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Tuesdays with TMAC – Getting Out of Dodge!
(Bill W) June 24, 2008 – Sprint car driver Terry McCarl has nothing against Dodge City, Dodge City Speedway, its great fans, or anyone else in Kansas, but it treated him a bit like the Wicked Witch of the East last weekend. Finishes of 11th and 17th were disappointing at a track that he has done well at in the past. A couple of solid runs in Mark Burch's #1m 360 were the highlights of the week. This weekend, the Altoona, Iowa driver heads with the rest of the World of Outlaws to North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Black Banana
The Ollie's 360 Challenge at the Sharon Speedway in Ohio was first on the agenda one week ago. The field assembled resembled the talent TMAC faces with the World of Outlaws every night. He describes his night of racing in Mark Burch's black "Bananawagon" that resulted in a sixth place finish. "We were really going good at Sharon," he says. "We started ninth in the heat, got up to fourth and we were running down third at the finish. We got in the redraw for the main and drew four. I knew from the beginning of the feature that we were just a little bit loose. We ran third most of the race, and got in a battle with Jason Johnson and Danny Lasoski there. We were good, just a little loose, and with the competition the way it was, you have to be spot on. It takes a few laps to get used to a different car again. The other guys like Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Jason Meyers, Danny Lasoski and Jason Johnson had the same car they run all the time. Mine is totally different…I would never complain, it just takes some adapting. Mark makes that adjustment easy for me."
The teamed towed overnight to the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa for the Winged Outlaw Warriors event on Wednesday. After drawing a tough heat that included Danny Lasoski and Brian Brown on row one, Jason Johnson, and WOW point leader, Jonathan Cornell, TMAC started inside row three and moved forward to third, one spot out of a redraw. The 20-lap feature was next. "We started on the bottom there (inside row five) at Donnellson, and it took awhile to get going," says TMAC. "I was behind Ryan Jamison, who rarely makes a mistake, and Jason Johnson flew by us on the high side in turn one on the first lap. Once we got going, we may have been the fastest car on the track. We were able to run the top two down a bit; we just ran out of laps is all (finishing third behind Kaley Gharst and Johnson). Mark and Marvin (Brees) had the car working perfectly and I don't think we would have changed a thing. It went non-stop, and we really could have used a yellow."
Dodge City
Back with the WoO in the Big Game Treestands #24 in Dodge City on Friday and Saturday, the two nights started well in time trials, but ended with unsatisfactory results for the driver. "We qualified well and that wasn't the problem either night," says TMAC. "We timed in 3rd and 6th quick, so we continue to do well there. There were great crowds with great fans both nights. We're just not getting it done come feature time, when it really matters. The setups I am accustomed to aren't hitting right, and I'm a bit perplexed. We'll get it figured out though."
On Friday night, TMAC treaded water about where he started the feature (inside row five). "We started ninth and ran there most of the race," he explains. "We had a long yellow late, and we've been having problems with the tires bleeding (air). We lost a couple of pounds there and it tightened up big time on us. We lost a couple of spots after that (finishing 11th)."
Things went a bit downhill Saturday with abrasive track conditions. "On Saturday, we started fourth in the third heat and ran second," he says. "The reason I ran second was, it was laying rubber and I found it before some other guys. In the process, I abused my tire badly. Everyone who had been in the first heat had good tires left, and that wasn't good for us heading into the rest of the night. We had no tire left in the feature and were pretty much screwed. We may have been better off missing the first three rows of the dash and taking it easy in the heat. We also broke a wheel center in the feature, and restarting at the back on a rubber-down track…there's not much you can do. We were lucky there was a caution (for contact between Schatz and Kemenah) and we could go change that. We were lucky we didn't flip."
Tonight TMAC will race with ASCoT at the I-90 Speedway in Hartford, South Dakota before departing for North Dakota, where the WoO will battle at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks on Friday, the Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo on Saturday, and Cedar Lake Speedway near New Richmond, Wisconsin on Sunday!
Great Weekend for Kyle Offill!
Kyle Offill, Driver of the TMAC Motorsports/Country Builders #88 GT American Hurricane had an awesome weekend at the Quarter Midget track known as "Baylands" in San Jose CA. The action started off in his Jr. Honda racer setting 2nd quick time, winning his heat race and winning his A main event from his 4th place starting spot. Then it was on to the Jr. Stock division where Kyle blistered the track record that had been held for more than a year, setting a new mark of 6.2991 to shoot for. "The car was just really fast and felt easy to drive," said the 7 year old driver. In Jr. Stock heat race action it was a 2nd place finish after a hard fought race from his last place starting spot. In the Jr. Stock main it was a great race again but he fell one spot short and came across the checkers in 2nd. "I'm really happy and proud of Kyle," said Keith Offill the dad and crew chief. "He's been racing so hard the past few races and I'm glad he finally got to have a great weekend where it all came together for him!" The team will head back to TVQMA their home track in Livermore, CA for more racing action this weekend.
Bill W Takes a Break
Bill W Media will take a break (barring any special editions) next week as he heads to Pennsylvania. A regular edition of "Tuesday's with TMAC" will return on July 8.
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
Al Thompson in Fargo, ND asks: Tell us what you think of the Fargo and Grand Forks tracks, and what are the keys in getting around them?
TMAC Answers: This weekend is the type of weekend that tests the best drivers and mechanics in the world, because the tracks are so different. River Cities is a small, round track where you are in traffic after a couple of laps and you need to "Cowboy Up". Fargo is a huge, fast half-mile where you need to be smooth. That's what makes the Outlaws so good; they can adapt to different tracks really well in 24 hours. I like them both. I've won at River Cites (twice) and have not at Fargo (two fourths). I remember going up there with my dad as a kid and I've always liked those places. The fans are awesome.
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.
Today in TMAC History!
TMAC finished second in the nightcap of two World of Outlaws features on this date in 1995 at the Knoxville Raceway. Knoxville regulars captured three of the top four spots, led by winner Craig Dollansky, TMAC in second, and Dennis Moore Jr. in fourth. Stevie Smith was third and Jac Haudenschild was fourth. TMAC also won for the second week in a row at the Huset's Speedway on this date in 2001. Justin Henderson, Jake Peters, Skip Jackson and Chad Radel followed him to the finish.
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.
(Dennis Krieger Imagery)
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IAUSA
sprntcar@iowatelecom.net
www.hoseheads.com/billw.html
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