Terry McCarl
Des Moines, IA (April 26, 2018) – Terry McCarl finished on the podium Saturday night at the Knoxville Raceway, but it might be the first time that he was truly proud to not be at the top, as his son Austin took the win. After a strong showing for all three members of the McCarl racing family last Saturday, Terry and the TMAC Motorsports #24 will head to Ohio this weekend to race for $100,000 at the Sprint Car World Championship at Mansfield Speedway.
The night opened with Terry feeling fast, posting laps in the 14.7 second range during hot laps before timing in 2nd fast in qualifying. “Came out feeling fast right from the start, which was nice since we didn’t get the chance to practice on Friday night after hurting the motor,” said TMAC. “I was able to lay down a quick time on the first lap of qualifying and just got over the cushion a bit on the second lap that kept us from being able to set quick time.”
With the six-car invert for the heats, TMAC lined up outside of the third row in the second heat and was able to use the bottom of the track to move forward. “I was able to get off to a good start in our heat and saw that no one was really running the bottom, so I went down there and rolled the bottom well,” said Terry. “I felt really comfortable all night long in the car and we were able to drive by everyone on the bottom to take the win in our heat.”
Being the high point man after heats slotted McCarl into the 8th starting spot in the A-main, however the feature event didn’t get off to a great start for the SnowPlow Snow Pushers #24. “I missed the start a bit in the feature and I saw Brooke (Tatnell) get a great start from the row in front of me,” says TMAC. “I got going after that and was really searching around the whole race trying to find my line. The car felt good anywhere I put it and I was able to make my way forward before the series of cautions.”
Running 5th when the first red flag flew for Davey Heskin, TMAC was able to pick off fourth spot, before going around stealing 3rd on the final restart. “I got a really good restart on the last one to get around Justin (Henderson),” said Terry, however he didn’t feel he had anything for the leader (luckily, it was his son). “Even with the good restart I had, Austin was already gone and I was so proud to see him get his first win and he will definitely be winning a lot more.”
With all three of the McCarls now running in the 410 division, TMAC shared some memories from his early years that mirror what he’s going through now with Austin and Carson. “We got lucky on Saturday, because all three of us were in separate heats and we almost pulled off the sweep, but I remember early in my career being in the same heat as my brother Kenny and the car my dad owned,” said McCarl. “We haven’t had that yet, but I know there will be a day when all of us will be in the same heat!”
TMAC’s excitement for Austin’s first win was apparent both while he was still on the track and in victory lane on Saturday. “After the checkered flag, I think both of us were searching for the other on the track. He stayed on the gas and I couldn’t catch him! I ended up being left on the track alone when he faked me out and pulled in,” said Terry. “I was just so happy for him, especially since he should have won one back in 2011 when there was a late red and I was the one to pass him for the win, so I’m thrilled he finally got one.”
We spoke while Terry and the TMAC Motorsports team were heading east to Mansfield Speedway in Ohio for this weekend’s Sprint Car World Championship. “I’m definitely excited to participate in such a big event at a great facility and when anyone puts on this kind of event for sprint car racing we definitely want to be there to support it and build the sport,” said Terry. “Someone will leave there on Saturday night with an extra $100k in their pocket and hopefully it will be me.”
This will be the only weekly show at Knoxville Raceway that TMAC will miss this year, as he will be back in action at Knoxville next Saturday, May 5th in the TMAC Motorsports #24.
“Tuesdays with TMAC” will be returning to its normal Tuesday spot next week with the report on Terry’s weekend in Ohio!
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, SuperFlow, Waterman Fuel Pumps, and Winters.
Morgan Broeg
West Des Moines, IA USA
broegracewriting@gmail.com
Twitter: @BroegW