Tuesdays with TMAC – Close, But No Cigar!
(Bill W) April 28, 2009 – Terry McCarl was four laps from victory at Haubstadt on Saturday with the World of Outlaws when a caution changed everything. This week, he’ll return home to Huset’s Speedway in South Dakota and Knoxville Raceway in Iowa with the WoO.
The Altoona, Iowa driver started his adventure last Friday at the Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas. He registered the second quick time of the night on the tacky ¼ mile oval. “The car had felt really good in hot laps, and when we got out to qualify, it felt really greasy and loose,” says TMAC. “We turned an awesome lap for when we went out. We were a couple of tenths better than everyone before Tony Bruce went out and kicked everyone’s butt.”
TMAC started fourth and finished second in his heat at the track affectionately known as, “The Ditch”. “We seem to have the short track setups down now, at least early in the night,” he says. “We were able to get around (Sam) Hafertepe and Steve (Kinser) for the lead, but then the red came out, so we went back to second, and that’s how we finished.”
After a seventh place finish in the dash, TMAC floundered a bit to an 11th place finish in the main event. “I changed some things around for the dash and we were really off,” he says. “We improved a little for the feature, but not enough. I feel like I ‘out-mechaniced’ myself right out of the race after being so fast early. That was disappointing. I kind of beat myself up after that one.”
The Big Game Treestands #24 team was hitting on all cylinders after pulling into the Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana on Saturday. They registered quick time on the ¼ mile bullring at 11.722 seconds. “We were really focused at Haubstadt,” says TMAC. “We were able to come out and set quick time. (Track owner) Tommy Helfrich does such a great job with that track, and the place was packed again. The reason it’s packed, is because it’s great racing there no matter what they’re running.”
TMAC ran fourth in the heat, and locked himself into the dash where he drove from seventh to sixth. “The track was reworked and heavy,” he said of the heat track conditions. “We had a good battle with Sammy (Swindell), but we didn’t push the issue, because we knew we were in the dash. We put a setup on the car similar to what we use at Huset’s. Lately, it seems like we’ve been fast except when it counts. We had some bad luck in Texas and that kind of thing, but at Haubstadt it felt good to pick up a spot in the dash.”
Things were clicking from the word “go” in the 40-lap main event. “We just had a great car out there,” he remembers. “It was good on the first lap, all the way to the last lap. We could run the top or the bottom. It was an awesome race. Steve started on the pole, and we battled with (Randy) Hannagan and (Tim) Kaeding too.”
TMAC battled with Kinser and Kaeding for third for much of the race. He then passed Kinser for second before Hannagan, who was leading, slowed to a stop on lap 25. “Randy had some bad luck there when we were running second behind him,” says TMAC. “Once I was in the lead, we were running well on the bottom. Usually, the top is the place to be there late in the race. Whenever I went to the top, Steve would slide me and I felt good on the bottom. I wasn’t going to change my line with the lead, and we were getting through lapped traffic well.”
TMAC opened up a good margin, before a questionable caution was displayed late. “With four laps to go, we had the race won, with lapped cars between us and the rest,” he laments. “Then a caution came out that I didn’t agree with. The lapped cars don’t hold their spots, which is a rule that I do agree with. It’s better for the fans.”
Kinser restarted on TMAC’s nerf bar and after the restart tried a slingshot move for the lead in turns three and four. The two cars made contact near the flagstand, and TMAC spun and got upside down, ending a great run. “Steve was in a spot where he had to go to the top and drive around me,” he says. “He wasn’t going to beat me on the bottom. Haubstadt is one of those racetracks, where if you’re going to win, you have to force the issue sometimes. Whether that is me trying to slide across the track, or Steve giving it a shot between me and the wall, sometimes somebody loses, and that was me. I was never mad about the crash. I know the deal, and we were both trying to win a race. I wasn’t trying to block him or anything either. I thought we were both going to make it through. Believe it or not, it’s better to be fast and crash in front, than be slow and crash in the back.”
The disappointment is obvious, but there are positives that came out of Saturday’s run. “The positive is that we had a great racecar…one that could win the race,” says TMAC. “Gary (Isom), Brandon (Ikenberry) and I were really focused. People say you’re heading back to Huset’s and Knoxville and I certainly enjoy that, but it would have meant a lot to win the race at Haubstadt, because it’s not the home track. I’m disappointed that we’re not in the top five in points right now, because we definitely have a top five team.”
TMAC will try to win at those “home tracks” this Friday and Saturday.
Front Row Challenge/Ultimate Challenge Tickets On Sale!
Order your tickets now for the $10,000 to win Front Row Challenge, and $15,000 to win Ultimate Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. Call McTwo Promotions Tuesday-Thursday beginning from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 515 957-0020 to renew your seats!
Infield Party Passes for the August 10 and 11 events will be $25!
For more information on the Challenges or on TMAC Motorsports, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com.
In"Terry"gation
Stacey Manitz from Sioux Falls asks: Was just wondering, since you've been running with the Outlaws so strong, was that one of the reasons why your team decided to run with them for the rest of the season? Great Job boyz and take it to 'em!!!!
TMAC Answers: It’s all up to Tod Quiring. He’s the boss now. Part of it was just working out a deal with the Outlaws. We really wanted to support East Bay (Florida in February) and their 410 show to keep it going. We actually gave up a lot in tow money with that. I appreciate Tod sticking to his principles. We could have skipped that and been a Platinum member the whole time. I think we’ve proven we’re a top five team with the Outlaws and capable of winning races, but again it’s up to Tod. Just like I say to him, as long as he pays the tire bill, I’ll go wherever he wants.
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This Week in TMAC History!
TMAC has two career wins on April 27. In 1991, he drive the Offill #88 to victory at the San Jose Fairgrounds over Rick Martin, Tom Henry, Scott Luhdorff and Danny Olmstead. He also had a win at Huset’s in 2003, topping Justin Henderson, Mark Dobmeier, Jake Peters and John Lambertz.
Website Updates
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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 sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with "TMAC" in the subject line.
TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Big Game Treestands, AmeriCashAdvance.com, DeBerg Concrete and Remington Treestands.
Bill Wright
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
sprntcar@iowatelecom.net