Track Schedules

Tuesdays with TMAC – Finding Answers in Vegas!

(Bill W) March 8, 2011 – Since opening the season in Georgia, to say Terry McCarl was struggling with his 410 would be an understatement.  After trying just about everything, a change in mags was the key and it resulted in a sixth place run with the World of Outlaws at the dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week.  The Altoona, Iowa driver will take some needed R&R for the rest of the month and prepare for a busy April. 

After qualifying for the front row of the opening night Georgia run in February, the rains came.  That’s about when TMAC’s luck went sour.  “We’re not the most organized and we only have the one engine,” he says.  “We were really fast out of the box in Georgia, and we were pretty good the next night or two.  We had a mag in from Don Ott during that time.  We got a mag back from the folks who do mine.  I’ve never had a problem with mine, but things went downhill.” 

Not knowing it was a mag problem, TMAC, Kory Miller and the rest of the team went to work to find out what the issue may be.  “We changed everything we could think of on the engine,” says TMAC.  “After we were fast with the 360’s (at East Bay), I took everything off that car and put it on the 410.  We changed pumps, tanks and everything in the fuel system.  We were still getting beat in Mississippi and Texas (back with the WoO).  In fact, a 360 out-qualified us.  To make a long story a little bit shorter, we finally changed the mag.  I used the one out of Mark Burch’s 360 and ‘Boom!’ we were fourth quick in Vegas.” 

Registering fourth quick last Wednesday was the high-water mark with the WoO so far for TMAC.  He would go on to run fourth in the heat and win the dash to earn a pole position start for the main event.  He would finish sixth.  “Missing all the time last year kind of left us off on setup on different tracks with the Goodyears,” he says.  “We were just a little off from the pole, and that’s all it takes.  We ended up with a sixth place out of it, so compared to what we had been doing, that wasn’t too bad.” 

Thursday’s race went differently from the start.  “We hot-lapped several times (because of a sloppy track), and I missed the setup for qualifying.  I thought I needed to loosen the car some more, and it slicked off to the point that the car was really loose when we got out there (qualifying 17^th).” 

After a sixth place heat run, the main event came to an end early in a tangle.  “In the feature, it was pretty much my fault,” says TMAC.  “I was just trying to make something happen.  I was on the bottom, and ended up getting all tangled up with the tires.  We knocked the front end out and took out some bolt-on stuff.” 

Finding the speed again was worth the miles traveled.  “I was pretty happy with the trip overall,” says TMAC.  “It was a relief to figure out the motor deal.  I just have to thank Mark Burch a ton for allowing us to use his truck and trailer.  It turned out his mag was a key too.  He’s a really good friend.  We also got to spend time with one of our sponsors, Ryan Yager, from Ryan Yager Trucking.” 

TMAC used the early season races to find his groove.  “I’m just out there every night trying to get back to where we’re used to being,” he says.  “With my injuries last year, it has been a tough deal.  Every night, I feel we’re getting better physically and mentally.  The mag thing cost us some time and money, but that is all part of it.” 

Now it is time to get things ready as the season kicks into full swing come April.  “We’ve got some time off now to recuperate,” says TMAC.  “We’ve been gone for a month, so now we can get reorganized.  We’re looking at getting things started again the first of April.  We’re still looking for partners to market with us on a race to race basis.” 

To check out those opportunities, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com!