From Bill W, image courtesy of John Lee – High-Fly’N Photo
When you mess with the “Bullring”, sometimes you get the horn! That was the case for Terry McCarl at the “Bullring Midget Nationals” at Kemper Arena in Kansas City last weekend. A pairing with Wayne Simmons produced a potent combination, but some misfortune followed as well, including a tip-over on Friday night.
Things started well enough on Friday with a strong heat race run from sixth to third. “The car felt really good hot-lapping,” says TMAC. “It was my first time in the car, and the first time on this track, so that was a good feeling. The car felt really comfortable, and we had a great heat race.”
TMAC locked the #F5 into the main event, starting outside of row seven. An early incident caused him to go to the back and then he would roll over. “The track went away a bit there in the feature,” he says. “On the first start, someone stalled and I got stuck in their nerf bar, so we restarted at the tail. I tried to make something happen by going up high, and stuck the front end in the fence in turn two and got upside down.”
Despite the accident, TMAC’s sense of humor remained. “I believe we set the Bull Ring Midget Nationals record for altitude and distance with that one,” he says. “That’s a record you definitely don’t want. I said to the promoter, ‘The stuff I do for you to put on a show here are pretty amazing’. It’s always good not to tear up a wing, but I felt bad for Wayne Simmons.”
The team was able to make needed repairs for Saturday’s finale. Starting on the pole of his heat, TMAC finished third. A tap from the back in the B set up an exciting charge that fell short after stalling on the white flag lap. “We were a little loose there in the heat on Saturday,” he says. “Someone got into the back of us early in the B, and that sent us back to the tail. We were in the first B, and that helped as far as the track conditions. I finally got the shocks to where I could get the car turned and we started moving forward. The car felt really comfortable. With a lap and a half to go, we were battling for second. I took a shot on the white flag lap and got on the brakes hard. On the tight track, that stalled the engine and made for an unfortunate ending.”
Despite falling short, TMAC feels comfortable in the Simmons’ machine, and looks forward to January’s Chili Bowl in Tulsa. “We learned a lot that we can use at the Chili Bowl,” he says. “(Tulsa) has more room to operate, and the Esslinger engine in Wayne’s car is really strong. Last weekend was a lot of fun, and I’d like to thank DeBerg Concrete, Iowa Speedway, Esslinger, Penske, DKE, Inc., FasCoSigns and Tulsa Drywall Supply for all their help. It’s just great to be able to race in the month of December.”
Free Hat and Sticker with Purchase of 1/18 Scale Model Big Game Treestands #24 Before December 31!
A limited number of 1/18 scale model Big Game Treestands #24 models are still on hand. The cost is $79.95 plus shipping and handling. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted. To order, call the McTwo Promotions office at 515 957-0020, or they will be available at the Big Game Treestands #24 trailer at the races! With your order, you will also receive your choice of a Big Game Treestands #24 hat and sticker!
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!
In”Terry”gation
Tom Sullivan asks: Have you had a chance to look at the Outlaw schedule? It seems they have cut the travel out a little bit by having only two trips West. What stands out to you about their schedule in 2010?
TMAC Answers: I think the biggest thing the World of Outlaws has done is hire Roger Slack. I think a lot of him as a promoter of the sport. I’m not sure exactly what our schedule is beyond the first few weeks. We’ll head to Australia with Rod Matthews after the Chili Bowl, and fly straight back to Ocala with the All Stars. Then we’ll hit Volusia. We’ll see where it goes after that.
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.
2009 in TMAC History!
TMAC’s 19 wins in 2009 ranks fourth all-time for him as far as number of wins in a season. In 2003 he had 26, in 2004 he had 25, and in 2001 he racked up 22. However, his top ten percentage (79%) in 2009 was second only to the 2003 season (81%), when he won the $15,000 1200 lb. Nationals, the 360 Tournament of Champions, the Huset’s Gold Cup and the Jerry Richert Memorial at Cedar Lake.
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.