Carson Macedo’s weekend was a strange back-and-forth of flat-out performance and bad luck. On Friday, things got off to a rocky start when his #41 Jason Johnson Racing machine caught fire in the pit area during engine heat. The team fixed the car and went on a tear the rest of the night, which saw them utterly dominate the “Night Before the Ironman 55” event. For a while on Saturday, it appeared that he would march to a similar victory in the Ironman in front of a massive and enthusiastic crowd. But fate would have it not. Things were smooth early. Macedo qualified 3rd in his flight, won his heat, and won the dash. Essentially, Friday without a fire. Early on, the feature looked similar to Friday, but it was Spencer Bayston and Sheldon Haudenschild both holding 2nd at times, but unable to do anything with Macedo. On lap 40, just as the field took the yellow for a slow Chris Windom, Macedo suddenly entered the pit area with a flat right rear tire. He would return to the track in the mid-teens with just over ten laps remaining and ultimately finish 12th, a heartbreak ending after what had been an impressive run.

Macedo’s misfortune handed the lead to Haudenschild with Buddy Kofoid and Tanner Thorson, who started 17th, starting right behind him. Haudenschild and Kofoid would do battle down the stretch, with Kofoid ultimately taking the lead with three laps to go. Haudenschild would also lose second to Tanner Thorson as a result of that battle and have to settle for 3rd. For Kofoid, it’s his first Ironman and his 18th NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victory.