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Tuesdays with TMAC – Renfro Joins Team for the Grove!
(Bill W) September 25, 2007 – It was another good finish at the Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio for sprint car driver, Terry McCarl. The Altoona, Iowa native has had one of the fastest cars this year at Eldora, and Saturday night was no exception, as he secured another top five finish on the tough World of Outlaws circuit! The Williams Grove Open looms this weekend, and TMAC and the team with have a little extra help in the form of Troy Renfro.
Timing in third quick, TMAC finished third in his heat race, one spot out of a "redraw" dash spot that would have put him in prime dash position at Eldora. "We were close to getting (Randy) Hannagan in the heat race for second, and didn't quite get it done," he says. The finish put him in the fifth row of the dash by way of his qualifying time. He was able to move into a starting spot on the fourth row outside of the 30-lap main event by way of an 8th place finish.
In preparation for the feature, the Altoona, Iowa native took a different approach. "I think we went with a little harder tire than most guys," he says. "It (the track) was a little rough all night long, but it ended up being a really good track. The first lap, I hooked a rut and about turned it over. Daryn Pittman was able to get by me there. At about eight or ten laps, we really started coming on."
After losing a few spots, TMAC got the Big Game Treestands #24 going. "I think we had dropped back to tenth at that point," he says. "We came back and started picking a few guys off. We were able to get back by Daryn. We found a line by the fence that I think only Joey (Saldana) and (Jac) Haudenschild were using. We were really coming, and the red came out with six laps to go. They put Daryn back in front of us at that point."
The car was speaking to TMAC during the stoppage. "During the red, I heard the unfriendly noise of a leaking right rear tire," he says. "We had a hole in it, so Greg (McCormick) put as much air in it as possible…around 20 lb., and he plugged the hole with his finger, took the bleeder out, and waited to be the last one to push off. It's kind of interesting to push off at Eldora, knowing you're going to run up on the fence and wonder if your right rear is going to explode!"
Nonetheless, the air stayed in the tire the final six laps. "I was a bit cautious after the red, and Daryn and the rest of the guys pulled away for awhile, but we were able to maintain and pull away from Dale Blaney (sixth) a bit," says TMAC. "With a few laps to go, I moved back to the top of the track, and thought, 'if it's going to blow, it's going to blow, I've got to race it'."
The result was a fifth place finish at the checkers. "We ended up with the top five, which is good after you wonder if you'll even finish the race," he says. "We were fast there, and I can't wait to go back. It's turning into one of my favorite tracks!"
Though the team was lucky to move on with a top five, disappointment lingered with
TMAC. "We were a bit disappointed because we have one of the fastest cars out here when we go to Eldora. I was disappointed not to get a win there this year, or last year. We've knocked on the door and been so close."
New York/Williams Grove Open
The Orange County Fair Speedway near Middletown, New York, awaits the WoO on Wednesday. Then they will head for historic Williams Grove Speedway near Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania on Friday and Saturday for its most famous event, the Williams Grove Open.
TMAC is anticipating his return to the banks of the Yellow Breeches. "I'm looking forward to it; it's a big paying race, and one of the top four races we run," he says. "It would really make our year, if we could win that one. We had the hard-charger the last time we were there (July), and also had it the night before, before we got spun out. We've been pretty fast there, so we feel good going in. We just need to qualify in the right spot, and go from there. We've won there before, so I look forward to this weekend."
The TMAC Motorsports team has some added firepower for the trip East. "We've added Troy Renfro for the trip out there, and he has a lot of experience," says TMAC. "We've worked together in the past (starting in 1993), so it will be good to have him along with (crew chief) Tyler (Swank). Along with Greg, I feel like we have a really strong team going in." Renfro is the crew chief of the Volcano Joe's #2 car, driven primarily in 2007 by Brooke Tatnell. Renfro will return to the Volcano Joe's team after the trip east.
Austin and Carson – FlatOut Family Feud
The most recent edition of FlatOut magazine (October) has a feature on the English Creek Speedway located south of Knoxville. The back page article features a picture of Carson McCarl, and mentions him winning the day the pictures were taken.
Taking offense to the article was brother, Austin, who not only didn't have his picture included, but actually won the Micro-Sprint feature that day! This "family drama" was reportedly calmed down in a peaceful manner.
Last Saturday at English Creek, Austin was second quick, and Carson third quick. In the heat race, Austin was sent to the back for jumping, before coming back through the field to win. Carson had clutch problems and fell out. In the feature, it was Austin winning, with Carson second!
In"Terry"gation
Scott Barglof of North English, IA asks: During a race how do you know what position you are in? How do you know who is lapped, and where the transfer is? That has got to be tough to keep track of in-race.
TMAC Answers: I'm pretty good at knowing where I'm at on the track at all times. The races that go 30 laps non-stop, I can usually tell Lori where I've finished, and she doesn't know. When you start, you kind of know who's around you, and you can keep track. It's really nice that they take the lapped cars out right now, especially from a promoter and a fan's standpoint. I think it is less confusing for the casual fan. Before the rule, there were times when I was lapped, but lined up behind the leader. Some fans came into the pits and thought I finished second. I would say, "Yea, I ran second, our t-shirts are back there!"
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.
Did you know?
Terry used his rare Saturday night off last weekend to take in the 4 Crown Nationals at Eldora. Having the day off was a rare treat. "I've never been to Eldora for that race," he says. "It was a great race. It was just nice to have a day off. I woke up that day, and I'm used to panicking about where we'll be driving next. It was nice not to have to do anything. I got to be a race fan for a day!"
He is a big fan of Jerry Coons Jr., who in addition to winning the 2006 Ultimate Challenge, also won the Silver Crown portion of the show on Saturday. "I think Jerry Coons Jr. is one of the most underrated drivers there is. He's one of the best sprint car drivers in the world, and really not a lot of people know about him. The success he's had in so many different forms of open wheel racing is amazing." Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took top honors in the midgets, while Robert Ballou won the sprint race.
Website
Keep up to date with McCarl Motorsports at www.TerryMcCarl.com. We keep it fresh for TMAC fans!
Ultimate Challenge Tickets (Refund/Exchange)
Unfortunately, severe weather cancelled Tuesday night's 6th Annual Ultimate Challenge.
A refund or ticket exchange (for your same seats) for 2008 can be requested at:
McTwo Promotions
Box 185
Altoona, IA 50009
(Please include your tickets and a SASE with your request)
"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.
TMAC hopes to top Donny this time at Williams Grove (John's Racing 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
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