CONCORD, N.C. — It’s a long way from California to North Carolina, but the World of Outlaws World Finals offered an opportunity for the Macedo brothers to race on a stage they’d always dreamt up and against one another.
Older brother, Carson, is the winningest driver on the World of Outlaws tour this season, while his brother, Cole, won the Attica (Ohio) Raceway Park track championship this year.
Carson Macedo has won 14 410 winged sprint car races this year, while Cole Macedo has 10 victories.
Carson Macedo drives the Jason Johnson Racing machine, while Cole Macedo’s regular ride is the Ray Brooks Racing No. 18. However, the younger Macedo was wheeling Alex Bowman’s No. 55 prepared by Joe Gaerte during the World Finals.
“You grow up as little kids together racing micros in California and you would have never guessed that we would both be here in Charlotte at the World Finals racing sprint cars with the World of Outlaws,” Carson Macedo said. “It’s really special.”
The Lemoore, Calif., brothers both made the dash on Friday and Cole Macedo turned in his best World of Outlaws finish in fourth place, while Carson Macedo came home ninth.
“I look up to him and feed off of him for a lot of advice,” Cole Macedo said. “He’s helped me get to where we are and he really helped me out tonight. I’m super proud to be here tonight racing in front of all these fans and driving the No. 55 for Alex Bowman.”
• The World of Outlaws World Finals will return to The Dirt Track at Charlotte again next fall and it will again be a four-night affair.
Sprint cars, late models and big-block modifieds will all return to the four-tenths-mile track to conclude the season Nov. 1-4.
• NTT IndyCar Series champion Will Power was on hand Friday night, presenting a $5,000 check to Speedway Children’s Charities.
Expressing a desire to drive a sprint car, Power closely followed the efforts of fellow Australian James McFadden.
• Cory Eliason is the only driver this season to record World of Outlaws podium finishes with different teams. Eliason finished second at Cotton Bowl Speedway on March 4 aboard the Rudeen Racing No. 26 and was second again Friday night driving the Indy Race Parts No. 71.
Eliason was the fast qualifier on Friday, but his run to the front from eighth starting spot had its challenges after an engine failure during the dash.
“It was eventful to say the least,” Eliason said. “I guess on one hand I’m glad that the engine let go in the dash and not the feature, that was kind of a blessing in disguise. We barely made it on track after getting it changed and firing off while the double horn sounded. It feels great to be back on the podium against a field like this; it’s getting me back to where I feel like I should be. Bernie (Stuebgen) has give me everything I could ask for in this car.”
• Donny Schatz’s 13th win at The Dirt Track at Charlotte places the track in a tie as the fifth-winningest track for the 10-time series champion.
Donny Schatz (Frank Smith photo)
Schatz has won 21 races at Pennsylvania’s Williams Grove Speedway, 18 at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, 17 at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, 14 at Volusia Speedway Park and 13 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas.
“We’ve been blessed here,” Schatz said. “I’ve always liked this place since the beginning. It’s changed a lot, but we’ve changed with it. I’m not very superstitious, but I’m happy with that lucky number No. 13 tonight.”
• With a field of 52 sprint car drivers, 20 drivers have made both features during the World Finals.
• Donny Schatz became the ninth driver to win at least four World of Outlaws features this season. The others are Carson Macedo (11), Sheldon Haudenschild (9), David Gravel (7), Brad Sweet (5), Logan Schuchart (5), Brent Marks (5), Jacob Allen (4) and Kyle Larson (4).
Keyword: World Finals Notes: Macedo Brothers On The Road