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Tuesdays with TMAC – Where's Attica?

(Bill W) June 3, 2008 – A weekend in the Buckeye State saw highs and lows for World of Outlaws sprint car driver Terry McCarl. After a night he's already forgotten at Attica Raceway Park, TMAC came back with a solid finish at the high-banked Eldora Speedway near Rossburg. He'll spend this week at home preparing for two nights at the Knoxville Raceway on Friday and Saturday, and a Sunday drive to Pontoon Beach, Illinois and the Tri-City Speedway.

A combination of late draw, weather and a lack of car setup saw TMAC flail off the track and to a poor qualifying time (43^rd) at Attica on Friday. After that, it was a losing battle to try to make the feature event. It was a disappointment at a track that he has seen success, but the Altoona, Iowa driver bounced back in 24 hours.

There was no sleep for the weary on Friday night. "I slept about an hour between Friday and Saturday, and got up about 6 a.m. to work on the race car all day," says TMAC. "That paid off at Eldora. I have a good crew and they are working hard."

A bad draw at Eldora didn't set him back either. "We went out late to qualify again, and came home with fourth quick, that was awesome!" he says. "Dave (Lawrence) has done a great job with our engines."

Lining up fourth in the fourth heat, TMAC stormed into second and held that finish and a trip to the dash, where he finished third and began his setup for the main event. "We were real solid all night," he says. "We're definitely headed in the right direction. I've figured out some problems we've had with the car on the short tracks, and we're already feeling good on the bigger ones."

Several drivers expressed their discontent with track prep procedures on Saturday. "I'm not a track expert, and would never pretend to be, but it's not rocket science either," says TMAC. "Most of us (WoO drivers) were questioning why they would water the track right before we went out. We were hoping they would iron the top of the track and try to get that knocked down where we could run on the fence, especially in turns three and four. Instead, it was watered from the cushion down. I've only raced there a dozen times or so, but even I know that's going to make the dust worse there. It wasn't going to lay rubber; I wish they would have left it alone. Instead they put us out there right away on an uncertain track, going 150 m.p.h. and we blew the dust all over the fans and ourselves. You are looking for an accident to happen if you do that. There were ten laps out of the twenty-seven that I couldn't see the corners, so I know the fans can't see us either."

Nonetheless, TMAC surged to the fore when the green flag fell. "We were able to get in the lead there early from the second row, and we were 'o.k.' most of the way," he says. "As the race went on, the car got loose. I played the guessing game with the car beforehand, while they were working the track. You ask yourself, 'How long is it going to take the track to blow off that dust, and how much?'"

TMAC's loose condition saw him drop a few spots, but still finish a respectable sixth. "It was my fault that I changed my car," he admits. "It was looser than we wanted and we paid for that. It was pretty rough in three and four. I wanted to run up there by the fence, and I about crashed once or twice, just like about everyone else. That slowed our progress. I love racing at Eldora, and I'm looking forward to getting back there for the King's Royal, we'd really love to win that race!"

The six-time Knoxville Raceway champion is looking forward to returning to the "Sprint Car Capital of the World" this weekend. "It's going to be great to get to come back and race at home there. We had some motor problems there in April, so we're looking forward to getting back there and finishing up front."

On Sunday, the WoO will make up an earlier rainout at the Tri-City Speedway. "Kevin Gundaker has done a tremendous job of renovating that place," says TMAC. "It will be great to get the schedule picking up a bit too. I'm feeling good about our team."

Crazee Combos Continue!

TMAC and Daryn Pittman are continuing their "Crazee Combo" deals at the merchandise trailer! For $25, you can purchase a t-shirt, hat, sticker and coozie from TMAC! Take advantage of the "Crazee Combo" this weekend!

WoO at 34 Raceway!

The World of Outlaws are coming to another of TMAC's favorite tracks, the 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa on July 30, 2008. The race will be a prelude to the 10-day Southern Iowa Sprintweek. "The deal was finalized last Friday," says TMAC, who will have a hand in promotion. "What a great place that will be for an Outlaw show!"

Stay tuned for more info on the event!

2008 FRC/UC Tickets!

Order your Front Row Challenge and Ultimate Challenge tickets right now! Call McTwo Promotions Tuesday-Thursday beginning from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 515 957-0020 to secure your seats for these popular events!

Infield Party Passes for the August 4 and 5 events will be $20 in advance or $25 the day of the race!

For more information on the Challenges or on TMAC Motorsports, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com.

In"Terry"gation

Jerry in Rockford, IL asks: You've often said that it's more fun to race on a small bullring, but the last few years you've seemed to excel on the bigger tracks like Eldora and Knoxville. Why is that?

TMAC Answers: I grew up at Knoxville, so my style is about keeping the car straight…maybe I was meant to be a pavement guy! No, I feel I'm pretty well rounded these days and have won races at both. The big races happen at those tracks, and we've been fortunate to do well at them. I feel we're good at Knoxville and Eldora. As a promoter, I think I see the fans come away from the smaller tracks seeing better racing for the most part.

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.

Today in TMAC History!

On this day in 1999, TMAC won one of his two career features at the River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota under the 410 NCRA sanction. He was able to beat Jim Lambert Jr., Jason Sides, Lou Kennedy Jr. and Shane Carson to the line. Further back in the pack was Mark Dobmeier, a kid who was in his first full season of racing. Now, Dobmeier has 50+ wins at RCS and is the all-time leader in that category. In 2001, TMAC also beat Dennis Moore Jr., Don Droud Jr., Justin Henderson and Skip Jackson at Huset's Speedway (SD)!

Website Updates

New pics are up from the last couple of weeks in the "Terry McCarl" and "At the Races" galleries!

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 [email protected] with "TMAC" in the subject line.

TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Big Game Treestands, Bosma Poultry, Inc., AmeriCashAdvance.com, DeBerg Concrete and Remington Treestands.

TMAC at one of his favorite tracks…Eldora (Mike Campbell Photos)

Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IAUSA
[email protected]

If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me! 
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com

I don't want to turn this into a bash session but the man essentially took 5 laps of qualifying at attica and there were guys that Q'd late that did quite well. The late qualifying pill draw is not to blame for his woes. The track was in great condition all the way through qualifying. He has ran very well there in the past so I was very surprised by his efforts.

...

how did he get 5 when the rules call for 2?

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Actually, there were over 40 cars so the rules called for 1 lap. I exagerate but only a little. He tried to take his first lap 3 times and fell off 3-4 every time coming to the flag. Then on his 4th attempt he finally made it through 3 and 4 only to fall off the back stretch then he took another lap.

That and Jason Meyers smacking Brandon Martin out of his way in the heat were the WTF moments of the night.

...

Read it again...

A combination of late draw, weather and a lack of car setup saw TMAC flail off the track and to a poor qualifying time (43^rd) at Attica on Friday. After that, it was a losing battle to try to make the feature event. It was a disappointment at a track that he has seen success, but the Altoona, Iowa driver bounced back in 24 hours.

If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me! 
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com

I read it the first time. The weather and late pill draw had nothing to do with it. The weather had no effect on any of the race aside from the the a main being called quicker than usual. There was NO RAIN the entire day until the a main started to form and then it was only a light sprinkle that wasn't even strong enough to stop the race.

Also, as I stated before, the track held up through the entire qualifying session. There were drivers that went out late that had no problem laying down a competitive lap.

He simply missed on the setup. Why couldn't the story state that in a very simple manner?

...

Try to grasp this concept pslave, it's a public relations press release. It's not a news story. Repeat after me, NOT A NEWS STORY. The writer is paid to recap the driver's week, and perhaps it might be in his best interests to paint the events in a favorable light???? You think??? Find something important to bitch about, leave Bill W alone.......

I believe the sentence said there was also a lack of setup and he went off the track...no excuses there. Read on and you'll see the team did plenty of work on the car the next day to rectify some things...

Some of what the driver says to me on these releases is lost in translation (and censoring LOL). Terry is not one to make excuses. I may clean the exact quotes up a bit, just don't want to leave the impression his sole blame was on a late number or the weather. Obviously, he overcame both at Eldora to qualify well...

If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me! 
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com

amazing that a 1 lap format provides MULLIGANS when the two lap format does not...you take the green and you are charged a lap. Schatz spun a driveline at the Grove in turn 2 - got his biggest applause all night - then was given a MULLIGAN LAP at the end to "re-qualify".

if you can't keep the car on the track for TT, park it in the pit and head for the pizza line!

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

Try to grasp this concept, most people don't like having smoke blown up their ass. I'm well aware that Bill is out in the Iowa area and was only relaying what he was told because he most likely wasn't there to witness the event. Therefore, I wasn't "picking on" Bill.

Try to grasp this concept, this board has a lot of people that don't always agree with one another but, as long as they can discuss their different views with tact, they don't need smart ass comments by a 3rd party telling them to "find something important to bitch about". Me and Bill are both adults and were doing just fine without your "interjection". If I had stepped out of line then your comments would have been warranted. Since that is not the case I welcome you to sit down and STFU.

...

Bill, you're doing a good job. As I just told the idiot, my problem isn't with you at all. I just had a different view of how things went down @ attica.

...

Thanks for the personal attack, idiot, smart ass, those are some mature adult words there. You're still bustin someone's chops for doin a press release. A 5 year old could pick every one of em apart. Not trying to start a bashing session??? How'd that work out for ya.........

OK, lets try this one. After t-crack spun it off the turns the first time he tried to get one of the track workers to work on his car. The second time he spewed a long line of obscenities at the track worker. There's a real fuckin' pro for ya. Bash #1

Being a ford fan in sprint racing puts you at the back of that short bus. Bash #2

smokerudrinkplayeruget, Your an illiterate bag o' shit. Bash #3 I never "busted anyones chops for doin a press release" as you put it. Did I ever say "Bill, your press release is shit, WTF were you thinking writing that garbage?" NO. I gave a first hand account that disputed the information in the release. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT OR SHOULD I PUT IT IN TERMS THAT A 5 YEAR OLD CHILD COULD COMPREHEND? Bash #4 See? I even put it in caps SO YOU COULD SEE exactly what I was saying.

Your turn, come up with something nice and witty this time.

...

powerslave: what do you expect...all out of provisionals and a full supply of http://www.pissedoffenergydrink.com/

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

ROFLMAO!! Man, you are too easy!! Since you still can't grasp the difference between public relations and news reports, I'll leave you chokin on your own expletive laden air. Thanks for proving my point better than any "illiterate" effort on my part could have. Nicely done......

come to think of it, the press releases never mentioned that fiasco with Hannagan last year either...T-crap spin zone? hhhhmmmm...

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

I think you're the only one that's not over that, Mark. I'm sure Randy was that night.

Where was the press release about Solwold hitting someone, getting docked points,.... Why don't you beat that to death?

its not an incident but pattern of incidents that defines behaviour. erase the pattern with a press relase and you got yourself a democrat candidate!

let me read the Solwold press realize first...so i know his spin on what happened.

if it was the Lima dust bowl incident, i was there. it took place on the track and provided entertainment value for the fans - we cheered in our section. do not remember one fan or crew member being in any danger but maybe there was?

maybe you are bird dogging a different incident that was as ridiculous as pushing a car thru the pits while people scatter...please clarify.

Lincoln 1845 ft/.35 mile T1=118MPH 
Eldora 2287 ft/.43mile T3=135MPH
Port 2716 ft/.51 mile T3=TBD
Grove 2792 ft/.53 mile T3=135MPH
Selinsgrove 2847 ft/.54 mile T1=136MPH
"I didn't move to PA from El Paso in search of better 
weather." Van May

BRR - maybe L Lee getting physical with the Lima crew wasn't a big deal to you, but it was to them.  A couple of punches, some noticable scratches and a few torn shirts later, the ruckus was squelched.  When the All Stars come back to your neck of the woods, maybe you can ask Randy H about the incident at Haubstadt.  After purchasing a Hurricane shirt at Eldora his information regarding the incident was that there were no people scattering at 10 mph and his car stalled sideways on pit return road after liberally applying his brakes.  The real truth is that the WoO needs villians and heros, just like every sport has. 

Once again, BRR, don't let facts get in your way.

You won't read Solwold's releases, maybe that's why he's winning in Canada and not the WoO tour.

Unless you were one of the people 'scattering', you really don't have a right to comment on what you heard as fact. I can easily sit in Iowa and stretch truths I've heard in Pa. on this world wide web and try to damage one of your guys' credibility. (whether it be relivant to the post or ancient history)

I'm sure you're one of the guys who watches the news to find out how many people were killed, injured, or just totally devastated, as with likely 75% of it's viewers. Bad news travels fast, good news gets twisted to bad, or does not travel.

Btw, the democrat comment was a low blow.