Tuesdays with TMAC – Year in Review!
(Bill W) December 17, 2013 – Another successful year for Terry McCarl was highlighted by eight wins and many strong runs in big events throughout 2013. The Altoona, Iowa driver came one spot short of winning the biggest race in Australia, before coming back to the States and beating the Outlaws in Volusia, Florida.
TMAC ran second in the Sprintcar Classic at Premier Speedway near Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia in January. “Most Americans don’t know how huge the Sprintcar Classic is,” he says. “We were blessed to be partnered with Colin Bulmer and Bayaire Industries. There were over one hundred entries again, and we did very well. We were very good all weekend long. Colin gave me a great car. It was the first time I’d been in an A.R.T. chassis, and that’s what made me fall in love with it. That’s how we got on the A.R.T. bandwagon.”
He looks to finish one spot better in 2014. “I just love the track in Warrnambool,” says TMAC. “It’s an awesome event and a must-see in Australia. It's like the Knoxville Nationals in the old days. We’ll be pairing with Colin again in January and heading back over there.”
Back in the U.S., TMAC picked up the win with the World of Outlaws during Florida Speedweeks. “We had some brake problems the first night and came back with my seasoned crew of RJ Johnson and Carson McCarl,” he jokes. “They were a crack team. It was fun to beat the Outlaws with that kind of family team, and they are two talented young guys. Volusia is one of the three or four toughest shows in the country to win with the Outlaws. Everyone is there. A lot of our good partners were there to enjoy it too.”
A struggle with the WoO on the west coast swing led to a chassis change. “I really had a problem with our car in California,” says TMAC. “When we came back to the Midwest, we made the switch to A.R.T. I was out there by myself. Of course, the Offill family helps me when I’m out there. I’m happy to see the Outlaws making two trips to California again. When they were just making the one trip in the fall, it was tough for me to get out there. This provides me an opportunity to get out there and race with the Offill’s in our familiar Country Builders #88 car. It’s fun for them, and fun for me.”
Despite a number of mechanical gremlins, TMAC finished third in the point standings at Knoxville Raceway. “We had our share of issues,” he says. “I’m sure I won championships when my competitors have beat themselves too, and I certainly felt proud about those wins, so it’s just racing. We had a shot going into the final night at Knoxville to win it. We pushed off for the feature and broke a rocker arm, so I just had the feeling it wasn’t our year.”
A near-disaster occurred on June 1. “We lost a stop that night and fell out of a race,” says TMAC. “I wanted to go find it to show Austin that he had tightened it, and he had. That happened quite a bit this year. It was just something that happened. I didn’t crash the car, which was amazing. Lori thought that I may be a little more upset about it, but I wasn’t. I was just happy not to crash. I thought we may have lost the championship that night, and it turned out I was right.”
The hard luck continued. “We had the right rear flat in the heat, which happens…but I still don’t know how what happened did,” says TMAC about an incident in July. “The inside of the right rear wheel bent so badly that it looked like I hit a curb. It wrapped around the right rear caliper and they couldn’t get the right rear wheel off. We just had three or four incidents that happened. The luck just wasn’t on our side like it had been some years in the past. I was proud with all the adversity that we went into the final night with a shot. We’ll plan on coming back and working harder to turn it around.”
TMAC was able to team up with Jeremy Scadden’s #6 car out of South Dakota for select 360 shows. “I had never met Jeremy Scadden before and I was at Huset’s without a spare rear-end,” he explains. “Steve Rubin told me he thought Jeremy may have one. He brought it to the parking lot at Huset’s and we struck up a conversation and became friends. He asked me if I’d like to drive in the JSTS Speedweek. We ended up winning in Rock Rapids and we should have won at Fairmont as well. We ran really well at the Short Track Nationals too. I’m going to be driving for him quite a bit next year in the 360’s. He’s got an excellent car with a strong engine. He’s just a super-nice guy to drive for.”
TMAC registered a win with MOWA against a strong field at Granite City, Illinois in October. “I took the trip to Granite City, because my good friend, Bob Elder, had been not feeling well, and hadn’t had the chance to see me race this year,” he says. “I like racing with the people of MOWA. They are doing a great job and I want to support them as much as we can. I really appreciate all their efforts to keep 410 racing alive in that area.”
TMAC finished out the season driving Clyde Lamar’s famous #3c in Stockton, California. “I’m a real historian,” he says. “One of my proudest moments was driving for Bob Weikert years ago. I wish I could have driven for Al Hamilton. Now to be able to drive for Clyde Lamar was a real thrill. I had such a great time out there with him and his wife Marion. He’s a really talented guy and a smart businessman.”
The TMAC Motorsports #24 is thankful for their great partners, some of which were new in 2013. “We were able to add TheSnowPlow.com and the Snow Dominator to the team this year,” he says. “I look forward to working with them. We added Rens Trucking and of course, Colin Bulmer with Bayaire Industries and SCE Gaskets was big too. What’s great about our partners is they’re also our friends. They stay with us, and we stay with them. Of course, we’re always lucky to have Bosma Poultry, Country Builders Construction, Rossie Feed & Grain, DeBerg Concrete, Justice Brothers-Gillund Enterprises, Deanfield Farms and the rest of our friends too.”
To check out opportunities to partner with TMAC Motorsports on a nightly basis, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com or call 515 957-0020!
Plenty for Sale
TMAC Motorsports is selling their 2013 inventory. “Get a hold of me if you’re interested in buying,” says TMAC. “We’re selling everything but the truck, trailer and mule…engines, cars, gears, shocks, everything. Anyone interested in being on board with us next year as far as partnership…now is a good time while good spots are available.”
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 Year in TMAC History!
TMAC’s eight wins this year came in Volusia, Florida, Independence, Iowa, Brandon, South Dakota (3), Knoxville, Iowa, Rock Rapids, Iowa and Granite City, Illinois.
"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 Dec 17, 2013
- Article Date: 12/17/2013