By Bill W
March 25, 2011 – A team will be reunited, as Terry McCarl will be going for his seventh Knoxville Raceway championship in a car that he won the title with back in 2000. He will be piloting the Vermeer Motorsports #55 again. Owner Tony Vermeer last gained a championship with Kerry Madsen in 2005.
The Altoona, Iowa driver is excited. “I’m pumped,” he says. “It just makes sense. On paper, it makes a lot of sense. I think we can be one of the top teams for years to come. We get along well, and I we both have a common goal in going for a championship. Gary Isom, my crew chief will be on board, along with Tony’s crew chief, Matt Barbara. We’re going to have two of the best mechanics in the pits. That makes me very happy.”
As far as equipment goes, there will be little adjustment. “They run Eagle Chassis and Don Ott Engines and that makes it pretty simple,” says TMAC. “Being headquartered in Pella is nice and close too. We’re kind of getting at it late, but with two of the best mechanics, I think we’ll be ready.”
The TMAC Motorsports #24 will also see some action around the Midwest. “I’ll still be traveling now and then in the 24,” says McCarl. “When it doesn’t make sense for the #55 team to go somewhere, I’ll take my team.”
Vermeer is motivated for another title. “Coming full circle is probably the best way to put it,” he says of the arrangement. “When I bought the car from the Rasmussen group and Jensen Construction back in 1999, we won the first race out at Spoon River (Canton, Illinois). Not many car owners can say they won their first race out.”
Teaming with one of the top drivers in Knoxville history made sense for Vermeer as well. “We’re definitely excited to have Terry behind the wheel and a part of the team,” he says. “He’s a great people person, and he enjoys the fans and potential sponsors. That’s exciting for me. His driving record and record at Knoxville speak for themselves.”
The timing was good as well. “We’ve had some success with the team, but we’ve had our ups and downs to be sure,” says Tony. “We did win a championship in 2005 (Kerry Madsen). We’re looking to take the next step and strengthen our team. With Terry behind the wheel, I think we’ll compete at a high level.”
TMAC’s sponsors will join the #55 team. Vermeer Motorsports sponsors include TK Concrete, Maxim Trucking & Concrete Pumping, Tulip City Agency, Logan Contractors Supply, Van Maanen Electric, Tony’s Auto Parts, Monarch’s Restaurant & Lounge, Skyline Ready Mix, QTC (Quality Traffic Control), DPLM (Dennis Parking Lot Maintenance), Van Gorp Construction, Don Ott Racing Engines and Ulrich Motor.
TMAC’s sponsors include: Deanfield Farms, Eagle Chassis, DeBerg Concrete, AmeriCashAdvance.com, RFG, Phil and Vivian, Mark Burch Motorsports, Ryan Yager Trucking, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Schoenfeld Headers, K&N Filters, Don Ott Engines, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Bob and Beulah Elder, Country Builders Construction, Engler Injection, T&P Brothers, Winters, DriverWebsites.com, CM Rock, Jocko’s Sprint Parts, Sander, Brown and Miller, Morris Automotive, Chase Graphics, Pro Shocks, Mac Tools, Ben Cook, Bell Helmets, Burnettt’s Rock and Landscaping, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Bulldog Pest Control, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, Justice Brothers, KSE Steering, CIP Racing Hoods, Strange Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, Waterman Fuel Pumps, Weiland Racing, Butlerbuilt, PBS Bushings.
TMAC will next compete with the World of Outlaws in the #24 on April 15 and 16 at Paducah International Raceway in Kentucky and at the I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. Then it will be the #55 at Knoxville as practice night will be Friday, April 22. Saturday, April 23 will find him at the 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa for the series opener for the Midwest Open Wheel Association.
Websites for the McCarl Gang!
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 sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with “TMAC” in the subject line.
TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Deanfield Farms, Eagle Chassis, DeBerg Concrete, AmeriCashAdvance.com, RFG, Phil and Vivian, Mark Burch Motorsports, Ryan Yager Trucking, Vortex Racing, Hoosier Tire, Schoenfeld Headers, K&N Filters, Don Ott Engines, HRP, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Bob and Beulah Elder, Country Builders Construction, Engler Injection, T&P Brothers, Winters, DriverWebsites.com, CM Rock, Jocko’s Sprint Parts, Sander, Brown and Miller, Morris Automotive, Chase Graphics, Pro Shocks, Mac Tools, Ben Cook, Bell Helmets, Burnettt’s Rock and Landscaping, Morgan Strawberry Farms, Bulldog Pest Control, Aurora Rod Ends, Crow Safety, Justice Brothers, KSE Steering, CIP Racing Hoods, Strange Performance, Saldana Racing Products, Scribner Plastics, Waterman Fuel Pumps, Weiland Racing, Butlerbuilt, PBS Bushings.