(Steve Lafond - Tear-Off Heaven Fotos)
(Bill W) May 17, 2016 – Terry McCarl and the TMAC Motorsports #24 team will follow up a pair of shows last weekend with the World of Outlaws in Indiana with two big events this Friday and Saturday night. Friday, the Altoona, Iowa driver will attempt to repeat his winning performance a year ago at the new Jackson Motorplex’s Folkens Brothers Spring Nationals in Minnesota. Saturday, Badlands Motor Speedway opens in Brandon, South Dakota with the Silver Shootout, featuring a large payout in silver bars including 166 10 oz. bars for the winner.
Last weekend, the Bob Newton Classic opened things up for the WoO in Indiana at Plymouth Speedway. “Going over there gave us two races as opposed to staying home and getting one,” says TMAC. “Bob Newton and the whole Hoosier family have been a huge part of my racing success and my family. I met Bob down in Florida years ago. They came up with the D10 for East Bay, and it really changed Hoosier’s whole deal around. I thought they would work at some other tracks, so we started using them other places. They gave Junior Holbrook and I some tires, and things took off from there. I felt we were a small part of getting Hoosier out there across the country. They are great people and they’ve always treated me well.”
TMAC had some issues on the track. “It was a fun racetrack,” he says. “Unfortunately, we broke a throttle arm on our motor last week, and all we had was an older one. It kept flipping. I went out in time trials, and could only go half throttle (21st quick). I went out in the heat and the same thing happened (running seventh). We got a new one from Tim Engler for the B main (fifth to third) and Doug (Rankin) got things squared away.”
That would put him towards the rear of the feature. “By that point, we were starting 21st and we couldn’t do much (finished 17th),” says TMAC. “I was disappointed we couldn’t put on a better show for the Hoosier guys and family. It was a fun racetrack though, and I’m looking forward to going back. They have all new stands and a video board. It was a cool racetrack.”
It was on to the Tri-State Speedway bullring near Haubstadt Saturday. “Tommy Helfrich is a great promoter and does a great job with his racetrack,” says TMAC. “A lot of guys don’t like it, but it’s one of my favorites. We’ve had our share of ups and downs. We won a big race there back in 1996 in Brad Gray’s car, and I’ve flipped there too. To me, it’s the closest to racing a non-wing car with a wing on it. You really have to pitch the car a lot and let the tires rip. It’s just a lot of fun.”
TMAC would time in ninth quick. “We qualified well enough,” he says. “I’m not a huge fan of the new Outlaw format. For a guy like me, who’s a little heavier, it’s tough. It’s just harder to qualify in the top six. When I choose to race with them, I know I choose to race their format, but the current one doesn’t fit my style very well. But we need to get a little faster and qualify better.”
He would lineup third to start the heat. “I caught myself in a bad spot battling with Greg Wilson,” says TMAC. “He got a good jump and we were neck and neck into turn one. He took the air off me, and I got myself in a bad spot and ended up back in fifth. I do like the part of the format where you start where you finish in the heat. That did hurt us at Haubstadt, because we were back in row eight, but I still like that part of it.”
The heat finish meant starting the main event 15th. “We didn’t throw in the towel,” says TMAC. “You can come from the back at that track and have a good run if you’re fast enough. We were coming up through there, but the track was maybe a little bit too wet for my liking. I got to ninth and we were racing side by side with Joey (Saldana). We were both all over the place. My new Maxim that we just had picked up was working about anywhere I wanted, but I just couldn’t quite squeak by him. It was a lot of fun.”
TMAC is stoked about this weekend’s events. “I’m just so excited about racing in the Midwest right now,” he says. “What’s going on with the NSL, Jackson and with Badlands Motor Speedway is great. It’s not just great for us drivers, but it’s great for the fans, and sponsors and potential sponsors. It’s a great opportunity to get people to the track that haven’t been there. As a driver, a fan and promoter, I’m really excited what’s going on at all the tracks in the Midwest.”
Both TMAC and his son Austin will be running at Jackson and Badlands. “It all hits the fan this weekend,” he says. “It’s $10,000 to win Friday, and anywhere from $25,000 to $30,000 to win Saturday. It’s a big weekend for us. We’ve been running well, and so has Austin. Hopefully, we’ll do well and bring home a bunch of those silver bars.”
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!
This Month in TMAC History!
TMAC won the Folkens Brothers Trucking Spring Nationals last year, pocketing $10,000. The win came ahead of Tim Kaeding, Mark Dobmeier, Justin Henderson and Brian Brown.
"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@hotmail.com with "TMAC" in the subject line.
TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors SnowPlow Snow Pushers – www.TheSnowPlow.com, Country Builders Construction, Rossie Feed and Grain, Bosma Poultry, Destiny Motorsports, Searsboro Telephone Company, Elk Grove Ford, A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Berryhill Racing, Phil and Vivian, Justice Brothers/Gillund Enterprises, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Chris Spaulding – Attorney at Law, SuperFlow, Schoenfeld Headers, Rens Trucking, NutriShop – Maple Grove, MN, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Maxim Chassis, Bob and Beulah Elder, Engler Injection, Snap On Tools, Sposato Paint, Winters, Kilani Fender, Inc., DriverWebsites.com, CM Rock, Brown and Miller, Pro Shocks, Ben Cook, Bell Helmets, Burnett's Rock and Landscaping, Octane Ink, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Dynasty Stucco, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, KSE Steering, Snyder Lawn & Landscaping, Strange Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, Waterman Fuel Pumps, Butlerbuilt and Mote Fasteners.
(Steve Lafond – Tear-Off Heaven Fotos)
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