NIER THOUGHT HE SAW A CHECKERED FLAG BUT McCARL STAYS ON IT AND WINS

by Jean Lynch 

Tampa, FL….2/12/04…..”One thing about me…I never give up and I always think I can win,” said an excited Terry McCarl after picking up his first-ever 410 Sprint win at East Bay Raceway Park, Thursday in night two of the 28th Annual Winternationals.

  The $4,000 prize came McCarl’s way when race-long leader Jim Nier thought he saw a checkered flag at the end of 24 laps and lifted at the end of the back stretch.   McCarl, who was running second and had been in hot pursuit of the leader for most of the race, stayed on it and blew by Nier’s No. 00 and two lapped cars by going to the outside in turn three.

“I was ready for a big finish when I saw Jim had a problem, but I didn’t know what his problem was,” explained McCarl.

  “I’ll bet I have stopped on this front straightaway at least 15 times after finishing second and third, but this is the first time that I actually won,” said McCarl beaming.   His main sponsor on his Wesmar-powered Eagle is Big Game Tree Stands along with help from Country Builders and Bosma Poultry.  However, in Florida Terry sports a big strawberry decal on the top wing of his wife Lori’s car which advertises Dick Morgan’s Strawberry Farms.  Another Florida friend who provides a helpful hand is Randy Burnett who’s daughter Angela picked out the ‘lucky’ uniform which McCarl wore in victory lane tonight.

  Shane Stewart, who had started on the pole and finished second, described the turn three situation.  “I wasn’t sure what the No. 00 was doing, but there was room for me so I took the spot.  I had struggled early, but we loosened the car up for the feature and it felt good.  I could run lower than anybody on the track. “  His MIN Motorsports Maxim was also powered by a Wesmar engine and used Hoosier tires and Penske shocks.  Associate sponsorship is provided by Sanders and B&B Oval Track.

  Fourth place starter Craig Dollansky was happy with his VMAC/Karavan sponsored Maxim’s third place finish.  “Even though the track was still fast tonight, it was better for passing and we’re working toward getting the balance of the car to be closer to the winning set-up each night, “  he said.  “From my view, I saw cars everywhere, mainly Nier and lapped cars by the time I was in turn four, then I called on my Hoosiers and Garrett engine to pull me through.”   With Stewart and Nier starting on the front row, Jesse Giannetto and Dollansky made up row two while McCarl and fast qualifier, Jeff Shepard were in row three.  But at the drop of the green, Stewart drifted high in turn one and Nier took charge.  Giannetto had engine problems and slowed on the back stretch after one lap causing the first yellow.  Josh Wells brushed the wall in turn two bringing out the second yellow on lap nine.

  Nier made perfect laps around the high groove handling lapped traffic with ease.  When the final yellow came out for Tim VanderVere who rolled to a stop in turn four, that set the stage for a five-lap dash to the finish with Nier leading McCarl, Stewart, Dollansky, Greg Hodnett and Greg Leonard.  The surprise ending showed McCarl, Stewart, Dollansky and then Nier and Hodnett.  Leonard, Shepard, Sammy Swindell, Danny Smith and Joey Saldana completed the top ten.

  Heats went to Saldana, Jeremy Campbell, Nick Naber and Lance Dewease while Hodnett, Danny Smith, Kevin Frey, Roger Rager, Greg Wilson and Daryl Smith advanced from the B-Main.  The Goodson Farms Strawberry Dash went to Curt Trainer.

  The Florida Mini Sprints top five finishers were Jim Young, Terry Monroe, John Craddock, Lance McKinney and Bill Thomas.

 


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