Tuesdays with TMAC – Fall Brawlin’!
(Bill W) September 24, 2013 – The “Fall Brawl” at I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, Nebraska turned into just that for Terry McCarl, who was piloting Jeremy Scadden’s #6 last weekend. Despite having one of the fastest cars on the track both nights, the results didn’t show that. This weekend, the Altoona, Iowa driver is unsure of his race plans, but he has an appearance Friday from 11 to 2 p.m. at Tompkins Industries in Des Moines.
TMAC started seventh in the first heat last Friday. “We drew probably the worst number possible,” he admits. “We were on the inside in the back of the first heat. The track is usually wet at that time and it’s tougher to pass. We got to fifth and did the best we could.”
The finish put him in a B main where he finished second and transferred on to the main event. “We had a really good race with Billy Alley and Ryan Bickett there,” says TMAC. “It’s too bad it wasn’t the feature. It was a lot of fun.”
Starting 17th in the feature, TMAC wasted little time moving to the front. “We changed some things for the feature,” he says. “I’ll tell you what. Every time we get in that #6 car, it’s fun. We started in the back, and the yellow came out five laps in. I was up to sixth at that point and still coming. Without the yellows, I think we had some of the guys in front of us passed. I don’t know that we had anything for (Jack) Dover, but I definitely think we had a top three car for sure.”
Unfortunately, the run was derailed. “Jonathan Cornell kind of got over the back of (Don) Droud, so I took a shot on the outside of him,” says TMAC. “At the last second, I decided I was going to dive him, and I got in the slick and spun out. It was 100% my fault. I could have stayed on it and saved it, but I don’t do that. I don’t believe in it, because it generally piles up everything behind you. I just stood on the brakes and was thankful no one got into me.”
It was time to put on a show from the back again. “We were really fast again, and we were able to get by some cars,” says TMAC. “We were able to get back up to eighth and we were on seventh at the end. All in all, we were fast, but I screwed up. Jeremy’s such a nice guy and he doesn’t get mad when I screw up like that. It was just too bad we didn’t have a little better finish Friday.”
It was a better start in the finale. “We were fast again on Saturday,” says TMAC. “We drew eighth in a fairly tough heat race and got up to third. That put us in the redraw, where we drew four.”
TMAC would never make it to his starting spot. “I think we had a good shot at it,” he says. “Right as the push truck got me out on the track, I heard a ‘clunk’ in the right rear. It sounded like the right rear brake fell off. Justin Boese was there to tell me we don’t have a right rear brake on that car. To make a long story short, the bearing on the birdcage fell off.”
The #6 was fast again, but the issue with the birdcage halted things early. “I pushed back off and started in the back,” says TMAC. “We passed about eight cars before the birdcage was just blown up and destroyed. It was disappointing, because I thought we had a shot of running up front. I don’t like excuses. The bottom line was, we either did it or we didn’t, and we didn’t.”
TMAC is still weighing his racing options this weekend. “On Friday from 11-2 p.m., we’ll be showing the car at Tompkins Industries here in Des Moines,” he says. “As far as race plans, I don’t know. Maybe we’ll take the weekend off.”
To check out opportunities to partner with TMAC Motorsports on a nightly basis, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com or call 515 957-0020!
Websites for the McCarl Gang!
Driverwebsites.com develops the websites for the McCarl boys. Check out www.TerryMcCarl.com, as well as www.AustinMcCarl.com and www.CarsonMcCarl.com!
This Month in TMAC History!
In 2000, TMAC would win the Cheater’s Day event in its first year being held at Huset’s Speedway. Starting third, he would best Gary DeWall, Gregg Bakker, Don Droud Jr. and Terry Reilly.
"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 Country Builders Construction, Rossie Feed and Grain, “Lord I Apologize BBQ Sauce”, Deanfield Farms, Bosma Poultry, SnowPlow Snow Pushers – www.TheSnowPlow.com, DeBerg Concrete, Colin Bulmer – Bayaire Industries, Berryhill Racing, Phil and Vivian, SCE Gaskets, Justice Brothers, 212 The Boiling Point Bar & Grill, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Chris Spaulding – Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, K&N Filters, Rens Trucking, Pick Farms, NutriShop – Maple Grove, MN, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Bob and Beulah Elder, Engler Injection, Superflow Technologies, T&P Brothers, Mediacom, Larry Fleck Trucking, Winters, DriverWebsites.com, CM Rock, Jocko's Sprint Parts, Sander, Brown and Miller, Pro Shocks, Ben Cook, Bell Helmets, Burnett's Rock and Landscaping, Van Der Brink Designs, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, Justice Brothers, KSE Steering, Strange Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, Waterman Fuel Pumps, Weiland Racing, Butlerbuilt, PBS Bushings and Mote Fasteners.
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
sprntcar@hotmail.com
Twitter: @BillWMedia