Des Moines, IA (May 29, 2018) – It has been a long couple of weeks for Terry McCarl and the TMAC Motorsports team, as he’s been recovering from a concussion sustained in a wreck earlier in the month of May. However, TMAC is nearly back to 100% and looking forward to getting back in the winner’s circle this Saturday at the Knoxville Raceway.
On Saturday, May 12th, TMAC was involved in an accident on the frontstretch of the Knoxville Raceway that left him with a concussion, and the weeks since have been a bit frustrating for the veteran driver from Altoona, Iowa. “I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries in my career, but head injuries are tough, because you can’t really fight through them the same as others,” said Terry. “I once shattered the bones in my hand in a wreck, had surgery on Thursday, and was still able to go out that Saturday and qualify 5th with the Outlaws, but just one lap in the car the week after my concussion made me pull in.”
TMAC spent the week after his wreck doing what he could to be ready for weekly competition on Saturday, May 19th at Knoxville and was feeling good, until he got in the car. “I was doing everything the doctor had told me, hoping to be able to race on the 19th,” said McCarl. “I felt great on Saturday and was feeling like I could go out and win, but after the first lap of hot laps I felt queasy and realized that it was best to just take it easy the rest of the night.”
McCarl would elect to start from the rear of the night’s A-main and make some laps before pulling in, though TMAC noted that his wife and team took some additional steps to keep the competitive side of Terry from winning out. “Lori made sure that there weren’t any tearoffs on my helmet and the crew only put about 10 gallons in the fuel tank,” said TMAC.
A week of rest did TMAC a lot of good, as he felt much better in the car this Saturday and was able to bring the SnowPlow Snow Pushers #24 to the checkered in 11th place, though the TMAC Motorsports team again set some limitations. “We set the car up to run the bottom and had it so tight that I couldn’t have run the top well if I’d tried,” said Terry. “I definitely felt way better physically this week, but still just wasn’t quite 100%.”
Being banged up is never fun, but having to miss out on a full weekend of racing over the Memorial Day holiday was torture for McCarl. “I was really bummed that I wasn’t feeling good to go over the weekend,” said TMAC. “I really would have liked to have been able to race at both Lee County Speedway in Donnellson and 34 Raceway in Burlington with the Sprint Invaders. Those are two of my favorite tracks, so to miss those races was hard, but it was great to watch the boys race and see Austin pick up the win at 34 after winning Saturday at Knoxville.”
Feeling better every day, Terry is looking forward to a couple nights of racing this week and doing some crew work for his sons. “We’re planning on heading to Fairbury tomorrow night to run with the Outlaws, though the weather is looking like it might have other plans,” said TMAC. “Friday night I’ll be helping out one of the boys; either Carson up at Jackson or possibly Austin at Lincoln Speedway in Illinois for the MOWA show, then Saturday night we’ll all be back at Knoxville!”
McCarl Family Websites!
Driverwebsites.com develops the websites for the McCarl boys. Check out www.TerryMcCarl.com, as well as www.AustinMcCarl.com and www.CarsonMcCarl.com!
"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 broegracewriting@gmail.com with "TMAC" in the subject line.
TMAC Motorsports would like to thank their great list of partners for the 2018 season: SnowPlow Snow Pushers – www.TheSnowPlow.com, KC Breweries, Bosma Poultry, Justice Brothers/Gillund Enterprises, TW Vance Trucking, Chris Spaulding – Attorney at Law, Simplot Grower Solutions, Rens Trucking, Hoosier Tire, Don Long’s Searsboro Telephone, Octane Ink, Destiny Motorsports, Country Builders Construction, 212 The Boiling Point, AL Drive Line, All Pro Cylinder Heads, All Star Performance, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Aurora Rod Ends, Bell Helmets, Berryhill Racing, Bob and Beulah Elder, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Burnett's Rock and Landscaping, Butlerbuilt, CM Rock, Crow Safety, DriverWebsites.com, Dynasty Stucco, Engler Injection, HRP, JLT Ent., Kilani Fender, Inc., KSE Steering, Mote Fasteners, NutriShop – Maple Grove, MN, Phil and Vivian, Pro Shocks, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Scribner Plastics, Silva Chassis, Snap On Tools, Snyder Lawn & Landscaping, Sposato Paint, Strange Performance, and Winters.
Morgan Broeg
West Des Moines, IA USA
broegracewriting@gmail.com
Twitter: @BroegW