Tuesdays with TMAC – Long Haul!
(Bill W) May 12, 2009 – After spending Friday and Saturday at Eldora Speedway near Rossbug, Ohio, the Big Game Treestands #24 team hit the road on Sunday, traveling over 800 miles and 16 hours to compete at Huset’s Speedway Sunday night. The team and driver Terry McCarl will stay in the Midwest this week, running a rare 360 show on Friday at Jackson Speedway, before returning to the Knoxville Raceway on Saturday, and Huset’s Sunday.
Things started just about as well as they could on Friday night, but then Mother Nature came calling. “Everything was going perfectly,” says TMAC. “The car was great. We timed well (4th), ran second in the heat (from 4th), and finally drew well for the dash (2). There’s nothing you can do about the weather though.”
The first night was scrapped and TMAC came out late on Saturday to register the 14th quick time of the night. “The track conditions tricked me a little bit on Saturday, and I screwed up a bit,” he says. “We were a little loose qualifying…it slicked off a little more than I thought it would. With the times so close, that can take you out of the invert quickly when there are only three heats.”
After a fifth place run in the heat, TMAC started outside row seven for the feature and things seemed to be clicking. “By the seventh lap, we were up to seventh and the yellow came out,” he says. “That put me back to ninth when they went to the last completed lap. The car was strong at that point, but it got tighter and tighter with every caution, and we would lose a couple spots on the restart. There was about as much moisture in the track as you’ll ever see at Eldora.”
Adjustments were made with a stoppage and he wound up in the top ten. “A red helped us late there, because we got some more air in the tire, and we were able to get back up to tenth there at the finish,” he says. “Regardless, we got some good laps and learned some things for the King’s Royal in July.”
TMAC arrived in Brandon, South Dakota on Sunday afternoon after an all-night ride. It paid off, as he blistered a new track record with a time of 10.317 seconds on the 3/8 mile oval. “It was one of the bright spots for driving 16 hours, and to be honest, a little bit of the reasoning,” he adds. “I knew the air would be cool, and with the new dirt on it, we would have a shot. You don’t get paid for that stuff, but that’s something I always shoot for and am proud of. I’m not as young as I used to be doing that stuff, but Rich Toews hired Brian to help us drive and we can make a trip like that because of it.”
The heat went without problem, and TMAC took advantage of a special offer from Baete Forseth of $1,000 to start from the rear and win. The amount will go up $500 a week. “The fans were treated to a great race, that’s for sure,” says TMAC. “Clint (Garner) and I both started in the back. I felt we had it won. It was rough in the corners to be sure, but it was a very fun track. It was pretty crazy from where I was sitting. The drivers did a great job, and I was surprised there weren’t a few more crashes. I saw a stock car on two wheels, so you know it was crazy. We like those challenges. I like to promote that way, obviously, so when there is one out there, you want to take it and put on a show for the fans. It’s tough when (Mark) Dobmeier is starting up front, but we caught him.”
A late caution set up a green, white, checker finish with Dobmeier leading, TMAC second, and Garner in third. The Altoona, Iowa driver felt confident of his chances, but ended third. “I didn’t care if he (Dobmeier) went high or low, I was going the opposite,” he says. “I didn’t know it, but a rock had knocked one of our fuel nozzles off, so we were down to seven cylinders. We have a rock guard on that side too, so that was a freaky thing. Clint was able to get by us for second at the end. That kind of ruined the green, white, checker finish for us. I know Mark wouldn’t have let us pass him easily, and Clint was right there too. I drove my butt off, so it was disappointing, but not anyone’s fault.”
In a rare 360 start, TMAC will go for the $5,000 to win Jackson Spring Nationals in Jackson, Minnesota on Friday. Saturday night will be reserved for Knoxville, where drivers such as Tim Kaeding, Wayne Johnson and Tim Shaffer are rumored to be racing in the already tough 410 class as well.
New 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 or on TMAC Motorsports, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com.
In"Terry"gation
Ryan from Berwick, IA asks: I was curious if you have ever thought about promoting a World of Outlaws race at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (Des Moines)?
TMAC Answers: I had it almost done 10 or 12 years ago. Ted Johnson was o.k. with us running it on a Sunday after I-80 Speedway ran Friday and Saturday. He called back and said Robert Lawton needed to be involved, and then it didn’t happen. There were politics then like there is now. For an Outlaw show to be run around here, you need to go through SLS Promotions now. We’re looking at doing something as soon as next year there, though it may not be the Outlaws, it will still be good. I often drive by there and think about 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 Day in TMAC History!
TMAC has two wins on this day in history at the Huset’s Speedway. In 1996, he drove Brad Gray’s #51 to victory over Marlon Jones, Chad Mellenberndt, Don Droud Jr. and Butch Hanssen. In 2002, he bested Chad Meyer, Gary DeWall, Justin Henderson and Gregg Bakker.
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.
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
sprntcar@iowatelecom.net