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Tuesdays with TMAC – Heat Race Survival!
(Bill W) March 6, 2007 – The string of good runs continued for Terry McCarl and TMAC Motorsports as "Heat Race Survival" was the name of the game in two nights of Arizona action last weekend. Avoiding near disaster in the first lap of heat race action at USA Race Park near Tucson, and a late pass for the final transfer at Manzanita Speedway near Phoenix, increased the blood pressure of McCarl fans last weekend.
McCarl qualified fourth quick (12.748) and was one of thirty-two drivers under his own year-old track record of 13.127 at USA Race Park on Friday. "We started outside row two (in the heat) and I thought we had a good shot at making it (the dash), (Daryn) Pittman's motor didn't take off or something…I tried not to get into the back of him, and the guys behind me got into me…got me clear sideways…I thought I was going to flip the thing for a second. Luckily, we recovered it and dropped back to sixth, but we got back in a transfer spot (5th). We were happy we didn't crash and got to the feature through the heat, but we were disappointed we didn't make the dash."
After starting in row six, McCarl managed to move into the top ten on the narrow, heavy surface, and ended up with his fifth top ten (9th) in seven starts (counting Manzanita). "Not getting to the dash in the heat race set us back. We were pretty fast. We were pretty good in the feature, and we were a little bit faster than a few guys in front of us. There were no yellows and I had a really horrible start. On the second start…the one that went…I lost three or four spots at the start, I got it back, but that really hurt us. Everybody's so fast now, that makes it hard to move up some nights."
Another heavy track awaited the WoO travelers at Manzanita on Saturday, and as McCarl lamented, "It wasn't a good night to qualify 20th." After the disappointment in time trials, excitement found TMAC in the fourth heat when he passed "The Wild Child", Jac Haudenschild on the outside for the final transfer with two laps to go. "Not many people can say that they passed 'The Wild Child' on the outside!" Terry joked.
After starting outside row ten on a heavy track, Terry found himself 15th at the finish. "It was another tough race to get moving forward," he said. The desert was anything but dry, with track records shattered on both nights, but two solid finishes and the ability to roll the car back in the trailer both nights have the team excited about the road ahead.
The strong finishes saw TMAC leave Arizona third in the young WoO season standings. The series will take this weekend off before tackling Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas on March 16, and Pike County Speedway in Magnolia, Mississippi on St. Patrick's Day.
In"Terry"gation
Jim & Jan (Blackett) Tarter from Pittsburg, KS: Will McTwo Promotions be promoting more than the Front Row Challenge and Ultimate Challenge in 2007?
TMAC answers: McTWO Promotions will only being doing the two races at Oskaloosa, Iowa this year in August (Front Row Challenge and Ultimate Challenge). I am also involved with the WoO show at US-36 Raceway near Osborn, Missouri. My McTWO partner, Bill McCroskey, is also promoting a midget show at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa in June that I am not able to be involved in because of my schedule.
Terry in Lee's Summit, MO: Terry, I see you're not using WESMAR engines anymore. Why did you change, and what engines are you running now?
TMAC answers: I have not totally switched from Wesmar. I have two Wesmar, two Kistler and two Ott as of right now. We are just testing out the other top engine builders to see if there is something out there that we might be missing. I have been with Wesmar for 15 years and they have always done an outstanding job. In 2005 we had the most WoO fast times and the most second fast times with no engine failures.
Got a question for TMAC? Send it to us at [email protected], and we'll answer it in this section every week! Put "? for TMAC" in your subject line.
Did you know?
Despite the level of competition having risen considerably in 2007, TMAC has yet to run a consolation event, and has qualified through his heat race to the main event in every one of the seven World of Outlaws events run thus far.
Website Updates
Photos from Michael Hill and Tim Aylwin have been added to the Photo Galleries from Tulare and Manzanita, respectively, at www.TerryMcCarl.com.
Front Row/Ultimate Challenge Update
Advanced ticket holders to the Front Row Challenge and/or Ultimate Challenge can order their tickets now until March 29. All other seats become available April 3. Call McTwo Promotions Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 515 957-0020 to renew!
Infield Party Passes are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the race!
For more information on the Challenges or on TMAC Motorsports, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com.
"Tuesdays with TMAC"
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., AmeriCash Advance, and Ground Max Hunting Blinds.
 Manzanita 3-3-07 (Tim Aylwin)
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