(Bill W) June 23, 2009 – First there was Knoxville, and then Williams Grove. Now Terry McCarl can say he won at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio completing the “Triple Crown”. The win opened up Ohio Speedweek for the All Star Circuit of Champions. The Big Game Treestands #24 team was on their game, and hope it continues through the busy week ahead.
Things started at Eldora Saturday with the sixth quick time of the night. Starting fifth, TMAC finished sixth and out of a transfer in his heat. “We had a problem with the motor and the way we needed to get it around Eldora,” says the Altoona, Iowa driver. “It was nothing serious, but since we are lucky enough to have more than one, we changed it after the heat race.”
TMAC finished second in the B. “We went out for the B and the car was perfect,” he says. “Earl Baltes grandson is doing the track now, and he is doing a great job. He added water before the B, and I wondered what he was doing. I was a typical racecar driver complaining. I have to hand it to him, he did a great job. It wasn’t necessarily good for a guy like (Chad) Kemenah who had to start in the back of the B, and could have gotten through there on a slick track, but by feature time, you could run anywhere on the racetrack.”
The Don Ott power was so good on the start, it fooled the naked eye.
“Eldora is notorious with the hot weather…a lot of motors stumble on the start,” says TMAC. “Ours didn’t. Ours took off really well. Tim Engler helped out with fueling our Don Ott, and it couldn’t be better.
In fact, on the first start, they called it back because they thought we jumped it went so good. It looked bad, but it was totally legal and went the same way on the second start.”
TMAC’s plan to get to the front worked to perfection. “I wanted to get by Dale Blaney, because he is so good there,” he remembers. “I was able to do that on the start, and we were into the top five around lap six.
I ran the bottom, went up to the middle and ended up on top. The track was perfect, and so was the car. I was having a blast.”
Even before the race, the primary concern was with Stevie Smith, who started the Zemco #1 up front. “Once the tire hooked up…the spec tire you use all night can seal up on you…I just took off and was driving by guys,” says TMAC. “I was really worried about Stevie starting up front, because he’s been running so well and that is one of the premiere cars in the country.”
A lap 23 restart gave TMAC the opportunity he needed, and he made his winning move on lap 24. “During the yellow, I knew he would be tough to pass with the clean air,” he says. “I was hoping to get him in traffic, but in the end, we got there anyway and won by about a straightaway. It was always a dream to win at Knoxville, Williams Grove and Eldora. I’ve had the first two for awhile now, so to add Eldora to the list is very special to me.”
Sunday night saw the second event of Speedweek in Findlay, Ohio at the Millstream Speedway. TMAC was 21st quick. “I totally screwed up qualifying,” he admits. “We had just one lap with 60 cars. The low side of three and four was really good in hot laps. In time trials, I cruised around the top of one and two pretty well. I hooked a bit of a rut heading to the bottom of three and four and that threw me off the bottom.”
After winning his heat going away, TMAC lined up inside row nine for the main event. “We were good in the heat,” he says. “There was room to pass in the feature, and we got up to ninth. I think we definitely had a top five car. Then we had a left front tire go down. That’s rare, but Kemenah had the same thing happen at the same time.”
TMAC would drive back from the tail to tenth before the checkers flew.
“Coming back and getting the top ten, was good considering everything that went on,” he says. “I feel really good about our team right now, and we have a lot of confidence heading into this week. I’m happy and we’re fast right now.”
A busy week is planned. Hilltop Speedway south of Millersburg looms tonight, and the fourth leg of Speedweek takes place in Waynesfield on Wednesday. A travel day will be next before TMAC runs with the World of Outlaws again at US36 Raceway near Osborn, Missuri on Friday and at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday.
Websites for the McCarl Gang!
Driverwebsites.com has developed websites for the McCarl boys. Check out the new look of www.TerryMcCarl.com, and check out the newly developed www.AustinMcCarl.com and www.CarsonMcCarl.com!
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, visit www.OskyChallenges.com!
In"Terry"gation
Michelle Jackson asks: Is it more fun for you to run where you want to now, instead of chasing points with any particular organization or track?
TMAC Answers: Yes, we’re having a blast. I’ll go wherever Tod Quiring wants us too. Maybe we’ll be back out there with the Outlaws next year… who knows? Right now, we’re having a great time. It’s keeping me sharp, going to the different tracks and we’re staying sharp for when we are running with the Outlaws.
Got a question for TMAC? Send it to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for TMAC" in your subject line.
This Day in TMAC History!
TMAC has two wins on this date in history. In 1996, he won a Huset’s Speedway feature in the Brad Gray #51, leading Danny Lasoski, Dave Ekern, Steve Beitler and Terry Reilly to the stripe. In 2001, he won on Mid-Season Championship night, leading all 25 laps ahead of Don Droud Jr., Kerry Madsen, Skip Jackson and Ricky Logan.
Website Updates
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.
PHOTO -
TMAC does the customary “meet and greet” with the Eldora trophy queen (Mike Campbell Photo)
- Bill Wright on Jun 23, 2009
- Article Date: 6/23/2009