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Tuesdays with TMAC – A Game of Inches!
(Bill W) October 16, 2007 – Racing with the World of Outlaws, like most other sports can be a game of inches. One spot can mean the difference between a spot on the pole for the big cash, or a spot in the back of the pack. Sprint car driver, Terry McCarl, found himself on the wrong end of that equation last Saturday night at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, California.
After a deluge of rain in Northern California made for a wet surface, an early time trial was not the preferred spot for TMAC. "We drew a two for qualifying, and it was extremely greasy," he says. "That was not the place to be in qualifying. We only had one lap to get it done with the new rule, which is the same for everyone. We did the best we could, and ended up 16th, which ended up just about perfect considering everything."
Knowing that the top two would make the dash, and knowing that the hottest driver on the planet Earth was lining up behind him, TMAC knew that a good start from the pole was his only hope. "The way Tulare is, the guy on the pole is at a disadvantage. I tried to take a slow approach to the start, and mess with Jason (Sides) as much as I could, but he did a good job of getting me on the start. We were in the fourth heat and I had to deal with (Donny) Schatz as well. Obviously, he's tough right now. I ran the bottom in one and two, and it was still pretty greasy. I thought by that point (heat four), it would be a little tackier. The car was loose for the conditions and wasn't driving forward well at all. We were able to hold Donny off for quite awhile, but he got us with a lap and a half to go. That made his night, and hurt ours to be sure. When he went to draw, he was last, so he didn't have to draw and it was a one (pole for the dash). Our night would have been a lot different if we could have held him off there in the heat."
Instead, TMAC found himself starting outside of row eight, and a shot at a different setup didn't work so well. "It was extremely tacky, and we should have known better," he says in retrospect. "We were off a bit. I watched (Jac) Haudenschild run the top in the B main above the cushion, passing people, so I figured we needed to make something happen, starting 16th. We set up to run above the cushion, and I kept trying it, but it didn't work. It just got really, really tacky, and I don't think anybody passed anybody after awhile."
"On top of everything else, we had a low tire again," he continues. "I pulled in and had the guys pump it up. It was down to six pounds. That's the kind of year we've been having. The number of tires we've had go down is kind of uncalled for. I probably screwed up on the setup and that's what caused it." The result was a 22nd place finish.
TMAC has no choice but to look ahead after Tulare. "I don't want to say anything bad about the track," he says. "They had a tremendous amount of rain, and the guys there did a nice job of even getting the event off. We're just trying to finish this season out strong, and get ready for next year."
Manzy/Perris
A pair of events in the Southwest await the WoO this weekend. Manzanita Speedway is a place that TMAC was able to finish in the top five on two occasions last year. The famous ½ mile facility in suburban Phoenix has been good to the Altoona, Iowa native in the past.
The WoO will make their first appearance at the PAS (Perris Auto Speedway) since 2004. "I've had quick time there in the past, and ran second to Craig Dollansky, when he got his first win (October 30, 1999)," says TMAC. "I remember one year (1998), we were running Hoosiers, and not many were. We started on the pole and we were running seventh. We didn't have a harder tire back then, and the 12 (compound) wasn't that good. We were coming to the finish battling for seventh and Jeff Swindell just hammered me. I flipped and pieces and parts were everywhere. It ripped the motor out of the car and everything. (Competition Director) Bobby Jackson came to the car to see if I was alright. I asked him if I crossed the finish line. He told me I was about fifteen feet away, so I asked if any of my parts had crossed! I've always liked Perris."
In"Terry"gation
Larry in Sedalia, MO asks: What was your favorite TV show when you were young?
TMAC Answers: I was usually into the stuff that was on after school. Gilligan's Island was big for me. Mary Ann and Ginger kept me going. They both had their place. You'd like to marry Mary Ann, but take Ginger out once in awhile. I probably even would have taken Mrs. Howell out once in awhile. She had the bucks!
Got a question for TMAC? Send it to us at [email protected], and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for TMAC" in your subject line.
Did you know?
In the WoO race at Perris in 1999, TMAC set quick time at 15.619 seconds, and was third in the dash. Following Dollansky and TMAC across the line were Tim Shaffer (Helm 11H), Steve Kinser and Sammy Swindell.
Website
Check out some photos from Tulare by John Meirhofer in the "Photos" section.
Keep up to date with McCarl Motorsports at www.TerryMcCarl.com. We keep it fresh for TMAC fans!
Ultimate Challenge Tickets (Refund/Exchange)
Unfortunately, severe weather cancelled the 6th Annual Ultimate Challenge.
A refund or ticket exchange (for your same seats) for 2008 can be requested at:
McTwo Promotions
Box 185
Altoona, IA 50009
(Please include your raincheck and a SASE with your request)
"Tuesdays with TMAC"
To receive "Tuesdays with TMAC", send an e-mail to [email protected] with "TMAC" in the subject line.
TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Big Game Treestands, Bosma Poultry, Inc., AmeriCash Advance, and Ground Max Hunting Blinds.
TMAC at Tulare (John's Racing Photos)
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IAUSA
[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
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@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com
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