CONCORD, N.C. – Cole Macedo will drive Alex Bowman’s No. 55 winged sprint car during this weekend’s World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, news the 21-year-old revealed Thursday night via Twitter.
He was supposed to have already broken into his flashy, new gig during qualifying at the fourth-mile clay oval, but inclement weather redirected that Thursday evening.
Instead Macedo announced his next stepping stone at Topgolf, a popular resort for friends needing something fun to do.
The seven-time 410 winner this year has kept the two-race deal with the NASCAR Cup Series driver under wraps for two months now and never planned for a splashy announcement.
He’s more of a show, don’t tell, kind of guy.
“I didn’t want to be the first to post about it,” Macedo said. “I figured it’d be a cool surprise deal. Yeah, I’m pumped about it.
“As a race car driver, I feel like my stock has gone up pretty high,” Macedo added. “Winning races there locally in Ohio is big. Then capping the year off with an All Star [Circuit of Champions] win is huge.”
Pretty excited to finally share the news about @World_Finals! I can’t thank @Alex_Bowman and @allyracing enough for the great opportunity to work with Joe and the guys! #ally55 #ABR 📸-Kyle Beckmann pic.twitter.com/aTocrhJfkY
— Cole_Macedo (@Cole_Macedo18) November 4, 2021
Macedo hoped to accelerate his winged sprint car career last year, but the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately distorted those hopes.
This year, with a host of other young open-wheel racers trying to also make up for lost time, Macedo realized his circumstances and clamped down on his craft.
He finished 74 points shy of the Fremont (Ohio) Speedway championship driving Ray Brooks’ No. 18. Four of his seven wins have unfolded at Fremont this year, his monumental victory with the All Star Circuit of Champions on Oct. 9 at the track being the most recent.
Practically all of his 52 races in a 410 this year have come at a track in Ohio. Macedo is eager to step out and take part in more high-profile events such as this weekend’s World Finals.
He considers this July’s Kings Royal — a main event he failed to qualify for — as the race that fits the aforementioned bill.
“You know, I’m 21 years old, I feel like I’m getting to that point where I need to get out there and run those big events,” Macedo said. “Even if I’m not doing good with them, at least getting my feet wet with them. If an All Star ride or [World of Outlaws] ride came about, I want to be pointed in the right direction.”
Macedo’s connection with Bowman runs through Joe Gaerte, the crew chief of Bowman’s operation who worked the same role alongside Macedo’s brother, Carson, at Kyle Larson Racing.
“I always told them, if there was ever an opportunity to drive that car, I’d love to work with Joe and race for Alex,” Macedo said.
Macedo has never ran at the greater Charlotte area clay oval before, but he’s hoping whatever happens this weekend advances his ambitions of joining his brother, Carson, as a touring driver.
“I would hope it leads to running something like the Knoxville Nationals, Kings Royal or some big Pennsylvania shows, some of the races [the Ray Brooks No. 18] can’t make it to,” Macedo said. “I’d love to run those races. I definitely am taking this as an audition, not for the ABR car, but my ultimate goal is to become an Outlaw.
“Running well at these big events is huge,” Macedo added. “I’m trying to get to the next level.
“Just making the show, running good with these guys, would be huge for me,” Macedo said. “That’s the goal. If we can run well and get out of here in one piece, maybe it can lead to other things next year, maybe run some big races for them.”