19. 7BC-Anthony Macri, 16.113[51]
20. 21-Brian Brown, 16.124[18]
21. 3-Tim Kaeding, 16.127[48]
22. 5-Spencer Bayston, 16.132[31]
23. 88-Austin McCarl, 16.134[29]
24. 5T-Ryan Timms, 16.136[8]
25. 11-Cory Eliason, 16.149[38]
26. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss, 16.174[23]
27. 17AU-Jamie Veal, 16.176[7]
28. 22K-Kaleb Johnson, 16.191[49]
29. 16A-Colby Copeland, 16.263[4]
30. 12X-Ayrton Gennetten, 16.272[53]
31. 25-Lachlan McHugh, 16.326[35]
32. 4J-Kevin Thomas Jr, 16.335[6]
33. 1K-Kelby Watt, 16.399[16]
34. 20G-Noah Gass, 16.426[1]
35. 65-Jordan Goldesberry, 16.575[13]
36. 35-Zach Hampton, 16.589[42]
37. 11N-Harli White, 16.607[10]
38. 101-Kalib Henry, 16.653[34]
39. 44P-Skylar Prochaska, 16.797[43]
40. 45-Rusty Hickman, 16.826[24]
41. 18R-Ryan Roberts, 16.834[22]
42. 4K2W-Matt Wasmund, 16.925[19]
43. 6B-Clint Garner, 16.940[12]
44. 6-Bill Rose, 17.045[47]
45. G5-Gage Pulkrabek, 17.207[27]
46. 56-Joe Simbro, 17.237[54]
47. 5C-Dylan Cisney, 17.253[39]
48. 6X-Frank Rodgers, 17.310[46]
49. 121-RJ Johnson, 17.314[32]
50. 35B-Austin Bishop, 17.360[37]
51. W19-Trent Pigdon, 17.465[45]
52. 105-Cody Ihlen, 17.515[33]
53. 78-Bill Wagner, 18.144[28]
54. 10V-Cap Henry, 18.144[30]
Heat Race #1 (10 Laps)
1. 35-Zach Hampton[1]
2. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[3]
3. 41-Carson Macedo[6]
4. 25-Lachlan McHugh[2]
5. 24-Rico Abreu[8]
6. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[5]
7. 3-Tim Kaeding[4]
8. 18T-Tanner Holmes[7]
9. 18R-Ryan Roberts[9]
10. 56-Joe Simbro[10]
(First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #2 (10 Laps)
1. 4J-Kevin Thomas Jr[2]
2. 5-Spencer Bayston[4]
3. 17AU-Jamie Veal[3]
4. 49-Brad Sweet[8]
5. 5X-Daryn Pittman[7]
6. 71-Shane Stewart[6]
7. 5C-Dylan Cisney[10]
8. 11N-Harli White[1]
9. 4K2W-Matt Wasmund[9]
10. 17W-Shane Golobic[5]
(First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #3 (10 Laps)
1. 101-Kalib Henry[1]
2. 88-Austin McCarl[4]
3. 6G-Garet Williamson[5]
4. 3J-Dusty Zomer[6]
5. 17B-Bill Balog[7]
6. 1K-Kelby Watt[2]
7. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[3]
8. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[8]
9. 6B-Clint Garner[9]
10. 6X-Frank Rodgers[10]
(First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #4 (10 Laps)
1. 57-Kyle Larson[7]
2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[8]
3. 16A-Colby Copeland[3]
4. 7BC-Anthony Macri[5]
5. 44P-Skylar Prochaska[1]
6. 5T-Ryan Timms[4]
7. 20-AJ Moeller[6]
8. 20G-Noah Gass[2]
9. 6-Bill Rose[9]
10. 121-RJ Johnson[10]
(First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Heat Race #5 (10 Laps)
1. 12X-Ayrton Gennetten[3]
2. 21-Brian Brown[5]
3. 11-Cory Eliason[4]
4. 4-Ian Madsen[8]
5. 4CW-Chris Windom[7]
6. 3P-Sawyer Phillips[6]
7. 65-Jordan Goldesberry[2]
8. 35B-Austin Bishop[10]
9. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[9]
10. 45-Rusty Hickman[1]
(First four finishers transferred to the A-Main)
Non-Qualifiers
1. W19-Trent Pigdon[1]
2. 105-Cody Ihlen[2]
3. 78-Bill Wagner[3]
4. 10V-Cap Henry[4]
C-Main (10 Laps)
1. 17W-Shane Golobic[1]
2. 18R-Ryan Roberts[3]
3. 6B-Clint Garner[5]
4. 6-Bill Rose[6]
5. 4K2W-Matt Wasmund[4]
6. 56-Joe Simbro[8]
7. 121-RJ Johnson[10]
8. W19-Trent Pigdon[11]
9. 6X-Frank Rodgers[9]
10. G5-Gage Pulkrabek[7]
11. 78-Bill Wagner[13]
12. 105-Cody Ihlen[12]
DNS: 45-Rusty Hickman
DNS: 10V-Cap Henry
(First four finishers transferred to the B-Main)
B-Main (12 Laps)
1. 24-Rico Abreu[1]
2. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[2]
3. 71-Shane Stewart[7]
4. 5X-Daryn Pittman[4]
5. 18T-Tanner Holmes[3]
6. 17B-Bill Balog[5]
7. 4CW-Chris Windom[6]
8. 3-Tim Kaeding[11]
9. 3P-Sawyer Phillips[9]
10. 11N-Harli White[17]
11. 22K-Kaleb Johnson[13]
12. 5T-Ryan Timms[12]
13. 17W-Shane Golobic[21]
14. 1K-Kelby Watt[14]
15. 20G-Noah Gass[15]
16. 44P-Skylar Prochaska[18]
17. 6B-Clint Garner[23]
18. 5C-Dylan Cisney[19]
19. 65-Jordan Goldesberry[16]
20. 6-Bill Rose[24]
21. 35B-Austin Bishop[20]
22. 20-AJ Moeller[8]
23. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[10]
24. 18R-Ryan Roberts[22]
(First four finishers transferred to the B-Main)
A-Main (25 Laps)
1. 41-Carson Macedo[4]
2. 57-Kyle Larson[5]
3. 5-Spencer Bayston[10]
4. 7BC-Anthony Macri[1]
5. 24-Rico Abreu[21]
6. 88-Austin McCarl[11]
7. 1S-Logan Schuchart[7]
8. 3J-Dusty Zomer[3]
9. 83JR-Michael Kofoid[22]
10. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[13]
11. 21-Brian Brown[9]
12. 6G-Garet Williamson[2]
13. 71-Shane Stewart[23]
14. 16A-Colby Copeland[15]
15. 4-Ian Madsen[6]
16. 25-Lachlan McHugh[17]
17. 12X-Ayrton Gennetten[16]
18. 101-Kalib Henry[20]
19. 35-Zach Hampton[19]
20. 17AU-Jamie Veal[14]
21. 49-Brad Sweet[8]
22. 11-Cory Eliason[12]
23. 5X-Daryn Pittman[24]
24. 4J-Kevin Thomas Jr[18]
Points after Thursday’s Qualifying night – Locked into Saturday’s A-Main
| Pos | Car | Driver | Points |
| 1 | 57 | Kyle Larson | 482 |
| 2 | 24 | Rico Abreu | 480 |
| 3 | 15 | Donny Schatz | 479 |
| 4 | 1S | Logan Schuchart | 479 |
| 5 | 41 | Carson Macedo | 474 |
| 6 | 39 | Hunter Schuerenberg | 462 |
| 7 | 55 | Kerry Madsen | 459 |
| 8 | 83JR | Buddy Kofoid | 459 |
| 9 | 18 | Gio Scelzi | 458 |
| 10 | 14 | Corey Day | 458 |
| 11 | 4 | Ian Madsen | 455 |
| 12 | 3J | Dusty Zomer | 453 |
| 13 | 5 | Spencer Bayston | 451 |
| 14 | 2KS | Chase Randall | 449 |
| 15 | 7BC | Anthony Macri | 449 |
| 16 | 49 | Brad Sweet | 449 |
Points after Thursday’s Qualifying night – Locked into Saturday’s B-Main
| Pos | Car | Driver | Points |
| 17 | 13 | Justin Peck | 449 |
| 18 | 83 | James McFadden | 447 |
| 19 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | 446 |
| 20 | 88 | Austin McCarl | 443 |
| 21 | 21 | Brian Brown | 439 |
| 22 | 71 | Shane Stewart | 439 |
| 23 | 6G | Garet Williamson | 438 |
| 24 | 7TAZ | Tasker Phillips | 437 |
| 25 | 7W | Dustin Selvage | 435 |
| 26 | 17 | Sheldon Haudenschild | 434 |
| 27 | 42 | Sye Lynch | 434 |
Points after Thursday’s Qualifying night – Drivers in Friday’s Hard Knox Program
| Pos | Car | Driver | Points |
| 28 | 5X | Daryn Pittman | 432 |
| 29 | 52 | Blake Hahn | 429 |
| 30 | 3Z | Brock Zearfoss | 429 |
| 31 | 4W | Jamie Ball | 416 |
| 32 | 7TW | Brandon Wimmer | 415 |
| 33 | 17B | Bill Balog | 414 |
| 34 | 10L | Scott Bogucki | 414 |
| 35 | 16A | Colby Copeland | 412 |
| 36 | 19 | Brent Marks | 412 |
| 37 | 18T | Tanner Holmes | 411 |
| 38 | 12X | Ayrton Gennetten | 410 |
| 39 | 21H | Brady Bacon | 408 |
| 40 | 4CW | Chris Windom | 408 |
| 41 | 17AU | Jamie Veal | 404 |
| 42 | 11 | Cory Eliason | 404 |
| 43 | 21T | Cole Macedo | 403 |
| 44 | 2 | David Gravel | 403 |
| 45 | 25 | Lachlan McHugh | 401 |
| 46 | 1X | Jake Bubak | 401 |
| 47 | 22 | Riley Goodno | 399 |
| 48 | 1 | Justin Henderson | 394 |
| 49 | 35 | Zach Hampton | 394 |
| 50 | 101 | Kalib Henry | 392 |
| 51 | 4J | Kevin Thomas Jr. | 392 |
| 52 | 39M | Justin Sanders | 392 |
| 53 | 3P | Sawyer Phillips | 391 |
| 54 | 7S | Robbie Price | 382 |
| 55 | 83T | Tanner Carrick | 382 |
| 56 | 26 | Zeb Wise | 381 |
| 57 | 1M | Don Droud Jr. | 380 |
| 58 | 27 | Carson McCarl | 380 |
| 59 | 50YR | JJ Hickle | 379 |
| 60 | 3 | Tim Kaeding | 378 |
| 61 | 2K | Lynton Jeffrey | 377 |
| 62 | 9P | Parker Price-Miller | 373 |
| 63 | 16 | Brooke Tatnell | 370 |
| 64 | 5T | Ryan Timms | 367 |
| 65 | 17W | Shane Golobic | 367 |
| 66 | 20 | AJ Moeller | 364 |
| 67 | 15H | Sam Hafertepe Jr. | 361 |
| 68 | 22K | Kaleb Johnson | 358 |
| 69 | 49X | Tim Shaffer | 357 |
| 70 | 24T | Christopher Thram | 350 |
| 71 | 1K | Kelby Watt | 345 |
| 72 | 1C | Brenham Crouch | 344 |
| 73 | 55T | McKenna Haase | 340 |
| 74 | 1A | Chase Dietz | 340 |
| 75 | 11N | Harli White | 339 |
| 76 | 20G | Noah Gass | 335 |
| 77 | 8 | Aaron Reutzel | 333 |
| 78 | 44P | Skylar Prochaska | 332 |
| 79 | 65 | Jordan Goldesberry | 328 |
| 80 | 91 | Kyle Reinhardt | 327 |
| 81 | 95 | Matt Covington | 315 |
| 82 | 70 | Kraig Kinser | 315 |
| 83 | 6B | Clint Garner | 310 |
| 84 | 5C | Dylan Cisney | 306 |
| 85 | 6 | Bill Rose | 302 |
| 86 | 17X | Terry McCarl | 300 |
| 87 | 18R | Ryan Roberts | 300 |
| 88 | 24H | Kade Higday | 294 |
| 89 | 35B | Austin Bishop | 291 |
| 90 | 4K2W | Matt Wasmund | 286 |
| 91 | 56 | Joe Simbro | 273 |
| 92 | 13JT | Mark Dobmeier | 272 |
| 93 | 45 | Rusty Hickman | 271 |
| 94 | 44 | Chris Martin | 270 |
| 95 | G5 | Gage Pulkrabek | 270 |
| 96 | 2M | Davey Heskin | 269 |
| 97 | 2KK | Kevin Ingle | 267 |
| 98 | 121 | RJ Johnson | 265 |
| 99 | 6X | Frank Rodgers III | 263 |
| 100 | 15JR | Cole Mincer | 255 |
| 101 | 37 | Ayden Gatewood | 238 |
| 102 | W19 | Trent Pigdon | 236 |
| 103 | 9H | Landon Hansen | 235 |
| 104 | 105 | Cody Ihlen | 223 |
| 105 | 78 | Bill Wagner | 220 |
| 106 | 10V | Cap Henry | 209 |