By Jacob Hord, @HordRaceWatcher Photo: Stephanie Linder
After coming up one spot short a week ago, it was finally Cole Macedo’s turn to take the checkered flag at Attica Raceway Park, showing everyone what he and the newly formed Ray Brooks Racing are capable of. We knew that once Macedo and Co. started putting whole nights together, the wins would come.
Macedo was quickest overall in qualifying, which automatically put him in the feature redraw as long as he finished in a transfer position in his heat race. Macedo did just that, and drew the three.
Coming to the green flag of the 30 lap feature, it was Gary Taylor and Brian Smith who led the field. Taylor jumped out to an early lead, while Smith followed in second and Macedo and Travis Philo battled for third. By lap four, Taylor had a steady 1.1-1.2 second lead over Smith, and Macedo, who won that battle with Philo.
On lap eight, Smith started to reel Taylor in for the lead. It was a .611 second lead for Taylor on lap eight and on lap ten, Smith was there. On the next lap, Smith, who was only planning on shaking the car down, took the lead from Taylor, and Macedo got by Taylor as well.
Smith built a .606 second lead over Macedo on lap 13, and was looking strong, but the lone caution of the feature came out and put Macedo right on Smith’s bumper. On the restart, Smith initially held the lead over Macedo, but as the cross flags flew, Macedo drove around the outside of Smith in turns three and four, and took the lead.
“I’ve been racing a little different than I have in the past. I’ve been biding my time in the beginning of the races, and once I feel like my car is good enough and there’s an open shot, I take it at the end of the race. I turn it up to 100% when I need to, instead of running 110% all the time,” said Macedo.
Within five laps, Macedo had gapped Smith by 2.217 seconds and was in cruise control, but lapped traffic was getting close for Macedo. Alas, Macedo looked like a veteran in said lapped traffic, slicing and dicing through, adding to his lead over Smith. Macedo’s lead was 2.824 seconds with two laps left, and there was nothing stopping him from taking his first checkered flag. Macedo crossed the line 2.889 seconds ahead of Smith, and last weeks winner Brandon Spithaler rounded out the podium.
“The ultimate goal is to come out here each week and win races,” said the race winner Macedo. “These guys give me a great car every single week that’s capable of winning, I’m glad I was able to do my part tonight and get the job done.”
Macedo has a lot of knowledge surrounding him, and he’s making sure to soak up as much of it as possible. He mentioned that he leans on his older brother, Carson, as well as Steven and Michael Linder, who get the car to Macedo’s liking.
“Mike and Steven have been doing this for so long, and they’ve built a good notebook, and Mike went through the same things I’ve been going through recently,” Macedo said. “I can talk to my brother every week and he’ll tell me whatever I need to be told. He’s honest with me and it’s very valuable to get information from the guys up in the big leagues like that. I absorb every bit of information they give me and it’s paying off.”
“I love racing for this team. We come here and we have fun every single week, even when I make mistakes, they get mad but we still make it a good time. It’s just awesome, I can’t wait to come back and do it again,” said an excited Macedo.
410 Feature Results: 1. Cole Macedo, 2. Brian Smith, 3. Brandon Spithaler, 4. Travis Philo, 5. Trey Jacobs, 6. Buddy Kofoid, 7. Caleb Griffith, 8. Byron Reed, 9. Gary Taylor, 10. Greg Wilson, 11. Cale Conley, 12. Stuart Brubaker, 13. Thomas Meseraull, 14. DJ Foos, 15. John Ivy, 16. Chris Andrews, 17. Nate Dussel, 18. Skyler Gee, 19. Kyle Capodice, 20. Jordan Ryan.
305 Feature Results: 1. Jamie Miller, 2. Larry Kingseed Jr., 3. Jim McGrath Jr., 4. Zeth Sabo, 5. Paul Weaver, 6. Brandon Riehl, 7. Brandon Moore, 8. Kasey Jedrzejek, 9. Kody Brewer, 10. Matt Foos, 11. Luke Griffith, 12. Logan Riehl, 13. Chris Verda, 14. Jeremy Duposki, 15. Mike Keegan, 16. Bryce Lucius, 17. Jerry Dahms, 18. Garrett Craine, 19. Mike Moore, 20. Justin Lusk, 21. Steve Rando, 22. Seth Schneider.