Tuesdays with TMAC – Finding Answers in Vegas!
(Bill W) March 1, 2011 – Since opening the season in Georgia, to say Terry McCarl was struggling with his 410 would be an understatement. After trying just about everything, a change in mags was the key and it resulted in a sixth place run with the World of Outlaws at the dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week. The Altoona, Iowa driver will take some needed R&R for the rest of the month and prepare for a busy April.
After qualifying for the front row of the opening night Georgia run in February, the rains came. That’s about when TMAC’s luck went sour. “We’re not the most organized and we only have the one engine,” he says. “We were really fast out of the box in Georgia, and we were pretty good the next night or two. We had a mag in from Don Ott during that time. We got a mag back from the folks who do mine. I’ve never had a problem with mine, but things went downhill.”
Not knowing it was a mag problem, TMAC, Kory Miller and the rest of the team went to work to find out what the issue may be. “We changed everything we could think of on the engine,” says TMAC. “After we were fast with the 360’s (at East Bay), I took everything off that car and put it on the 410. We changed pumps, tanks and everything in the fuel system. We were still getting beat in Mississippi and Texas (back with the WoO). In fact, a 360 out-qualified us. To make a long story a little bit shorter, we finally changed the mag. I used the one out of Mark Burch’s 360 and ‘Boom!’ we were fourth quick in Vegas.”
Registering fourth quick last Wednesday was the high-water mark with the WoO so far for TMAC. He would go on to run fourth in the heat and win the dash to earn a pole position start for the main event. He would finish sixth. “Missing all the time last year kind of left us off on setup on different tracks with the Goodyears,” he says. “We were just a little off from the pole, and that’s all it takes. We ended up with a sixth place out of it, so compared to what we had been doing, that wasn’t too bad.”
Thursday’s race went differently from the start. “We hot-lapped several times (because of a sloppy track), and I missed the setup for qualifying. I thought I needed to loosen the car some more, and it slicked off to the point that the car was really loose when we got out there (qualifying 17th).”
After a sixth place heat run, the main event came to an end early in a tangle. “In the feature, it was pretty much my fault,” says TMAC. “I was just trying to make something happen. I was on the bottom, and ended up getting all tangled up with the tires. We knocked the front end out and took out some bolt-on stuff.”
Finding the speed again was worth the miles traveled. “I was pretty happy with the trip overall,” says TMAC. “It was a relief to figure out the motor deal. I just have to thank Mark Burch a ton for allowing us to use his truck and trailer. It turned out his mag was a key too. He’s a really good friend. We also got to spend time with one of our sponsors, Ryan Yager, from Ryan Yager Trucking.”
TMAC used the early season races to find his groove. “I’m just out there every night trying to get back to where we’re used to being,” he says. “With my injuries last year, it has been a tough deal. Every night, I feel we’re getting better physically and mentally. The mag thing cost us some time and money, but that is all part of it.”
Now it is time to get things ready as the season kicks into full swing come April. “We’ve got some time off now to recuperate,” says TMAC. “We’ve been gone for a month, so now we can get reorganized. We’re looking at getting things started again the first of April. We’re still looking for partners to market with us on a race to race basis.”
To check out those opportunities, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com!
Frubob Fruit Floats
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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!
In"Terry"gation
Jeff Schuman asks: After spending the first several nights running with the World of Outlaws, who is your pick to win the whole deal?
TMAC Answers: I don’t give a (crap) really. Who knows? Actually, they are all strong. The “King” is rolling good right now, and I would never bet against him. Donny Schatz will get his stuff together, and Jason Sides has one of the lower dollar teams out there and he has been running just as fast as anyone. He could have easily won a couple more shows than he has. Any one of those top teams can win it.
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.
This Month In TMAC History!
On March 4, 2006, TMAC set a new track record in time trials with the World of Outlaws at the raceway at United Sports Arizona near Tucson. He circled the 3/8 mile oval in 13.127 seconds. He would finish eighth in the feature after starting seventh.
"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 Deanfield Farms, Eagle Chassis, DeBerg Concrete, AmeriCashAdvance.com, RFG, Phil and Vivian, Mark Burch Motorsports, Ryan Yager Trucking, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Schoenfeld Headers, K&N Filters, Don Ott Engines, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Bob and Beulah Elder, Country Builders Construction, Engler Injection, T&P Brothers, Winters, DriverWebsites.com, CM Rock, Jocko's Sprint Parts, Sander, Brown and Miller, Morris Automotive, Chase Graphics, Pro Shocks, Mac Tools, Ben Cook, Bell Helmets, Burnettt's Rock and Landscaping, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Bulldog Pest Control, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, Justice Brothers, KSE Steering, CIP Racing Hoods, Strange Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, Waterman Fuel Pumps, Weiland Racing, Butlerbuilt, PBS Bushings.
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
sprntcar@iowatelecom.net
- administrator on Mar 08, 2011
- Article Date: 3/8/2011