5/9/2017
Terry McCarl
Tuesdays with TMAC – Catching a Break at Knoxville!
Tuesdays with TMAC – Catching a Break at Knoxville!
(Bill W) May 9, 2017 – Terry McCarl and the TMAC Motorsports #24 team had a challenging weekend, but continue to gain speed in their new JR1 chassis. The Altoona, Iowa driver posted eighth quick with both the World of Outlaws at Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia Friday and at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa on Saturday. Plans this week are to run with the Sprint Invaders Wednesday at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, and Saturday at Knoxville.
Terry and son Austin had a chance to do a meet and greet on Tuesday. “We were able to do a talk with the residents at Wesley Acres in Des Moines,” says TMAC. “We showed some videos, answered questions, and showed them Austin’s car. It was fun. We had our uniforms and helmets. It’s neat to show people those things. They had a lot of questions.”
TMAC had a chance to race close to one of his primary sponsors Friday in Sedalia. “Price Chopper is headquartered in Kansas City, so it’s always good to get down there,” he says. “We like to race in front of their customers down there.”
He timed in eighth quick in a stout 32-car field. “We went out early, and that helped,” says TMAC. “It was only our second night out on our new JR1 chassis. I didn’t feel like I turned the best laps, so I was happy to be eighth quick. That’s the best we’ve timed in with the Outlaws the last couple of years, so I feel we’re getting a handle on our engine program.”
The time put TMAC outside row one for his heat. “We were able to run second and make the Dash,” he says. “I think we only made one all of last year. This new Outlaw format has not been conducive to me making the Dash. So that was good. It was a good time to test. It’s hard to get a track in feature race conditions when you rent a track. Racing is a good way to test when you’re not chasing points. We didn’t have time to change all we needed for the feature, and we kind of missed the setup (finishing 18th).”
At Knoxville on Saturday, he would again time in eighth quick. “We’ve had three nights on this chassis, and we’ve been eighth quick every night,” says TMAC. “That’s good, because we’ve struggled really for a year and a half or so. The track on Saturday was different. It was tricky, and I like when the track is that way. The Dunkin’s did a great job. You could drive about anywhere if you had your car right. The bottom was actually rough. You had to attack it almost like a cushion.”
After running fifth in his heat, TMAC lined up 12th for the feature. Just as disaster was striking and it looked like he’d have to retire, a caution came out. “It was a big break for us,” he explains. “I dove into one and two the car got squirrelly when I came off of two. The left rear dropped and I kind of knew what was going on. Going into three and four, I knew I had a broken stop. I cruised down the frontstretch out of everyone’s way. I didn’t want to cause a yellow, so I went to exit stage left. Once I turned the corner, I heard John (McCoy) say yellow over the radio.”
The crew went to work. “We were able to get around there to the work area,” says TMAC. “(Crew chief) Doug (Rankin) was in three and Steve (Fitzpatrick) was in two, so my other guys, Pat and Brian, fortunately, were there. They were able to get the jack, and by the time Doug and Steve got there, the car was ready to work on. The stop had broken. They had to get one back on quickly and it was a half a turn from where it needed to be. We did our best and got back through there the best we could and got to 13th. Points-wise it might help us gain a spot or two at the end of the season.”
TMAC may add a race to his weekend. “We’ll see how things go on Saturday,” he says. “I really love Haubstadt and Tommy Helfrich (track owner). The Outlaws are there on Sunday, and we may head down there. But that’s up in the air right now.”
McCarl Family Websites!
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 won twice on May 12 in his 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.
"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 SnowPlow Snow Pushers – www.TheSnowPlow.com, Country Builders Construction, Bosma Poultry, Destiny Motorsports, Simplot Grower Solutions, Price Chopper, Hiland Dairy, Searsboro Telephone Company, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Berryhill Racing, Phil and Vivian, Justice Brothers/Gillund Enterprises, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Chris Spaulding – Attorney at Law, SuperFlow, Schoenfeld Headers, Rens Trucking, NutriShop – Maple Grove, MN, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Maxim Chassis, Bob and Beulah Elder, Engler Injection, Snap On Tools, Sposato Paint, Winters, Kilani Fender, Inc., DriverWebsites.com, CM Rock, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Pro Shocks, Bell Helmets, Burnett's Rock and Landscaping, Octane Ink, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Dynasty Stucco, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, KSE Steering, Snyder Lawn & Landscaping, Strange Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, Waterman Fuel Pumps, Butlerbuilt and Mote Fasteners.
Photo: The McCarl stable at Sedalia
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
sprntcar@hotmail.com
Twitter: @BillWMedia
Website: www.OpenWheel101.com
