Kyle Larson’s Rookie Macedo Taking Aim at His Native California Bullrings

CONCORD, N.C. — March 4, 2019 — World of Outlaws NOS® Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champions Daryn Pittman and Donny Schatz have solidified themselves as early favorites this season, winning three of the four races this year combined. But a new favorite may emerge during this month’s California swing.

Rookie contender and Lemoore, Calif. native, Carson Macedo has put together an impressive start to the season with his Kyle Larson Racing team, claiming three top-10 finishes and two Heat wins in the first four races.

While he’s found speed on the bigger half-mile tracks of Volusia Speedway Park and The Dirt Track at Las Vegas, he’s most comfortable on short tracks — like the ones he grew up racing on in California.

“My whole life I feel like I’ve been better on the short tracks than the big tracks,” said Macedo, 22. “Lately over the past couple of years I’ve been able to be a little bit better on those (bigger) tracks to try and carry that balance. When you race with the World of Outlaws, you’ve got to be good everywhere.”

Going home to tracks he grew up racing on also adds another level of confidence.

“You know what to expect, and how the race tracks are going to change,” Macedo said. “A lot of the time, for me, going to a track I’m comfortable at, it’s usually a huge advantage, because you’re usually a little bit quicker right out of the gate.”

He used that extra level of confidence to his advantage in 2014 when he won his first World of Outlaws race at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. — a track the Series will return to this year on March 15, and again later in the year Sept. 6-7.

Macedo is still looking for his second Series win, having mostly raced with the All Star Circuit of Champions the last couple of years. And while he’s won at Silver Dollar Speedway before, Macedo said he is most looking forward to going to Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. — the next track on the Series’ schedule March 8-9.

“It’s probably the track I’ve gotten along with the most,” said Macedo, who finished fifth at the track last year. “The past few years it seems like I’ve always been able to put together some good runs there.”

To Macedo, Thunderbowl Raceway’s best characteristic is the cushion builds up along the fence, allowing drivers to enter and drive through the turns aggressively.

Aggressiveness is a trait Macedo’s car owner, Kyle Larson said he sees in the rookie.

“He’s fun to watch,” Larson said. “I think he’ll have a good season (being paired with experienced crew chief Joe Gaerte).”

Macedo said he is looking forward to getting to the familiar California tracks and continue his early season success, which has currently left him sixth in the Series championship standings.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

WHEN & WHERE

Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif. Gates are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with Hot Laps starting at 5 p.m., Time Trials at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m.

ABOUT THE TRACK

Thunderbowl Raceway is a high-banked, 1/3-mile oval. The track record is 12.582 sec. by Brad Sweet on March 13, 2015.

Online – ThunderbowlRaceway.com

Phone – 559-688-0909

TICKETS

Tickets for Thunderbowl Raceway are available by calling the track at 559-688-0909. Tickets for the rest of the events on the California swing can be purchased by going to WorldofOutlaws.com/tix or by calling 844-DIRT-TIX.

1/3-MILE WINNERS

This will be the first World of Outlaws Feature on a track that size this year.

PREVIOUS TRACK WINNERS

2018 – Aaron Reutzel on March 9
2017 – David Gravel on March 17, Donny Schatz on March 18
2016 – David Gravel on March 12
2015 – Tim Kaeding on March 13, Rico Abreu on March 14
2014 – Daryn Pittman on March 14, Rico Abreu on March 15
2013 – Tim Kaeding on March 15, Craig Dollansky on March 16
2012 – Tim Kaeding on March 16
2011 – Joey Saldana on March 19
2010 – Jason Meyers on March 5, Joey Saldana on March 6
2009 – Randy Hannagan on March 20, Joey Saldana on March 21
2008 – Jac Haudenschild on Oct. 18
2007 – Joey Saldana on Feb. 23, Tim Kaeding on Feb. 24, Donny Schatz on Oct. 13
2005 – Tim Shaffer on Feb. 25, Sammy Swindell on Oct. 15
2004 – Terry McCarl on Nov. 1
2003 – Steve Kinser on Sept. 2

ON THE INTERNET

World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series – Woosprint.com

Twitter – Twitter.com/WorldofOutlaws – @WorldofOutlaws

Instagram – Instagram.com/WoOSprint – @woosprint

Facebook – Facebook.com/WorldofOutlaws

YouTube – YouTube.com/WorldofOutlaws

DIRTVision – Dirtvision.com – Get your Fast Pass to watch all races LIVE for only $39/month

Twitter – Twitter.com/DiRTVision – @DIRTVision

Facebook – Facebook.com/WatchDIRTVision

DRIVER INFO

Follow World of Outlaws full-time drivers on Twitter:

Brad Sweet – @BradSweet4

Brent Marks – @BrentMarks19

Carson Macedo – @carson_macedo

Daryn Pittman – @darynpittman

Donny Schatz – @donnyschatz

Ian Madsen – @IanMadsen

Jacob Allen – @JacobAllen1A

Jason Sides – SidesMotorsports.com (not on Twitter)

Kraig Kinser – @KraigKinser11k

Logan Schuchart – @Lschuchart1s

Shane Stewart – @shanestewart_5

Sheldon Haudenschild – @Haudenschild_17

 

AROUND THE TURN: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series heads to Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. on Friday March 15, and then to the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif. on Saturday March 16.

2019 STATS

There have been four World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Feature events this season.

FEATURE WINNERS (3 drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins

1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 2

2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1

– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1

HEAT RACE WINNERS (12 different winners)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins

1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3

2 – Carson Macedo, Lemoore, Calif. – 2

3 – Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif. – 1

– Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind. – 1

– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1

– Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1

– Giovanni Scelzi, Fresno, Calif. – 1

– Aaron Reutzel, Clute, Texas – 1

– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1

– Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn. – 1

– Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1

– Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif. – 1

DIRTVISION FAST PASS DASH WINNERS (4 different drivers)

1 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1

– Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 1

– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1

– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 1

LAST CHANCE SHOWDOWN WINNERS (4 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Wins

1 – Cale Conley, Vienna, W. Va. – 1

– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1

– Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, Wash. – 1

– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1

PODIUM FINISHES (6 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of podiums

1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 3

– Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 3

2 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 2

3 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 1

– Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 1

– Tim Kaeding, San Jose, Calif. -1

HARD CHARGER AWARD (3 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – H.C. Awards

1 – Cory Eliason, Santa Cruz, Calif. – 2

2 – David Gravel, Watertown, Conn. – 1

– Logan Schuchart, Hanover, Pa. – 1

TOTAL LAPS LED (5 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Laps

1 – Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 36

2 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 30

3 – Christopher Bell, Norman, Okla. – 25

4 – Shane Stewart, Bixby, Okla. – 15

5 – Donny Schatz, Fargo, N.D. – 14

POLE POSITIONS (4 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – Poles

1 – Ian Madsen, St. Mary’s, NSW, Australia – 1

– Parker Price-Miller, Kokomo, Ind. – 1

– Jacob Allen, Hanover, Pa. – 1

– Daryn Pittman, Owasso, Okla. – 1

FASTEST IN PRACTICE (3 different drivers)

Rank – Driver, Hometown – # of times fastest

1 – Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa, Pa. – 2

2 – Brian Brown, Higginsville, Mo. – 1

– Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, Ohio – 1

2019 World of Outlaws Schedule & Winners

No./ Day, Date / Track / Location / Winner (Total Wins)

1. Friday, Feb. 8 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (1)

2. Saturday, Feb. 9 / Volusia Speedway Park / Barberville, Fla. / Daryn Pittman (2)

3. Sunday, Feb. 10 / Volusia Speedway Park/ Baberville, Fla. / Canceled

4. Friday, Feb. 22 / Cotton Bowl Speedway / Paige, Texas / Canceled

5. Saturday, Feb. 23 / LoneStar Speedway / Kilgore, Texas / Canceled

6. Wednesday, Feb. 27 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Tim Shaffer (1)

7. Thursday, Feb. 28 / The Dirt Track at Las Vegas / Las Vegas, Nev. / Donny Schatz (1)

Pos.	Car	Driver	Total	Diff	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Entered	Started	Earnings
1	83	Daryn Pittman	582	0	2	3	4	4	4	$27,000
2	15	Donny Schatz	578	-4	1	4	4	4	4	$18,700
3	49	Brad Sweet	544	-38	0	2	3	4	4	$8,500
4	1S	Logan Schuchart	530	-52	0	1	2	4	4	$7,500
5	41	David Gravel	526	-56	0	0	3	4	4	$7,350
6	2	Carson Macedo	510	-72	0	0	3	4	4	$6,950
7	26	Cory Eliason	510	-72	0	0	2	4	4	$5,950
8	17X	Christopher Bell	510	-72	0	2	3	4	3	$10,375
9	87	Aaron Reutzel	502	-80	0	0	1	4	4	$5,550
10	5	Shane Stewart	496	-86	0	1	2	4	4	$8,450