WINCHESTER, Ind. — Cincinnati native Jackson Macenko scored his first career sprint car win in the Tom Bigelow Showdown at Winchester Speedway.
Macenko, the 2023 yourBigPlan.com 500 Sprint Car Tour rookie of the year, survived a double file restart with eight laps remaining to record the win.
Prior to the victory Macenko’s best showing was a second at Anderson Speedway in 2025 in the Glen Niebel Classic.
Davey Hamilton Jr. set fast time during qualifying Sunday with Macenko posting the second best time followed by Dakoda Armstrong.
With the field for the 40-lap feature starting straight up, Hamilton took the lead at the start with Armstrong moving into the second spot.
Macenko passed Armstrong on lap eight with an inside move entering turn one and closed on Hamilton. He took the point on lap 17 with an inside pass off Hamilton in turn three.
The only caution flag waved on lap 32 for debris on the front straight.
With the series using double file restarts for the first time, Macenko was able to maintain the point followed by Hamilton followed by Kody Swanson who got inside of Armstrong and was followed by Nathan Byrd.
At the finish Macenko, driving for Brad Hayes Racing, won by three-tenths of a second over Hamilton with Swanson, Byrd and Armstrong rounding out the top five.
“We had the fastest car,” Macenko said in victory lane. The lapped traffic made it interesting.
“The team had a great effort all day starting with qualifying,” he said. “I didn’t want to see the caution flag, but I knew I had a great car all day. I wanted to make sure I got a good restart.”
Hamilton said it was frustrating around the lapped cars.
Swanson said on the restart he was hoping to get a run on the two leaders.
“I’m pleased with a third place finish,” he said.
The finish:
1) Jackson Macenko; 2) Davey Hamilton Jr.; 3) Kody Swanson; 4) Nathan Bryd; 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
