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Tuesdays with TMAC – Bullring Blitz!
(Bill W) April 17, 2007 – This weekend, Terry McCarl returns to a pair of "bullrings" where he has seen success. Though there are differences in the facilities, they have one thing in common…TMAC has visited victory lane at both. Friday, the World of Outlaws invades Attica Raceway Park in Attica, Ohio, and Saturday they will travel to Tri-State Speedway near Haubstadt, Indiana.
McCarl hasn't always been a fan of Attica's 1/3 mile banked oval. "When I was younger, I hated any track without a fence around it. I like when there is a fence to bang on. The last several years, that has changed. Last Spring we were able to win the All Star show there before my leg injury and we were on a tear." The World of Outlaws planned visit in 2006 was washed out.
TMAC has praise for the track billed as the home of "Ohio's Finest Racing", the fans, and the local drivers. "It's a fun track for the fans…they get a great crowd every Friday night. It's a real racy track. You can run from the top to the bottom. I've been involved in a lot of great races there. It's not as easy on tires and it's slick, so you've got to get it hooked up. The local guys are always good there. It wouldn't shock me to see one of those guys up front or even win it. I'm looking forward to it!"
The trip to Tri-State Speedway near Haubstadt is always a favorite on the tour. Much of that is due to the condition of the track for racing. "I think Tommy Helfrich (track promoter) could give every track in the country some pointers on how to prep a track. He's not afraid to work the track during the night, and I think the fans don't mind a fifteen minute break if it gives them a better show."
Just watching Helfrich's "work of art" in progress, his self-designed vehicles in action, and of course the racing, keep the fans swarming to southern Indiana and the legendary banked ¼ mile oval.
Friday the 13th
Last Friday proved scary at Eldora Speedway, starting with time trials. TMAC explains, "We had a brand new engine in, we went two laps, and lost a bearing. It wasn't anything we did; it was just a mechanical malfunction. It puts you behind the eight-ball, when you can't qualify."
The crew, who was again joined by Mike Woodring, persevered. The new clay added in the off-season was a topic of conversation for fans and drivers alike. "The track conditions were not good, but I do commend the track guys, because they had new dirt on it, and anyone who races, knows that the first night or two on new dirt isn't going to get packed in. It's going to be rough and choppy. They had a choice to water it, where it would have been rougher than heck, crashing a bunch of cars, or hurting someone, or they could leave the track hard like they did, not water it much, and do the best they could with the weather situation. I think it will be fine."
The motor failure set the team back from the get-go. "We were hoping we could recover from the back of the heat race or the B or whatever. The track wasn't good for passing, so we ended up using our first provisional of the year for the feature."
Things went well from the back, for awhile anyway. "Actually, we were passing some cars in the A, and I thought we had a shot at a top ten. The last restart, the right rear tire started to go down. I made some adjustments, and we actually made it to the last lap. Unfortunately, the tire blew and Jason Meyers hit me after the checkers. Fortunately for him, it didn't happen before that (Meyers won the race). Unfortunately, it was a Friday the 13th night for us, you'll get that when you race 100 times a year. This time of year, the bad thing is, you only race once a week. The only way to feel better about a bad night is to race again. Our schedule picks up in May and we have plenty of opportunities to make up for it."
Burlington IRA
Don't forget the Interstate Racing Association (IRA) will be competing at 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa on Sunday May 6. It will be the first visit ever for the 410 touring series, and the first 410 show since May of 1998, when Kenny Jacobs bested Frankie Kerr and Gary Wright in All Star Circuit of Champions action (1999 and 2000 scheduled dates were a wash). Don't miss this great show at this beautiful facility! Yes, TMAC will be in action!
In"Terry"gation
Terry from Lee's Summit, MO asks: Terry, Did you pick the # 24? What's the story behind your car number?
TMAC answers: The 24 was the number of Roger and Laura Hall. They became a part of my team in the winter of 1994/95. At their request, I became the #24 and I believe it was the same year that Jeff Gordon became #24 so I did not copy him, although I would love for him to become my car owner!
Heather from Kansas City, MO asks: Terry, What is the most physically demanding racetrack, in your opinion, and why?
TMAC answers: Any track that is heavy and rough is usually physically demanding. A high speed track such as Eldora or Knoxville amplifies the physical aspect even more.
Got a question for TMAC? Send it to us at [email protected], and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for TMAC" in your subject line.
Did you know?
TMAC's inaugural wins at Attica and Haubstadt were exactly one year apart. He bested Gary Hayhurst Jr., Lee Dunn and Kevin Briscoe for $3000 at Haubstadt on September 1, 1996. One year later, he drove to victory at Attica for the first time in All Star Circuit of Champions action over Mark Keegan, Kenny Jacobs and Dale Blaney.
Website
Check out the updated "Sponsors" page.
Keep up to date with McCarl Motorsports at www.TerryMcCarl.com. We keep it fresh for TMAC fans!
Front Row/Ultimate Challenge Update
Order your tickets for the Musco Lighting Front Row Challenge and Searsboro Telephone Ultimate Challenge today! Call McTwo Promotions Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 515 957-0020 to order!
Infield Party Passes are $20 in advance or $25 the day of the race!
For more information on the Challenges or on TMAC Motorsports, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com.
"Tuesdays with TMAC"
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TMAC Motorsports would like to thank sponsors Big Game Treestands, Bosma Poultry, Inc., AmeriCash Advance, and Ground Max Hunting Blinds.
TMAC at Paducah (Funderburk Racing Photos)
Bill WrightBill W MediaMonroe, IA USA[email protected]
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