(Bill W) July 7, 2009 – Terry McCarl was hoping for three wins in three states last weekend, but as it turns out, “two out of three ain’t bad”. The Altoona, Iowa driver picked up another win with the Interstate Racing Association at the Dodge County Fairgounds in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. A third place finish at the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa on Saturday, was followed by his 83rd career win at the Huset’s Speedway in South Dakota on Sunday. This week, he’ll try to score his second win in a row with the World of Outlaws at 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa before returning to Knoxville for Twin Features Night on Saturday.
Plans were changed when rains plagued the WoO show at Huset’s on Friday. “It was my first trip to Dodge County,” Terry says about the decision. “I was still sitting at home at noon, and the hauler was in Windom (Minnesota). Mapquest said it was 5 ½ hours to Beaver Dam for me, and six for the guys. We decided right then to make the call that we were going east.”
Things were in doubt for awhile in Brandon, South Dakota, but they eventually rained out. “It was funny, because we were sure the Outlaws were raining out at Huset’s,” he says. “It was still five o’clock and the rain hadn’t hit, but there was nothing we could do about it by then. That’s what’s awesome about our schedule. We don’t have to sit in the rain somewhere if we don’t need to.”
TMAC took a liking to Dodge County, setting quick time, running second in the heat, and passing Donny Goeden (from tenth) at the halfway point of the feature for the win. “It was a fun track…a big fairgrounds half-mile that was wide,” he says. “The car was good and by feature time, you could race all over the place. I hadn’t raced with Donny Goeden for a number of years. I had no idea he was in the black 11 car. I thought it was a young kid. I said to myself, ‘This kid is getting through traffic really well.’ I was laughing at myself in victory lane when Donny Goeden got out.”
TMAC didn’t show the flash he used to beat the WoO at Knoxville on June 27. On Saturday’s heavy track surface, he qualified sixth before finishing third in both the heat and main event. “We were testing a new motor, and never really got it figured out,” he says. “It was a weird day weather-wise, and we just didn’t get it figured out. On top of that, we screwed up on the setup for the feature a bit, and the two factors put together weren’t good for us. We were lucky to run third to be honest. I think with Lynton (Jeffrey), we’ve got a lead for Tod (Quiring) now in the Owner Standings at Knoxville, so that’s a good thing.”
The rain hadn’t left Huset’s by Sunday. “They had the track really nice and smooth, but the rains came before hot laps,” says TMAC. “Then it stopped, and came back harder. I thought they would cancel, but they worked it back in.”
The track called off qualifications, and TMAC finished third in his heat. “It ended up being a heavy, rough deal,” he says of the track. “We were scheduled outside row two for the feature, but John Lambertz and Sam Hafertepe got together. That put us up front.”
Disaster almost struck early. “On the second lap, I hooked a rut,” he explains. “Right before you crash, you hold the wheel tight, go into a tuck position, and close your eyes. I was at that point. I was headed into the fence at 100 M.P.H., but somehow I didn’t crash.”
From there, TMAC ran back to the front and added to his career-best win total at the track. “That put us back to about sixth,” he says. “After that, I tried to drive as ‘cautiously aggressive’ as possible. The cushion had a big ledge, and you had to hit it right. (Mark) Dobmeier ran up on us a couple of times, but we did what we had to do to win.”
This week, the Big Game Treestands #24 will see action with the WoO in West Burlington on Wednesday and back at Knoxville for Twin Features Night on Saturday.
Websites for the McCarl Gang!
Driverwebsites.com has developed websites for the McCarl boys. Check out the new look of www.TerryMcCarl.com, and check out the newly developed www.AustinMcCarl.com and www.CarsonMcCarl.com!
Front Row Challenge/Ultimate Challenge Tickets On Sale!
Order your tickets now for the $10,000 to win Front Row Challenge, and $15,000 to win Ultimate Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. Call McTwo Promotions Tuesday-Thursday beginning from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 515 957-0020 to renew your seats!
Infield Party Passes for the August 10 and 11 events will be $25!
For more information on the Challenges, visit www.OskyChallenges.com!
In"Terry"gation
Stacey Manitz asks: Terry, when you had that "divine intervention moment" at Knoxville (WoO win on June 27), do you feel Tommy and Duane were riding with you and giving you and extra incentive to kick some tail and win it? You sure looked like it!!
[b TMAC Answers:] Yes I did. It was nice doing that for Duane. He would have gotten some laughs out of it with his sense of humor. When people asked what was in the bag, I just said, “Duane”. He ended up on my suit, and on the racecar, so he was definitely with us. My brother Tom was a big motivator for me. He was a salesman, so he always had some stuff for me to read on that. I think about him every day, and I could hear him talking me through it that night.
Got a question for TMAC? Send it to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for TMAC" in your subject line.
[b This Day in TMAC History!]
TMAC has two wins to his credit at Huset’s on this date. The first came behind the wheel of Brad Gray’s #51 in 1996. He topped Gary DeWall, Steve Beitler, Todd Wessels and Chad Mellenberndt that night. In 2002, he drove his own #24 to victory over Justin Henderson, Don Droud Jr., Jason Sides and Chad Meyer.
Website Updates
Keep up to date with McCarl Motorsports at www.TerryMcCarl.com. We keep it fresh for TMAC fans!
"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 Big Game Treestands, AmeriCashAdvance.com, DeBerg Concrete and Remington Treestands.
Photo -
The Big Game Treestands #24 team in VL at Dodge County (B.E.M. Photography)
- Bill Wright on Jul 08, 2009
- Article Date: 7/8/2009