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Terry McCarl overcomes adversity to win in Ocala
by Kelly Brown
CAMARGO, IL (January 30, 2009) – A few days ago Terry McCarl
didn’t have a clue if he would even be racing in Florida, but sometimes a
few days can make all the difference. Tonight McCarl made his way from a
hospital bed to Victory Lane at Ocala Speedway, within a few short days to
win the second night of the O’Reilly All Stars Circuit of Champions Florida
Speedweek Winter Nationals.
From the time the Green Flag fell on the main event McCarl was a man on a
mission. After starting in the top spot, he got past Danny Lasoski in Turn 1
to take the lead and Lance Dewease slid his way into second. Behind McCarl
the battle waged on as second, third and fourth position was hot property.
Dewease, Danny Lasoski, and quick time setter Greg Hodnett put on quite a
show trading positions what seemed almost every lap.
On Lap 15 the racing action was put on pause when the Yellow Flag came out
for Randy Hannagan who was running fifth at the time. He had tangled with
the lapped car of David Gravel and both came to a stop on the front stretch.
During this time out, Greg Wilson who finished second the night before also
came to a stop on track.
When the Green Flag came out it was short lived as Fred Rahmer came to a
halt in Turn 2. On the next restart as McCarl kept the field at bay, Stevie
Smith made his first appearance in the top-five. With 10 laps remaining both
Hodnett and Lasoski slid past Dewease into second and third position.
Dewease continued to fall back as Smith got past him to move up into the
fourth spot.
The final five laps of the event were chaotic as second through fifth was
constantly changing. When the Checkered Flag flew and the dust settled
McCarl claimed the victory. Behind him it was a drag race, but Danny Lasoski
took second with Smith, Dewease, and Hodnett rounding out the top-five.
With his win McCarl became the twelfth different driver to win an All Star
Winter Nationals event at Ocala. In the 12 races held at the track there
still has yet to be a repeat winner. This is McCarl’s seventh All Star
Florida Speedweek victory. His first came at Jax Raceway in 1993 and a
second followed at the same track in 1994. His other four wins came at
Volusia Speedway Park in 1997, 2005, 2006 and 2007. As the All Stars move on
to Volusia, McCarl will definitely be a frontrunner if history repeats
itself.
The All Star Circuit of Champions will be making the trek east to Volusia
Speedway Park as racing action will resume for the final three nights of
Florida Speedweek Winter Nationals beginning on Tuesday February 3.
Top Three Quotes:
Third Place Stevie Smith – “This is just that type of track, you race as
hard as you can for all 30 laps and hope for the best. The guys on the Zemco
car, John and the whole crew gave me a great race car. All I had to do is
drive the heck out of it. I’m really happy with what they are doing and I am
proud of them. I am looking forward to having some good races with them. I
am really excited to be in this car and I appreciate everything. I am going
to do my best to give them a win.”
Second Place Danny Lasoski – “I want to thank my crew. We blew a motor last
night, and then at the beginning of hot laps we had some ignition problems.
We started sixth then made our way up there, we were a second place car to
night. My hat’s off to Terry McCarl.”
Third Place Terry McCarl – “The Big Game Tree crew gave me a great car. I
kept thinking if someone is going to get by me they got to be really fact,
because we are getting around here pretty good. Getting through traffic was
key, since we caught traffic in about three laps. The car was real drivable
and I cannot say enough about my guys. They have been working hard all
winter. It has been a tough week. I was in the hospital earlier in the week.
I was coming home from Australia and had kidney stones and still have not
gotten rid of them. I didn’t know if we would be able to race this weekend,
so this means a lot to us.”
Kistler Engines Qualifying
Car-Driver-Time
1. 22-Greg Hodnett- 12.421
2. 1x-Randy Hannagan-12.607
3. 30c-Lance Dewease-12.640
4. 7m-Mark Smith-12.655
5. 24-Terry McCarl-12.677
6. 33-Danny Lasoski-12.677
7. 2-Dale Blaney-12.788
8. w20-Greg Wilson-12.796
9. 1 -Stevie Smith-12.819
10. 25-Daryn Pittman-12.875
11. 83-Tim Shaffer-12.914
12. 49-Jack Sodeman Jr-12.928
13. 56r-Ryan Myers-12.984
14. 55 -Chad Layton-13.000
15. 51-Fred Rahmer-13.066
16. 4 -Danny Smith-13.089
17. 6r-Ryan Bunton-13.127
18. 39-Doug Esh-13.264
19. 15h-Sam Hafertepe Jr.-13.285
20. 3b-Brad Greer-13.316
21. 4b-Tom Busch-13.337
22. 6f-Bob Felmlee-13.351
23. 3j-Joe Butera-14.656
24. 33m-Brent Matus-14.980
25. 89g-David Gravel-18.746
26. 17-Pat Cannon-No Time
27. 92-Daron Clayton-No Time
Heat Finishes (Started)
Heat 1 – 10 Laps
1. 22 Greg Hodnett (6)
2. 2 Dale Blaney (4)
3. 25 Daryn Pittman (3)
4. 56r Ryan Myers (2)
5. 4 Danny Smith (1)
6. 7m Mark Smith (5)
7. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. (6)
8. 89g David Gravel (9)
9. 6f Bob Felmlee (8)
Heat 2 – 10 Laps
1. 55 Chad Layton (2)
2. 83 Tim Shaffer (3)
3. 6r Ryan Bunton (1)
4. w20 Greg Wilson (4)
5. 24 Terry McCarl(5)
6. 1x Randy Hannagan (6)
7. 92 Daron Clayton (9)
8. 3b Brad Greer (7)
9. 3j Joe Butera (8)
Heat 3 – 10 Laps
1. 33 Danny Lasoski (5)
2. 39 Doug Esh (1)
3. 1 Stevie Smith (4)
4. 30c Lance Dewease (6)
5. 51 Fred Rahmer (2)
6. 49 Jack Sodeman Jr. (3)
7. 4b Tom Busch (7)
8. 33m Brent Matus (8)
9. 17 Pat Cannon DNS
Dash – 5 Laps
1. 1x Randy Hannagan (1)
2. 30c Lance Dewease (3)
3. 24 Terry McCarl (5)
4. 2 Dale Blaney (6)
5. 7m Mark Smith (4)
6. 22 Greg Hodnett (2)
B Main – 12 Laps
1. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. (1)
2. 4b Tom Busch (3)
3. 6f Bob Felmlee (4)
4. 89g David Gravel (7)
5. 3b Brad Greer (2)
6. 33m Brent Matus (6)
7. 3j Joe Butera (5)
8. 92 Daron Clayton (8)
9. 17 Pat Cannon (9)
A Main – 30 Laps
1. 24 Terry McCarl (1)
2. 33 Danny Lasoski (6)
3. 1 Stevie Smith (9)
4. 30c Lance Dewease (2)
5. 22 Greg Hodnett (3)
6. 25 Daryn Pittman (10)
7. 2 Dale Blaney (7)
8. 83 Tim Shaffer (11)
9. 55 Chad Layton (14)
10. 4 Danny Smith (16)
11. 49 Jack Sodeman Jr. (12)
12. 7m Mark Smith (5)
13. 1x Randy Hannagan (4)
14. 6r Ryan Bunton (17)
15. 15h Sam Hafertepe (19)
16. w20 Greg Wilson (8)
17. 39 Doug Esh (18)
18. 6f Bob Felmlee (22)
19. 56r Ryan Myers (13)
20. 89g David Gravel (24)
21. 3b Brad Greer (20)
22. 33m Brent Matus (23)
23. 4b Tom Busch (21)
24. 51 Fred Rahmer (15)
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