(Bill W) April 6, 2009 – The racing season gets underway for sixteen year old Austin McCarl this weekend. At least he hopes so. Plans include tackling the ASCS-Midwest/Northern Plains two-day show Friday and Saturday at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska. After this weekend, Austin turns his attention towards the 410’s, including weekly contention at the Knoxville Raceway.
Austin has never run at I-80, though he spent last year in the 360 sprint car and feels comfortable with his equipment in the Janet Holbrook owned #17. “Equipment-wise, we’ll go into I-80 with pretty much the same stuff,” he says. “We’ll still use Eagle chassis with Kistler power and Vortex wings. We didn’t get to run out there (I-80) last year. We were planning on it, but got weathered out.”
The talent assembled in Greenwood may mirror what he sees on Saturday nights at Knoxville this season. Both Brian Brown and Billy Alley are expected to be in the field, and the event usually draws some of the best racers in the Midwest.
Austin’s rookie season in 2008 was a good one. In fourteen feature starts, he finished in the top ten five times with a high finish of third at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. He is thankful for the opportunity he’s been given. “I definitely like to thank my car owner, Janet Holbrook, first and foremost, for making this possible,” he says. “Kistler has helped a lot, and I’d also like to thank AmericashAdvance.com, Phil and Vivian and Deberg Concrete too.”
Of course, we can’t forget Austin’s grandfather and crew chief, Lenard McCarl, who provides a steady influence for the Altoona, Iowa youngster. He’s quick to add, “My uncle Kenny and Jimmy will be helping us too, so we’re ready to rock.”
A Wesmar 410 will be between the frame rails for the Knoxville opener on April 25. Austin’s goals this year are simple and to the point. “I just want to do the best I can, and try to get better every time out. I want to learn something every single night. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to win the Rookie thing too.”
Practice night at Knoxville will commence on April 18, but Austin has other plans. That’s Prom night for the Sophomore who attends Southeast Polk High School. Instead, he hopes to get some laps in the night before the opener. “We’ll practice the night before the opener to hopefully get some laps in,” he says.
Austin would like to thank Janet Holbrook, Lenard, Kenny, Jimmy, DeBerg Concrete, AmericashAdvance.com, Burnett's Rock and Landscaping and Phil and Vivian for all their help!