Tuesdays with TMAC – Strong Florida Runs Set Up Vegas!
(Bill W) February 25, 2014 – It was a successful trip to Florida for Terry McCarl and the TMAC Motorsports #24 team. After leaving Volusia in the top ten in World of Outlaws points, the Altoona, Iowa driver put himself on the podium in Jeremy Scadden’s #6 last weekend at the East Bay Raceway Park Ronald Laney Memorial “King of the 360’s”. The #24 team next heads to Las Vegas, Nevada for the World of Outlaws next tilt on March 5.
The first night at East Bay last Thursday started with a tough heat draw. “Not only did I draw a bad number (97 out of 100), but I drew a very tough heat race,” says TMAC. “Every car in it was very, very good. Last year’s winner, Danny Holtgraver, was right in front of me. I knew we were in trouble, even though I go out to win every race. We did our best and got to seventh. I thought we did well to do that.”
Starting in row four in the B main, TMAC would finish fourth. “We had a good car every time out,” he says. “It was a tough B. We were able to get up to third on the last lap. I got by Greg Wilson on the last lap, and couldn’t quite hold it, but we were coming. Sometimes, all you can do is your best, and we moved on to Friday.”
Friday began with a second place heat run. “We had a good shot at it starting next to Rico (Abreu) on the front row,” says TMAC. “The motor stumbled a bit on the start and he got a jump on us. I thought we had him in turn three and I hit a rut hard. Honestly, I thought I lost the left rear wheel. So we were happy to come home second.”
TMAC started 13th in Friday’s prelim. “I had laid rubber the first night, and then it did the second,” he says of the track. “We were able to come up to seventh, and we were all over sixth. We were doing the best we could. I thought we did a really good job ‘mechanicing’ all week. My son Austin and DJ Brink and Jeremy Scadden were putting our heads together. We changed the car totally around for that feature. It felt really good and we learned a lot.”
With only heat winners receiving a spot in Saturday’s finale, TMAC made the most of it. “I think we won by about a half lap,” he says of his heat. “The car just felt awesome. We started eleventh in the feature. There were four or five Outlaw guys there. It kind of felt like an Outlaw show. There were a lot of really good cars that didn’t make the show.”
TMAC, who has many wins in his career at East Bay, capitalized on his experience there, and charged to finish third. “Al and Todd really got the track good,” he says. “It was ‘old school’ East Bay the final night. There was a top and bottom, and it wasn’t hard on the tires. Everyone in front of us was tough. We were able to get to third. I thought we may have a shot on the late race restart. There was a lapped car between us and Rico and we were able to get by that, but they got away from us a little bit there the last few laps.”
TMAC was happy with the results. “To pass the cars we did, and end up on the podium…it was a good night,” he says. “I just enjoy East Bay so much. We have lots of friends down there: Burnett’s Rock and Landscaping, Myer’s International Midways and Morgan Farms. We picked up a new sponsor down there, Buttman Barbecue too. He does a lot of catering down there in the area. These are the people that make it possible for us to go down there. I’d like to thank Jeremy Scadden again, too. It’s hard to leave that 80 degree weather, I’ll tell you that!”
TMAC summed up the trip. “To come out of Volusia in the top ten in World of Outlaws points, and to end up on the podium at East Bay…it was a great trip. I’m really pumped to head to Vegas.”
To check out opportunities to partner with TMAC Motorsports on a nightly basis, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com or call 515 957-0020!
Front Row Challenge Tickets on Sale!
The 19th Annual Casey’s General Stores/Musco Lighting Front Row Challenge presented by Searsboro Telephone Company will be held Monday, August 4 at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Renewal tickets for the 19th Annual Front Row Challenge in 2014 are on sale. For more information, call Front Row Challenge Enterprises, LLC at 515 957-0020. For further information, stay tuned to www.OskyChallenges.com!
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 2006, TMAC finished on the podium at Manzanita Speedway with the World of Outlaws, joining winner, Danny Lasoski and Brooke Tatnell. Sammy Swindell was fourth and Randy Hannagan fifth. Later in the year, he would register another strong finish (4th) there.
"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, Deanfield Farms, Bosma Poultry, SnowPlow Snow Pushers – www.TheSnowPlow.com, DeBerg Concrete, Colin Bulmer – Bayaire Industries, Berryhill Racing, Phil and Vivian, Justice Brothers/Gillund Enterprises, Ryan Yager Trucking, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Chris Spaulding – Attorney at Law, Schoenfeld Headers, K&N Filters, Rens Trucking, NutriShop – Maple Grove, MN, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Bob and Beulah Elder, Engler Injection, T&P Brothers, 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 Trucking, Van Der Brink Designs, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Buttman BBQ, 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