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Tuesdays with TMAC – Living on Tulsa Time!
(Bill W) January 8, 2008 – Terry McCarl's 2008 campaign will begin this week at the 22nd Annual Chili Bowl at the Tulsa Expo Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Altoona, Iowa driver will pilot the potent Wilke-Pak #11w, and qualify on Friday. TMAC's teammate will be 2007 National Midget Driver of the Year, Jerry Coons Jr., and he's excited about his shot at the famed "Golden Driller" trophy.
This will mark the second year in a row of Chili Bowl action for TMAC. Driving the Pace #44 last year, TMAC finished 10th in his prelim and 10th in the B on the final night. "We kind of put together a last minute deal (last year)," says TMAC. "I heard the Pace's might have an extra car, and Don Droud Jr. and Shane Cottle were driving the other two. I gave (crew chief) Darryl Saucier another car to work on, and they were nice enough to give me a chance. A lot of the non-wing guys aren't real crazy about hiring winged drivers. We had a great time. Outside of a hot lap session when we blew an engine several years ago, that was my first time in a midget."
TMAC used the opportunity to learn and did well in the process. "I made friends with those guys, and actually Dan and Scotty (Pace) are helping me out with sponsorship in this year's Chili Bowl with the Wilke car," he says. "I think we ran pretty well, and every race is tough in the Expo Center. The B main was stacked last year. I think Wayne Johnson, Tracy Hines, Jerry (Coons Jr.), Steve Buckwalter, Cory Kruseman, Brady Bacon, Danny Lasoski and Danny Stratton were all in there. Qualifying night we were fast. We had a restart late in the heat, and Bubba Altig got by us for the pole position of the feature on the last lap; otherwise maybe we could have locked ourselves in."
Indeed, the Pace Brothers will be on board sponsoring Wilke-Pak's Spike Chassis/Gary Stanton Mopar machine via their Pace Motor Sports Park in Brownsburg, Indiana, an industrial park geared toward racing businesses and organizations. Awesome Racewear is also on board with Terry, joining Wilke-Pak sponsors Speedway Motors, Mopar, Hoosier tires, K&N Filters and Kwik Change. Terry will look to take the next step, into the championship feature, in his partnership with Wilke-Pak and teammate Coons. "To have Jerry as a teammate is great," he says. "I think he's a really sharp guy. He's very knowledgeable about every car he runs, which is a lot because I think he runs about everything. He'll be a good guy to bounce things off, as will (owner) Greg Wilke. They definitely know what they're doing and have racked up some championships that show that. It makes you feel a lot better not being used to these cars, but having a solid team behind you that knows what's going on."
Going from winged sprint cars to midgets may seem like a stretch, but there are pluses according to TMAC. "One thing about winged 410 racing is that you're going so fast, you don't realize it after awhile. When you get into non-wing cars, or just about anything else, it seems a little bit like slow motion to me. That's why I think some winged drivers have had success at some of this. Racing with the World of Outlaws, we see a lot of bullrings at high speed and close quarters. That kind of stuff doesn't bother me. Where the non-wing guys have the advantage is in set-up and knowing their cars a bit more, so I think this goes both ways."
Though TMAC is relatively new to driving in the Chili Bowl, he has been a fan for many years and is glad it will be televised. "I've probably been to about fourteen of them. To me, the Chili Bowl is like IROC. You have champions from every form of motorsports down there…NASCAR, NHRA, WoO, USAC, Late Models, etc. Everyone in racing is here, whether they be drivers, owners, promoters or manufacturers. It's also great that it will be on HBO pay per view, because a lot of my sponsors can't make it down. That's also a good deal for (promoters) Emmett (Hahn) and Lanny (Edwards). They probably haven't made any money for a long time on this race. Maybe they'll make a bit of a profit this year!"
TMAC will qualify this Friday night, and hopes to bring a little bit of luck with him. "You have to have luck on your side. There are always a few guys who drive over their heads a bit. Things happen in a hurry!"
Tulsa Shootout
Last weekend, Terry and son, Austin, took part in the Tulsa Shootout at the Expo Center. Terry finished 16th in the non-wing Micro class after taking a provisional following a heat race incident. He used the race as a warm-up for the Chili Bowl.
Austin raced in the Restricted "A" class, won one of the B mains, and finished a solid 12th in the finale. Well over 1,000 entries from 25 states competed in the two-day event.
2008 FRC/UC Tickets!
Advanced ticket holders to the Front Row Challenge and/or Ultimate Challenge can order their tickets beginning February 19. All other seats become available April 1. Call McTwo Promotions Tuesday-Thursday beginning from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 515 957-0020 to renew your seats!
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
Bill W asks: With a year under your belt in the Chili Bowl, can you tell us the biggest factors in getting a midget to roll on the bullring in Tulsa?
TMAC Answers: Is like anything, really. You need a good car. It's a tricky deal because they redo the track and it's such a bullring. You have to go hard and keep your nose clean. It's such a cat and mouse game in there. Just like anything you've got to be fast and have good equipment under you. With the team we have assembled this year, it's going to be exciting! We just need to be aggressive and stay out of trouble.
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.
This Date in TMAC History!
Well, almost "this date" in history! On January 7, 1998, TMAC bested Brooke Tatnell, Max Dumesny, Kerry Madsen and Skip Jackson at Newcastle Speedway in Newcastle, New South Wales in World Series Sprintcars action. It was TMAC's only career WSS win. The victory came aboard Aussie Sid Moore's #77.
Website
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 and Remington Treestands.
TMAC drove the Pace #44 at last year's Chili Bowl (Bob Jones)
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IAUSA
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