Macenko Nets “Overdue” First 500 Sprint Car Tour Win
Macenko Nets “Overdue” First 500 Sprint Car Tour Win
Over the past couple years, it’s felt like it wasn’t a matter of if, but when Jackson Macenko and Brad Hayes Racing would visit victory lane. That was answered on Sunday afternoon in a big way.
In his 27th start with the yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour, the 2023 Rookie Of The Year picked up his first-career win with the series and in a Sprint Car at Winchester Speedway in the Tom Bigelow Showdown Presented By Neal Metal Recycling & Processing.
After nine top-fives in 26 previous starts with the 500 Tour, Macenko used one word to describe his first trip to victory lane.
“I really can’t put it into words, it feels overdue for one. I know I’ve been ready, people have been telling me for the last year you guys are so close to winning, it’s coming,” said Macenko. “I went from a point of it’s coming to it’s overdue because we had a couple really good chances last year but we didn’t capitalize on them. After we qualified and started on the front row, I knew we had to capitalize on it.”
After starting on the outside front row, Macenko lost a spot on the opening lap of the 40-lap main event. He quickly moved to second before getting by Davey Hamilton Jr in lapped traffic just before halfway. A yellow with nine to go wiping a commanding lead would make the final laps interesting, as he held off a late charge from Hamilton to the checkered flag.
Even after a second place qualifying effort, he felt his strength would be over the long run during the race.
“Dakoda (Armstrong) got me early but I knew lapped traffic was going to be a factor so maybe I could get around him and get around Davey (Hamilton Jr) later on and that’s exactly what happened. He got a little compromised on the bottom trying to get around a lapped car and luckily I caught him in the right place at the right time. I was able to start up top and swing low and get a big run down the back straightaway and drive really deep in the corner and get in front of him and make it stick.”
“It started yesterday trying to get a baseline setup that worked for us and I think we did that. We had a really good handling racecar. I didn’t think we were the fastest over one or two laps and I think that showed in practice and in qualifying. I knew the car was really stable and was going to be hard to beat in the race.”
Davey Hamilton Jr finished second after setting a new track record in qualifying. Kody Swanson, Nathan Byrd and Dakoda Armstrong rounded out the top-five.
The yourBIGplans.com 500 Sprint Car Tour returns to action on Saturday, July 11 with the first-ever appearance at Pennsylvania’s Jennerstown Speedway.
500 Sprint Car Tour – Tom Bigelow Showdown Results:
1. Jackson Macenko
2. Davey Hamilton Jr
3. Kody Swanson
4. Nathan Byrd
5. Dakoda Armstrong
6. Bobby Santos III
7. Chase Cabre
8. Ryan Newman
9. Donnie Adams Jr
10. CJ Leary
11. Brady Allum
12. Tony Main
13. Tony McVey
14. Cord Erhart
15. Justin Harper
16. Timmy Creech
17. Rylan Gray
18. Doug Fitzwater
19. Olivia Shelbo
