Macedo needed to follow a tedious, four-month process just to secure a visitor visa.
“It was sort of a last-ditch effort to make something happen,” said Macedo, whose initial application for travel exemption had been denied.
In return, Macedo said Australia’s Department of Home affairs requested “a bunch of information to validate his travel.”
“It definitely wasn’t easy to get it all together,” Macedo said. “It was just kind of a waiting game. … I jumped on the next plane possible … and luckily it worked out.”
There are some differences between American and Australian sprint car racing, like Australia’s dish wings and its tire choice of American Racer or Hoosier Racing Tire.
The tracks and racing surfaces have distinct qualities themselves, but nothing unrelated to the prototypical American dirt oval.
“I don’t really know if it’s that much different,” Macedo said. “I would say the race tracks are just really tight, little bullrings. They don’t have a lot of big half-miles like we do. I’d say, for the most part, most of it is really the same.
“The race cars are very similar. As far as the car I race at home, the car I drive for Tarlton Motorsports, the car is almost identical to the car Sean Dyson races in Australia.”
If anything, the glaring difference between Australia and America is away from the track.
“When I look at the differences between Australia and the U.S., the food is really the biggest difference,” Macedo said. “The portion sizes here are much more realistic than at home. When we order a large meal, it’s way more than you could, or should, eat.”
“We had takeaway [the Australian term for takeout] the other night and it was proportionate to how it should be. The food, I do enjoy the food over here. It’s a little bit different. … There’s so many good places. The barbecue is great. If I sat here and listed them all out, it’d take me a while.”
Macedo’s four wins among the World of Outlaws final months of September, October and November were a series best, and he anticipates more wins on the way, not only in the coming month, but hopefully after the dawn of a new year.
“I feel like it’s helped me progress through the years as a driver, just never taking a break – staying sharp,” Macedo said. “Hopefully when Volsuia rolls along, it’ll show that I’ve been racing [and] it won’t feel any different or any faster.
“I know when we took a little break there during COVID-19, when we all came back and ran that race at Knoxville, everybody was all over the place. I think when you take a month off, it takes a little bit to get back in the swing of things.
“I’m looking forward to the Outlaw season this year. JJR is working really hard at the shop, getting things ready. It’s good to be over here doing my part to stay the best I can be to give them the results they are hoping and deserve.”