Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I have noticed this year so far at the Jackson Motorplex, Knoxville & Huset’s that only 2 of the 3 cars are racing at a time. Does Terry have only 2 motors to spread between the 3 cars?

They may very well be short on motors at the moment.

The first week at Knoxville they were all there and I believe they hurt 2 or 3 motors on opening night.

Sounded like Carson hurt another one last night.

There is a turn around time to fix broken motors and it also takes money.Sounded like Carson had rear end failure.I think they use Ryder motors. Snow Plow was a good motor sponser but is no longer with them.Also FRC didnt happen which had been a source of revenue.Tough business!

sponsorship is tougher now then it has ever been.  Covid 19 has been part of problem.  If a business has been closed or at just partial operation you can not expect them to sponsor you.  I do not know alot about McCarls, but it is obvious they are short on money.  It would be tough to run 3 cars.  I was told that a back of pack NASCAR driver from Iowa has to bring in $50,000 per race in sponsors.  He has made about 1/2 races or less.

Looks like you are correct and they are running out of stuff. Twitter says terry is racing with the 360s this weekend cause thats all he has left at the moment. 

Sad but true many very successful dirt track racers and up with a lot of memories but not a very big bank account.They call sponsers OPM [other peoples money] and 40% of purse is normal and when you dont win  there is not much left. I would say BB is one of the most successful at running his own team and keeping sponsers.McCarl getting injured while driving Big Game car was probably his last funded ride as the younger drivers have an advantage. Most owners have a successful business that can use racing as a write off. Heard it said many the best way to make $1000000 racing is start with 2.I can think of a few legends that had to get a real job to support their habit . Talent alone doesnt buy many motors at $70K +

That isn’t unusual for McCarl to run 360 races some around the Knoxville 410 schedule.  We have seen him do that many times at Jackson.

Stan Meissner

In the past he would run 360 races around the upper Midwest and always show up at Knoxville with a 410 so yeah, this is a different situation than just hitting an occasional 360 show.  Sponsorship is said to be more difficult to obtain and then there is the age factor as well where it might be a harder sell with today's youth movement in racing. 

Stan Meissner

T Mac to race Husets Sunday and Monday in the Rustad #2x out of Pipestone.

The worst president of my lifetime:
Ronald Reagan

Trying to run three cars with no major sponsor is beyond ambitious it's just unrealistic. Running out of motors in May tells you all you need to know.

I'm not going to pretend I know anything about thier situation. That said, I swear I've heard interviews that mentioned Austin and Carson secure thier own sponsorships/funds in order to race. If that's indeed the case, consider me impressed. From the outside looking in, Terry has always been good with obtaining and promoting sponsors and I'm sure those apples didn't fall far from the tree.

You heard correct,  however it does appear to be a family business.  Last weekend with twin features at Knoxville they won over $6000.... without breaking any motors that seems to be a decent weekend of racing. 

I thought Austin was driving for someone else out in California?

   Austin is running the Tarlton 21 in northern california full time.

Maybe they should Scruff it up and try the Outlaw tour, 3 cars out of one trailer $4000 per night if make show

 
 
 
They don't even know how to spell sprint car 
much less chromoly...http://www.ycmco.com

But take into consideration that the week before they made zero.

Changing my last reply to a more enthusiastic tone.  All three McCarls are at Knoxville along with several of the Outlaws.  31 cars, should be a good show.  Cool to see Joe and Ryan down there with the #199 running in the 360 division tonight.  They're from my neck of the woods.  

Stan Meissner

Sounded like they had a decent night tonight.

Austin 8th, Carson 13th and Terry 14th from the back as an alternate with a 360 under the hood.    That is pretty impressive.   That counts as a win as far as the points go, especially on a night that 7 or 8 of the top 10 aren't running for points.

If you have a 360 and race with the 410s can you use the same car and also run with the 360s?

Even though I may not know you, I 
care what most of you think!

Yes, but the car has to be spun one time pre-race. Here's the catch though, it needs to be done in a way so that it ends up facing the exact same direction it started.