Altoona, IA – February 02, 2011
By: Bill W
Sprint car driver Terry McCarl will get things underway this weekend with stops in Sylvania, Georgia and Ocala, Florida with the All Star Circuit of Champions. The Altoona, Iowa driver is pumped by sponsorship on his Florida trip from Hungry Howie’s Pizza, BubbaQue’s and Frubob Fruit Floats.
The sponsors for the southern trip were some of the first to take advantage of TMAC’s new marketing opportunities for 2011. In turn, he wants to do his part in getting the word out about them. “Those who know me, know I’m a pizza lover,” says TMAC. “I’ve been eating at Hungry Howie’s for a long time in Florida, and it’s great to have them on board for the trip. Bubbaque’s offers some of the best barbeque in Florida, and we’re washing it down with a Frubob Fruit Float. I’m excited to have them all aboard, and hopefully we can take them to Victory Lane.”
Good friend, Mark Burch, was also instrumental in getting the season started for TMAC. “I really have to thank Mark,” he says. “We’re using his truck and trailer and a 360 motor of his too. That’s just awesome. Mark is an incredible friend. I can’t say enough about him.”
In the shop, the work has been just as intense, though some of the crew is still overseas. “While my crew chief, Gary Isom, is getting married in Australia, Steve Fitzpatrick has been working his tail off to get things ready,” says TMAC. “Brandon Ikenberry is in Australia working for Kerry Madsen and Kory Miller, my third guy just got back. Kory and I have been thrashing. Steve came and helped. It’s cool to have all those guys in your corner.”
The action this week includes the All Stars first ever visit to Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Georgia on Thursday, and a return to Ocala (FL) Speedway on Friday and Saturday. TMAC picked up the Ocala finale in 2009. He has racked up numerous wins in Florida at the following speedways: JAX Raceways in Jacksonville, Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, East Bay Raceway in Gibsonton and in Ocala. The wins have come with the World of Outlaws, All Stars, ASCS and USCS.
TMAC is at home in the “Sunshine State”. “We’ve had a lot of success in Florida,” he says. “It’s a place I really feel comfortable. While others are feeling things out at the beginning of the season, we’ve been able to win a lot of races down there. There’s a comfort factor there.”
TMAC would also like to thank the people who have always been there for him in trips to the Southeast. “For years the Florida trip has been possible because of Burnett’s Rock and Landscaping, Morgan Strawberry Farms and Bulldog Pest Control,” he adds.