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Ohio Speedweek Night One: Terry McCarl Triumphs at Eldora
Speedway
by Kelly Brown - Public Relations Director
CAMARGO, IL (June 20) - Terry McCarl is one of the biggest showmen in 410
Sprint Car racing, so why should it be any different on the beginning of
Ohio Speedweek? Starting in the eleventh position, after transferring from
the B main, McCarl emerged victorious in O’Reilly All Star Circuit of
Champions action at Eldora Speedway. Not only did McCarl go to Victory Lane,
but he dipped the trophy girl and gave her a kiss on the cheek before his
wife got her winner’s kiss.
Tonight’s A Main began with a bang, as the red flag came out almost
immediately for a melee in Turn 1. The back two rows of the field got
together leaving the 91 of Brad Sweet on his wing. Also involved in the
incident were: Chris Andrews, David Gravel and Ben Gregg.
As the Green Flag flew Stevie Smith got ahead of pole sitter Greg Wilson
going into the second turn, and took off to an early lead. Lining up behind
the duo was Butch Schroeder, Randy Hannagan, and Craig Conley. On Lap 2
Hannagan attempted to size up Schroeder, but before he could make the pass
stick the Yellow Flag came out. Going into Turn 1, Phil Gressman got into Ed
Lynch Jr. and both came to a stop on the track in between Turns 1 and 2.
When the Green Flag fell again, Smith took off with Wilson on his tail.
Wilson was able to get side-by-side with him in Turn 4, but Smith held on.
While they were battling for the top spot, Hannagan was on the move picking
up the third position. On Lap 5 McCarl made his first appearance in the
top-five and started picking off spots, position by position.
Smith opened up a large lead as he left Wilson and Hannagan to battle for
second. The duo would fight back-and-forth, side-by-side for the second
position. On Lap 9 Hannagan made it stick as he moved his way up to second.
On the following lap it was McCarl who was on the move again sliding into
fourth.
As Smith started encountering lapped traffic on the eleventh circuit of the
course, Hannagan started to reel him in and McCarl picked off another
position moving to third. There would be a brief scuffle between McCarl and
Hannagan, but the Red Flag would fly bringing racing action to a stop. On
the fifteenth lap Schroeder got into the wall in Turn 4 and got upside down.
On the restart at half way it was Smith, Hannagan, McCarl, Wilson and Blaney.
Smith and Hannagan would struggle side-by-side for the lead before Smith got
the edge. Another Yellow Flag would fly on Lap 17 when Blaney came to a stop
in Turn 4 and almost simultaneously the 11b of Brock Mayes came to a stop in
Turn 2. When the Green Flag was unfurled again Smith got a jump leaving
Hannagan and McCarl to decide who would be second. McCarl would get the edge
on Lap 19 taking second away from “The Hurricane.”
Another caution came out on Lap 23 when the 20x of Craig Mintz came to a
stop on the back stretch. When racing action resumed, McCarl made his move
pulling side-by-side with Smith. On Lap 24 McCarl would take the lead
shortly before another Yellow Flag flew. This time it was for Dean Jacobs
who got into the wall in Turn 4. At this point the maximum number of laps
that can be run on a tank of fuel was reached, so the Red Flag came out for
a fuel stop.
On the restart the top-five were McCarl, Smith, Wilson, Hannagan, and Rob
Chaney. When racing action began again McCarl got the jump and left Smith
and Wilson who were fighting for the second position in the dust. In the
final laps it was a scuffle to see who would finish where in the top ten.
Wilson would get around Smith to take second and Chaney would get around
Hannagan to claim fourth.
As the Checkered Flag loomed in the distance McCarl had almost a
straight-away lead. Second across the line was Smith, followed by Wilson,
Chaney and Hannagan. This is McCarl’s twelfth O’Reilly All Star Circuit of
Champions victory and his second this season. His first came in the second
race of the season at Ocala Speedway. This was McCarl’s first win at Eldora
Speedweek, which carries extra meaning for the Altoona, Iowa, driver since
he is a history buff and has always wanted to win at the legendary “Big E.”
The next step in the climb to see who will reign supreme during Ohio
Speedweek is Millstream Speedway tomorrow night, Sunday, June 21. The gates
will open at 3:00 pm and racing action is slated to begin at 7:00 pm.
Tickets for the event start at $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, ages 16 – 11
are $15, while ages 10 and under are free. Pit Passes for the event will run
$30. For more information on the event you can call the track office at
(419) 420-1900 or visit
www.millstreamspeedway.com
Don’t miss a minute of Ohio Speedweek Action. Keep yourself updated by
visiting both www.allstarsprint.com
and www.ohiospeedweek.com .
Speedweek Fan Info
If fans are looking for a place to stay during Ohio Speedweek there are
several places that are offering special Ohio Speedweek rates. After the
race at Millstream Speedway on June 21, stay at the Extended Stay in
Findlay, Ohio. To get the Ohio Speedweek racers rate all you need to do is
make your reservation at
www.extendedstayhotels.com and enter the access code STR.
Another great place to stay is the Rodeway Inn in Wooster, Ohio. To make
reservations all you need to do is go online to
www.rodewayinn.com or call
(330) 262-5008 and ask for the Ohio Speedweek rate.
An excellent place to stay and relax when visiting Limaland Motorsports
Park or Waynesfield Raceway Park is the Comfort Inn of Lima. They offer
great rates along with a free deluxe continental breakfast and coffee! They
also have free high-speed wireless internet and a fitness center. For more
information on the Comfort Inn of Lima call 419-228-4251 or visit
www.comfortinn.com .
Whether you are at Fremont Speedway or Attica Raceway Park, stay at the
Holiday Inn Express in Tiffin, Ohio. To make reservations visit
www.holidayinn.com or call
(419) 443-5100 and ask for the Ohio Speedweek racers rate.
During Speedweek the fans in attendance should check out the O’Reilly All
Star Merchandise trailer as there are several new items. Special for Ohio
Speedweek, ASI Sportswear has created several items including: 2009 Ohio
Speedweek decals, 2009 Ohio Speedweek die cast, and an exclusive tye-dye
2009 Ohio Speedweek t-shirt. Also new to the trailer is 2010 All Star
calendars with are 12X12, full color, and priced at $15. Also new is the
2009 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions souvenir program, which is a
must read for fans of the series. Also in the trailer is a host of the best
and highest quality race wear that ASI Sportswear has to offer including new
driver shirts for Greg Wilson, Ryan Bunton, Dale Blaney and Tim Shaffer.
Kistler Engines Qualifying
Car-Driver-Time
1. 3c Cale Conley 13.577
2. 20b Butch Schroeder 13.605
3. 0 Brandon Wimmer 13.632
4. 1 Stevie Smith 13.635
5. 1x Randy Hannagan 13.683
6. 24 Terry McCarl 13.732
7. w20 Greg Wilson 13.733
8. 56r Ryan Myers 13.744
9. 2h Tim Hunter 13.759
10. 71m Paul May 13.800
11. 2 Dale Blaney 13.814
12. 7k Rob Chaney 13.823
13. 20x Craig Mintz 13.824
14. 2l Ed Lynch Jr. 13.893
15. 12 Caleb Griffin 13.932
16. 17 Daryn Pittman 13.951
17. 7c Neil Shepherd 13.952
18. 11b Brock Mayes 13.953
19. 83 Tim Shaffer 13.974
20. 45au Steve Lines 13.976
21. 41 Jason Johnson 13.989
22. 22b Ben Gregg 14.012
23. 97 Dean Jacobs 14.016
24. 9x Phil Gressman 14.025
25. 89g David Gravel 14.026
26. 15c Chris Andrews 14.041
27. 2m Dusin Daggett 14.042
28. 21au Brooke Tatnell 14.046
29. 51 Kaley Gharst 14.051
30. 6x Todd Kane 14.073
31. 92 Daron Clayton 14.085
32. 91 Brad Sweet 14.100
33. 63 Chad Kemenah --
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