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A Trip to a Familiar Track: McCarl Gears up for World of Outlaws Debut at 34 Raceway WEST BURLINGTON, IA (July 29) - Terry McCarl fondly remembers going to 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa as a boy in the 1970’s to watch his dad Lenard race. He competed for the first time himself at the high-banked 3/8-mile in 1988, and has had a great deal of success over the years at the track in his home state, winning three times. The native of Altoona, Iowa will make his second start this season at 34 Raceway, which has been hosting sprint car racing since 1973, on Wednesday, July 30 as the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series makes their debut at the state-of-the-art facility in Eastern Iowa. “I am very excited to head over there,” McCarl shared. “There is so much sprint car history in that area that people don’t realize. They use to run a weekly show there for years and years. I know a lot of people in that area and there are some great sprint car fans there and there is a lot of history and heritage there.” McCarl has made 11 career starts at 34 Raceway and has finished in the Top-10 in every single one. The six-time Knoxville Raceway and Huset’s Speedway track champion was instrumental in helping bring the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series to 34 Raceway for the first time. In addition to the blazing fast racing surface at the high-banked 3/8-mile, 34 Raceway is a state-of-the-art facility that features Musco Lighting, along with aluminum seats in the grandstands that each have seatbacks for added comfort for the fans. “It’s a great race track and I think everyone will love it,” noted McCarl. “The facility is excellent. It puts on a great show for the fans. Hopefully we put on a great show and can begin going there every year.” The event at 34 Raceway on Wednesday, July 30 will be the second of six tracks that the series will make their inaugural visit at this season. McCarl always enjoys taking his Big Game Treestands Eagle to new venues, and is especially looking forward to a race in his home state. The World of Outlaws will compete at three tracks in the state of Iowa this season, having already competed twice at Knoxville Raceway along with an event in September at Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer. “The people are buzzing there and they are excited,” shared McCarl of the atmosphere in the Burlington, Iowa area. “I hope we put on a good show for them because there are a lot of good sprint car fans in that area. We love going to towns like this because they are really excited to have the Outlaws coming to town and it’s going to be a big crowd.” While the racer inside McCarl will compete on any size track, any day of the week, the promoter inside McCarl is quick to point out that some of the most exciting races of the season for the World of Outlaws come on bullrings that are 3/8-mile and smaller, where the driver and set-up of the car are more important than just having the strongest engine. “It’s a great size to race on,” he said. “It’s a small 3/8-mile and is nice and wide. There is plenty of room to race. I think those are the best kinds of tracks for sprint car racing anymore, because a guy will be in traffic and there is always something going on in the close quarters. It’s a nice fun, place for the drivers and for the fans, it has great seats and great lighting. It will be a great place for the fans to watch a World of Outlaws race at, especially if the fans come to the pit area. It has it all there. ” McCarl made a start earlier this season at 34 Raceway and finished third in an event, that Daryn Pittman, Sam Hafertepe Jr. and rookie Lucas Wolfe also competed in, with Pittman winning that race. With a strong field of cars expected, including the 17 full-time drivers currently following the World of Outlaws, the level of competition will be second to none. “We got rained out unfortunately one night and about four or five of us Outlaws guys went in there and all ran Top-Five and put on a great show,” he noted. “It was one of the best races I have been involved in all year. That was a great prelude to the Outlaws show coming up.” While he has turned the most laps at 34 Raceway of any World of Outlaws driver that will be in attendance on Wednesday, July 30, McCarl does not see that as being much of an advantage. He heads to the high-banked track just a few points outside of the Top-10 in the series championship standings, on the strength of 13 Top-10 finishes, including on Monday night at Paducah International Raceway in Kentucky. “It will help a little bit, but not that much,” said McCarl of his experience at 34 Raceway. “These guys are so strong out here and can adapt so quick to any track and surface really fast. It won’t be too big of an advantage. I am looking forward to getting to see a lot of friends we have up in that area. I think everyone will have a great time.” McCarl has had several strong runs in debut events for the World of Outlaws at tracks from coast-to-coast over the last few years, including winning at Nodak Speedway in Minot, North Dakota in 2006, which is also a high-banked 3/8-mile, similar to 34 Raceway. He enters the event at 34 Raceway with seven career A-Feature wins with the World of Outlaws, as he chases his first win of 2008 “It would definitely be a great one to win,” said McCarl of the series debut at 34 Raceway. “We’ll be at Heartland Harley-Davidson the night before for a Meet & Greet and they’ll sponsor my car a little bit. It will be a good time. In front of all the family and friends from the old days out there, it would be great to win that one.” McCarl heads into action on Wednesday, July 30 at 34 Raceway having won at 10 different tracks in his home state of Iowa during his career. On Wednesday, July 30 at 34 Raceway, all seating will be reserved and will be $35 for adults and $15 for children ages 12-under. Also, the Top-2 Rows in the grandstand will be available as part of the Pit/Combo for $40, which includes a reserved ticket and a pit pass. For ticket information visit: http://www.slspromotions.com |