HIGH LIMIT NOTEBOOK: Cole Macedo takes advantage of opportunity and sets 2024 plans; more notes from East Bay

TAMPA, Fla.: Cole Macedo doesn’t mince words when he talks about where he wants to be in his Sprint Car career. There is no waffling or confusion.

Like his brother Carson, who pilots the renowned Jason Johnson Racing machine, the California driver wants to be on the road. Macedo isn’t picky … he will take High Limit, World of Outlaws, or a True Outlaw schedule.

For now, things aren’t stacking up in Macedo’s favor. But when he does get an opportunity to shine on the big stage, he is going to make the most of it regardless of the competition in front of him.

Macedo turned some heads in the High Limit Racing season opener at East Bay Raceway Park Tuesday. In his first race behind the wheel of the Kevin Newton-owned Honest Abe Roofing machine, the 23-year-old driver clawed his way to an impressive second-place finish on a demanding surface.

The run showed Macedo’s versatility. You couldn’t just gas it up and rip the cushion. Drivers were struggling to find traction, and Macedo showed his worth by being able to tip-toe around the Tampa facility.

“This is big for me, especially with not racing since last November at Merced,” Macedo said. “That was the last time I raced in 2023, and I’ve been helping guys during the offseason as much as I could.

“To come out Night 1 on a big stage like this, it has me pumped up. I’m bummed that the second feature didn’t work out, but still, we had an awesome outing in this second 16T. I’m just super thankful for Kevin, Bob, TJ, and all of the guys. They’ve made it like home over here the first night, and it’s been a blast.”

Macedo will get other opportunities to shine. His primary gig will be on the West Coast in the familiar Tarlton Racing No. 21 for 55 to 60 races. The bulk of those shows will be in the 410 Sprint Car division.

It’s not on the road, but the area is getting a boost. High Limit going national has produced two $100,000-to-win shows on the left coast, and the World of Outlaws have also upped the ante during its California swing with the Dennis Roth Classic, which pays $83,000.

“I would love to be out here running a full-time schedule with High Limit or an Outlaw-type of schedule, but those cards just aren’t out there right now for me,” Macedo said. “The right opportunity, I feel, just isn’t there … having the right crew chief, the right team, the backing. I’m a year short, and hopefully, I’m there next season.

“I still have a good deal. I love racing with my family at Tarlton. I have a great crew chief behind me, and we’ve got good racecars and equipment. If there is any year to run on the West Coast, this is the year. There is a lot of money up for grabs. It’s a little more feasible to do earn a living in a year like this.”

Continued Macedo, “We want to race as much as we can. I think if Drew [Warner] and I get acclimated pretty quick and we click off a couple of wins, our boss, Tommy, will want to race as much as we can. So, we will play it by ear and just try to win as much as we can.”

There could be a chance for more shows with Kevin Newton or another Midwest car if things mesh and the schedule permits. Sprint Car racing is fluid. Rides seem to come open, and opportunities tend to present themselves.

Macedo did earn another turn in the Newton car for next week’s High Limit event at Golden Isles. From there, it’s an unknown outside of his West Coast dutites. But whatever Macedo gets in, he will treat it as an audition to get on the sport’s biggest stage.

“I want to be running High Limit or the World of Outlaws so bad,” Macedo said. “I’ve put my head down really hard this year and told myself, ‘I’m going to be in the seat as much as possible and take advantage of every opportunity given to me.’

“I feel I did that tonight, but we had a part failure there in the second feature. So, I will take advantage of every opportunity to turn some heads and get me to that next level of making a living and driving racecars.”

IMPRESSIVE START: We didn’t know what to expect from Tanner Thorson and the Rod Gross Motorsports entry … especially with the team’s late announcement that they were running the full High Limit schedule.

Thorson announced the team’s presence with a little bit of authority Tuesday with a third-place finish in the season opener. A good start considering this start-up team came together over the Winter.

Things unraveled a bit in the nightcap when Thorson failed to make it out of his heat race. He won the B-Main and showed speed in charging to 11th after starting 21st on the grid.

Still, it was a good night for the Nevada native. Thorson, who had some solid runs in Pennsylvania last season for car-owner Aaron Long, could be a player at some shows, and it will be interesting to see how this team progresses while dealing with the rigors of being on the road.

SCELZI’S EAST COAST TRIP: Dominic Scelzi flew in from California and subbed for James McFadden in the Roth Motorsports entry when it became apparent the Aussie’s travel papers wouldn’t be processed in time to make the event.

In the opening feature, Scelzi started 20^th and charged to 12^th. He had a top-five starting spot in the finale but contact with Corey Day broke the front wing and put Scelzi behind.

The team visited the work area and returned to action. Scelzi, who started third before going to the tail, fought his way to a 13^th-place finish.

MORE NOTES: It was a tough night for Justin Peck. The Indiana driver was running second in the first main event when he was squeezed by the lapped car of Chris Windom. Contact to Peck’s front end sent him into a spin and put him out of the event. In the second main event, he was involved in a first-lap crash on the frontstetch. He came back to finish 12^th. … Aaron Reutzel was in a qualifying spot during the B-Main for the Monday program, when he spun. He finished 13^th and missed the transfer to the A-Main. … There was a good turnout in the pit area. The Monday event featured 56 cars with Tuesday getting a bump to 58.