Tuesdays with TMAC – Two More Top Tens with the WoO!
(Bill W) July 8, 2014 – Two more shows with the World of Outlaws registered second and tenth place finishes for Terry McCarl and the TMAC Motorsports team. That gives him nine top tens in thirteen WoO events this season. There were four shows at the Huset’s Speedway last week including a WoO event, keeping the Altoona, Iowa driver busy with Knoxville Raceway a wash two weeks in a row. This weekend, TMAC plans on running Jimmy Davies #99 with the Sprint Invaders Friday in Tipton, Iowa, before hopefully, getting a show in at Knoxville Saturday and returning the Huset’s on Sunday.
On Friday, June 27, things started with a 13th quick time trial with the WoO at 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa. “I was really disappointed after time trials,” says TMAC. “Burlington is one of my favorite tracks and we’ve always run well there. I think last year we were second quick. I missed the setup just a little bit, and it’s amazing with these guys how much of a difference that makes.”
Uncharacteristically, TMAC went backwards from the pole in his heat, finishing fifth. “We had a brand new left rear that shrunk in time trials and another new one that shrunk in the heat an inch and a half,” he says. “I had a ton of stagger and I was so loose. We almost didn’t make it out of the heat.”
He would start fourteenth in the feature and put on a show for the fans. “We didn’t panic,” says TMAC. “It’s tough to start fourteenth, but we just went with our normal setup there. We hooked it up as tight as we could. They did a good job with the track, and it never took rubber. We were able to come from fourteenth and run second. We had to pass every one of those cars. No one dropped out in front of us.”
Winner Donny Schatz and TMAC proved to be the class of the field. “We had a shot at Donny with a yellow late in the race,” says TMAC. “We got to start beside him, but he was just a little bit better than us. I think we were better than everyone else, but he was a little better than us. Coming from 14th to run second with the Outlaws…it was our second time running second with them in two weeks. We’re pretty proud of that. We struggled early, never lost focus and had a good result.”
Sunday night, June 29 saw TMAC aboard the Jeremy Scadden #6 at Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, South Dakota. “We had an ignition problem qualifying, which basically left us without a time,” he says. “We made it through the heat, and started twelfth in the feature. We had a great car. We were able to get to fifth and actually slid in front of (Roger) Crockett for fourth at one point. He was able to get me right back. At that point, it laid rubber, and we kind of got in line. It was unfortunate, because I think we had a car to win from 12th that night.”
The WoO moved in to Huset’s last Wednesday. “I had problems with the stagger again at the Outlaw show,” says TMAC. “I thought a small 94” tire would work instead of the 92”. I went out to qualify and I was way too tight. At a place like Huset’s, quick time was 10.6 and we went a 10.8 and were 17th quick. One hundredth of a second was the difference for us between starting on the pole of a heat and having a shot at the Dash, to starting where we did, which was fifth in the heat.”
TMAC would start 17th in the feature. “I was able to get by some good race cars in the first nine laps,” he says. “We were able to get by (Daryn) Pittman and got up to 13th right away. We had a yellow, and they put me back two spots for jumping, which I was very shocked at. First of all, I didn’t jump, second, everyone I talked to didn’t know that was an Outlaw rule that they don’t throw the yellow and send you back immediately. They waited nine laps until there was a yellow and then sent me back.”
He would put on a charge into the top ten. “I restarted 15th behind Kerry (Madsen) and Daryn,” says TMAC. “We had a good car. It was a tricky track. Eventually, it laid a little rubber on the top of three and four, but it didn’t lay any in one and two. You could run almost anywhere. It was a game of inches, and we worked our way back up to tenth. Without the penalty, I think we would have been a little better, but running with these guys, another top ten is good. I was happy with our efforts.”
Thursday at Huset’s saw a special show paying $3,000 to win. TMAC timed in third and ran second in his heat before starting the feature fourth. “I knew right away that I’d missed the setup,” he says. “I was loose from the word ‘go’. I had the wing in the trunk by the second lap, and that’s bad. I got into the lead and I kind of just hung on. I got into a lapped car, and I had to get out of it. (Mark) Dobmeier was behind me, and he was able to get me in traffic. We were able to run second from there.”
Last Sunday night saw another Huset’s event in the #6. “The track was a little slicker than normal,” says TMAC. “I missed the setup a little bit in qualifying and we ended up seventh. With the level of competition at Huset’s being higher than ever, that will cost you. We were able to win the heat race with a good car.”
Starting fourth, TMAC was in contention early. “We had a pretty good car,” he says. “It was ‘old school Huset’s’. It got really slick but didn’t lay any rubber. I really liked the track even though our finish didn’t show it. We were running second and got tangled up with another guy. We got spun out and had to go to the back. It was just really slick, banging the fence and running the bottom. I didn’t set up for that, but the track was great. We were able to get back to seventh. We just missed the setup a little bit.”
The track saw a bit of a surprise winner on Sunday. “It was great to see Dusty Ballenger win,” says TMAC. “He’s a guy who doesn’t get a lot of credit in the 410 division, but he’s capable of winning like he did Sunday. We were really happy for him and his team.”
To check out opportunities to partner with TMAC Motorsports on a nightly basis, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com or call 515 957-0020!
Front Row Challenge Tickets on Sale!
The 19th Annual Casey’s General Stores/Musco Lighting Front Row Challenge presented by Searsboro Telephone Company will be held Monday, August 4 at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Tickets are now on sale! For more information, call Front Row Challenge Enterprises, LLC at 515 957-0020. For further information, stay tuned to www.OskyChallenges.com!
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!
TMAC has two wins to his credit at Huset’s on July 7. 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.
"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@hotmail.com with "TMAC" in the subject line.
TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Country Builders Construction, Rossie Feed and Grain, Bosma Poultry, SnowPlow Snow Pushers – www.TheSnowPlow.com, DeBerg Concrete, Colin Bulmer – Bayaire Industries, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Berryhill Racing, Phil and Vivian, Justice Brothers/Gillund Enterprises, Ryan Yager Trucking, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Chris Spaulding – Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, K&N Filters, Rens Trucking, NutriShop – Maple Grove, MN, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Bob and Beulah Elder, Engler Injection, T&P Brothers, 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 Trucking, Van Der Brink Designs, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Buttman BBQ, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, Justice Brothers, KSE Steering, Snyder Lawn & Landscaping, 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 Jul 08, 2014
- Article Date: 7/8/2014