By Bill W
July 18, 2012 – Austin McCarl broke through last Sunday night at the Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota for his first win of 2012! Running primarily on Sunday nights this season thanks to Bargain Barn Tire Center of Sioux Falls, the Altoona, Iowa driver will compete this week in the JSTS Speedweek. He will pair up with veteran car owner, Mike Sandvig.
Austin timed in sixth quick in the #17A. “I think we had a good lap,” he says. “I think with the program we have, we just got out-timed by some bigger ones. It was no big deal. As it turned out, it was the perfect place to be.”
Starting fourth in his heat, Austin was able to advance to a win. “I got the wing back, and we started rolling in the heat,” he says. “I felt really comfortable and learned a lot about the track. Three and four were pretty slick, even in the heats. They were pretty much on the fence, and that’s how the feature was gonna be.”
The draw for the feature went his way. “They magically drew the six,” says Austin. “That put us on the pole, which I generally don’t like doing. You can only go backwards if you don’t win. That’s kind of nerve-wracking.”
The team put a good car together for Austin. “The car was great,” he says. “Alex (Johnson), Justin Boese and Bob were working their butts off. I just went out there and did the best 25 laps I could. We got out in clean air, and did the best we could.”
The first lap was the biggest obstacle. “(Jody) Rosenboom and I had an interesting first corner,” says Austin. “I got him on the start, and we went into one and two and I went right to the top. He slid me and I never lifted. We were side by side heading down the backstretch, and I ended up having the preferred line.”
Lapped traffic would come into play. “We went 17 laps non-stop,” says Austin. “I got to a lapped car, and tried passing him too soon. That slowed me in three and four and Jody showed his nose a little bit. That got me back on the wheel, and I didn’t want to make any more mistakes or make a move too soon. It ended up laying rubber about halfway through, and I was able to clear the lapper.”
An open red flag period gave competitors a last chance to tweak their rides. “There was a red with about eight to go,” says Austin. “It was pretty nerve-wracking because they opened it up and people could make adjustments. They told me my tire was better than everyone else’s. It was just an eight lap heat race at that point. We had a good restart and held on for the win.”
JSTS Speedweek includes the Sioux Speedway tonight in Sioux Center, Iowa, the Redwood Speedway in Redwood Falls, Minnesota on Thursday, the Fairmont Speedway in Fairmont, Minnesota on Friday, and the Jackson Speedway in Jackson, Minnesota on Saturday. “We’re teaming up with Mike Sandvig,” says Austin. “It will be exciting. I can’t wait.”
Visit Austin on the Web!
Keep up to date on Austin’s exploits and check out the new look at www.AustinMcCarl.com!
Austin’s Releases
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Austin would like to thank Bargain Barn Tire Center of Sioux Falls, AmeriCashAdvance.com, Sweeter Construction, Rossie Feed and Grain, DeBerg Concrete, Deanfield Farms, Phil and Vivian, Bosma Poultry, Vortex, Kosama of Altoona, Chris Spaulding-Attorney at Law, CM Rock, 212 Bar & Grill, Maxim Chassis, Van Der Brink Designs, Engler, HRP, Aurora Rod Ends, Butlerbuilt, KSE, Hoosier Tire, BRMS, K&N Filters, Sander, Jocko’s Sprint Parts, Crow Safety and Bell Helmets for all their help!