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Tuesdays with TMAC – Gaining Momentum!
(Bill W) May 27, 2008 – World of Outlaws sprint car driver Terry McCarl is gaining momentum as he heads to Ohio this weekend to a pair of tracks that he has excelled at. Three races last weekend provided a foundation to build on as he and new crew chief, "Dyno" Dave Lawrence, were finding some common ground headlined by a seventh place finish last night at Rolling Wheels Raceway in Elbridge, New York.
In front of the Live Speed Channel cameras, the WoO took to the Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina on Friday. With Sprint Cup festivities going on, it's always packed at the dirt track, and this one was no exception. Coming out mid-pack, TMAC laid down the fourth quick time of the night. After finishing fourth in his heat race, and ninth in the dash, he was ready for the main event.
A good early run in the feature was curtailed after a caution. "We were solid, definitely," says TMAC. "It was hit and miss a bit. We were good early, then on one restart, I got a bit loose and was railroaded by everyone, and I lost four or five spots."
TMAC was again gaining ground under green flag conditions, but a spectacular crash changed the course of the race for many including Jason Johnson, who upended on the front straightaway. "We came back through there on the last restart (before the incident)," says TMAC. "I drove up on Kinser (for eighth), and thought I may even have had a shot at Schatz, when Jason got up over the cushion. I backed out of the gas, but Steve got right into the side of him. That would have put us into eighth, and maybe we could have got Steve…maybe we couldn't have."
TMAC has been dubbed "TV Terry" and lived up to his moniker in a different way on Friday with the in-car camera on board. "We were lucky enough to miss the wreck, then I got down in the mud and got sideways," he says. "It's always great to spin out on live TV with the in-car camera and everything! I guess we gave the folks at home the full perspective. To be honest, I saw the wreck in front of me, and that's when I got sideways. I don't really know that they should have sent me to the back on that deal, but we moved on."
To the back he went, and he was able to cross the stripe with a respectable 12th place finish at Lowe's. "We were pretty good," he says. "To be honest, the track was great for the finals last year, but when the Sprint Cup guys are in town, they don't want to get any dirt on the motor homes, and they water the heck out of it (track). This year was better than a year ago, but still pretty rough and heavy. It's a really fast track."
The WoO traveled to Saluda, Virginia and their first career visit to the Virginia Motor Speedway. The banked ½ mile was unique to just about everyone, including TMAC, who blames himself for a cruddy time trial run (20th). "I screwed up setting the car up in qualifying and that really set us back the rest of the night," he says. "From there on out, we got better and better."
With little passing occurring throughout the night, TMAC was the exception. After moving from 7th to 5th in his heat race, he lined up outside row nine for the main event. "We were one of the only ones running the top," he says. "We were picking guys off up there. Everyone was on the bottom throwing the wet stuff up on the track, and eventually it got too difficult to come off the top of the turns, so we had to go back down. There was a red flag early, and then it went non-stop. Normally, I don't like yellows, but we could have used one or two there."
A 13th place finish was the result, not what the team aimed for, but they were fast come feature time at a track TMAC took a liking to. "In the feature, we were one of the fastest cars on the racetrack and that was all there was to it," he says. "We were the only ones passing anybody. It was a really neat facility; they've done a good job with it. It's a little bit like a smaller version of Williams Grove with long straights and tight corners. The track just kept getting heavier and heavier all night."
The seventh place run at Rolling Wheels last evening came after another solid qualifying effort (9th). After dueling with Shane Stewart and winning his heat, TMAC finished eighth in the dash to set him outside row four for his seventh place 25-lap main event run. This weekend TMAC will tackle Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, where he has won twice in All Star Circuit of Champions action (last in 2006), as well as the Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, where he has been one of the fastest cars to hit the high banks the last couple of years.
"Since Dave has joined us, we've been in the dash four times," says TMAC of his crew chief. "It was my fault that we didn't get there in Virginia. I was way off on my setup, but other than that, we've been right there. There are a lot of positives in this team right now, and Dave is learning more and more about our motors. I'm really looking forward to Ohio."
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
Billy from Lincoln, NE asks: What is your favorite treestand from Big Game and why?
TMAC Answers: Definitely, the BigBuddy. It's a two-person ladderstand so there is plenty of room if you happen to be by yourself, or if you want to bring your son or daughter. It's a great place to bond with your kids, or if you want to bring the Mrs. up, what happens in the tree stays in the tree…I guess!
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!
TMAC won on this date in 2001 at the Huset's Speedway. He topped Dennis Moore Jr., Don Droud Jr., Mark Toews and Skip Jackson. The field was a solid one assembled over the Memorial Day Weekend. He won his fifth of a record six Huset's track championships that season.
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.
(Jason McConnell Photography)
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
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