Tuesdays with TMAC – MOWA Podium Finishes Set Up Trophy Cup!
(Bill W) October 15, 2013 – A pair of podium finishes with the MOWA series on bullrings in Illinois have Terry McCarl set up for this weekend’s Trophy Cup at the Tulare Thunderbowl in California. A second place finish at Lincoln Speedway and a third place finish at the Jacksonville Speedway in Illinois last weekend were a good prep for what surely will be some hotly contested bullring action!
MOWA action started on Friday night at Lincoln. “Lincoln is a fun racetrack,” says TMAC. “I’d never been there. I’d driven by there a lot, but I’ve never been able to see it or race there. I’m looking forward to going back. It’s a little like Jacksonville, but it’s much wider with more room to pass.”
The Altoona, Iowa driver would start tenth in his heat. “We drew the worst number possible, and to make it worse, we were in the first heat which can make it harder to move forward,” he says. “We were able to have a great racecar, and we were able to move up to second. That locked us into the Dash.”
TMAC was able to survive the Dash with a win. “(Brian) Brown drew a four, and I started beside him in row two,” he says. “Christopher Bell ended up starting right in front of me. We got a good start into second. Brown must have had a good run on the top, because he split me and Christopher Bell on the backstretch. We almost had a heck of a pileup. It ended up helping me quite a bit. I was able to get a good run on the bottom and got by both of them for the lead. We were able to win it.”
He would hold the lead most of the way before he turned in a second place run at the checkers. “I got the lead from Bell on the start,” says TMAC. “I kept my line high in one and two and low in three and four. I ran it until we got into traffic, and I got clogged up. Bell was able to get by me there. Sometimes, it’s better to be second in those situations. I finally got going on the top and got the wing back where it should have been. I was able to run him back down and I thought we’d get one more shot at him. We were within a car length, but he did a great job in traffic and took advantage of some yellows.”
Saturday at Jacksonville, TMAC would draw the pole for his heat. “There’s a lot of pressure on you to win when you draw the pole with passing points,” he says. “We had Joey Moughan beside us and he can definitely run well there. We were able to win, which put us in the Dash.”
The Dash didn’t go as planned. “The way the draw worked out, we started sixth,” says TMAC. “I just really screwed up. The track was super-slick, which I like. I had a couple of used tires on, and they were sealed up like crazy. We just couldn’t move forward. I got to fifth and my goal was to get a top four. I knew Brian would be starting up front (in the feature) and I at least wanted to see him. Unfortunately, we ended up fifth.”
Starting inside row three of the feature, TMAC would end on the podium. “We had a really good car,” he says. “I just got to battling with a couple of guys early on and I couldn’t get going on the top. I knew I had to get up there, because it was laying rubber soon. Not only did I not move up any spots, I dropped back to eighth or ninth. I clawed my way back up to third at the end. I think we were lucky to do that the way the track was and with our start.”
TMAC feels the Illinois bullrings are good preparation for this weekend’s Trophy Cup at the Tulare Thunderbowl. “Those two little tracks are as close to California tracks as we get around here,” he says. “All in all, it was a good time and we made a few bucks. I think we learned a lot, and that will help us going into Tulare this weekend.”
There are always plenty of good friends when TMAC goes to California. “The Offill’s are like a second family to me,” he says. “Country Builders Construction has been a part of my team since 1990. I love those guys and I’m looking forward to seeing them. To me, the Trophy Cup is a ‘must see’ event for any sprint car fan. You want to make it out there if you can. We’re also racing for a great cause with the ‘Make a Wish’ Foundation. It’s a great race for a great cause.”
To check out opportunities to partner with TMAC Motorsports on a nightly basis, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com or call 515 957-0020!
Websites for the McCarl Gang!
Driverwebsites.com develops the websites for the McCarl boys. Check out www.TerryMcCarl.com, as well as www.AustinMcCarl.com and www.CarsonMcCarl.com!
This Month in TMAC History!
In 2006, TMAC finished third in WoO action at the United Sports Arizona raceway in Tucson. He trailed Donny Schatz and Brooke Tatnell at the finish. He won three features with the WoO in 2006, and eleven overall. His WoO triumphs came at Huset’s Speedway (SD), Williams Grove Speedway (PA) and at the Nodak Speedway (ND). He also recorded $10,000 paydays at East Bay Raceway Park (FL) and Volusia Speedway (FL) that season. Though missing much of that season with a broken leg, he still managed a 9th place season standing with the WoO.
"Tuesdays with TMAC"!
"Tuesdays with TMAC" is an up close and personal look at colorful sprint car veteran Terry McCarl. To receive "Tuesdays with TMAC", send an e-mail to sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with "TMAC" in the subject line.
TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Country Builders Construction, Rossie Feed and Grain, “Lord I Apologize BBQ Sauce”, Deanfield Farms, Bosma Poultry, SnowPlow Snow Pushers – www.TheSnowPlow.com, DeBerg Concrete, Colin Bulmer – Bayaire Industries, Berryhill Racing, Phil and Vivian, SCE Gaskets, Justice Brothers, 212 The Boiling Point Bar & Grill, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Chris Spaulding – Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, K&N Filters, Rens Trucking, Pick Farms, NutriShop – Maple Grove, MN, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Bob and Beulah Elder, Engler Injection, Superflow Technologies, T&P Brothers, Mediacom, Larry Fleck Trucking, Winters, DriverWebsites.com, CM Rock, Jocko's Sprint Parts, Sander, Brown and Miller, Pro Shocks, Ben Cook, Bell Helmets, Burnett's Rock and Landscaping, Van Der Brink Designs, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, Justice Brothers, KSE Steering, Strange Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, Waterman Fuel Pumps, Weiland Racing, Butlerbuilt, PBS Bushings and Mote Fasteners.
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
sprntcar@hotmail.com
Twitter: @BillWMedia
- administrator on Oct 15, 2013
- Article Date: 10/15/2013