PC- David Hill
PETERSEN MEDIA: During one of the most famed stretched of the year at Knoxville Raceway, Austin McCarl showed out at his home track. Against stout fields in the 360 Nationals as well as ‘The One and Only’/Capitani Classic, McCarl was the lone driver to record Top-10 finishes in both events.
“It was a pretty incredible couple of weeks for our little team, and I have to thank everyone who made it possible,” Austin McCarl said. “Picking up the win during our 360 Nationals prelim was huge, and it really boosted my confidence for both events. Jamie Moyle builds the best 360’s in the land in my opinion and we had a great piece under our hood thanks to him and Don Long of Searsboro Telephone Co.”
McCarl took to Knoxville Raceway on the opening night of the 360 Nationals for his qualifying attempt and would get the weekend underway by timing the Kolhoff Electric/VanBalle/Oldham/Tucker Trucking backed No. 17a machine 12th fastest in time trials.
Racing to a second-place finish in his heat race, ‘The Big Unit’ would find himself on the front row of the 20-lap feature event.
Slipping back to third when the race came to life, McCarl would soon get back into second and chase down the early leader. Using a big move in turns one and two to get the lead on the sixth lap, the caution flag would fly before McCarl could complete the lap and he would get put back to second.
When the race went back to green, McCarl would continue to run in second and would only need two laps to make another move to get back in the lead. This time the pass would stick, and McCarl would start to pull away.
As he got into lapped traffic with just five markers left in the race, McCarl would navigate slower cars to perfection as he went on to pick up the win aboard his STC/HRP/Real-Geese backed machine.
Sitting sixth in points following Thursday and Friday night prelim nights, McCarl would roll off the starting grid from the sixth spot in the Saturday night 25-lap 360 Nationals finale.
Not getting off to the start he would have liked in the feature, McCarl would slip back a little, though still hung strong in the Top-10.
Working his way forward aboard the Moyle Racing Engines powered STC machine, McCarl would slowly pick up positions as he worked his way into fifth when the checkered flag flew on the event.
Shifting gears to 410ci action the following week in events dubbed ‘The One and Only’, and ‘The Capitani Classic’, McCarl would do what he could with a late draw on opening night as he timed in 23rd fastest in time trials aboard the JLT Ent./CM Rock/Justice Bros. backed entry.
Finishing fourth in his heat race, the Altoona, IA driver would line up on the front row of the “Last Chance Showdown’. Picking up the win, McCarl kept his night alive as he moved into the feature event where he took the green flag from the 21st starting position.
From deep in the field, McCarl would do a great job of maximizing his points on this night as he came from deep in the field and worked his way towards the Top-10.
Picking up positions at will during the 25 lap affair, McCarl would close the night out with an 11th place finish, as he would return for another complete night of action on Friday night.
Not quite having the Friday night he had hoped for, McCarl would time in 49th quickest in time trials before finishing sixth in his heat race.
Ending his night in the ‘C’ Main, McCarl would find himself in the seventh starting position in his Saturday night qualifier.
Needing to get into the Top-4 to lock into the Capitani Classic feature event, McCarl would take care of business and roll the bottom to perfection as he secured that fourth and final transfer position.
Taking the green flag form the 21st starting position just as he did on Thursday night, McCarl would turn in nearly an identical performance as he was able to work his way through the field on the historic ½ mile track.
Racing into the Top-10, McCarl would continue to gain positions as he would get into eighth and use his Rider Racing Engines power to cap his Knoxville weekend off with another Top-10.
“It is really cool to be the only driver to finish inside the Top-10 in both events,’ McCarl said. “Really fun weekend with this team, and again a big thank you to everyone who makes this possible for us. We have great Moyle Engines and Rider Engines that help us shine on the big ½ mile so I have to thank them for putting together awesome products that we are fortunate to use.”
McCarl would like to thank Kolthoff Electric, VanBalle/Oldham, Tucker Trucking, Searsboro Telephone Company, Real-Geese Silhouettes, JLT Ent, CM Rock, Justice Bros., Hopf Farms, Rob-See Co, Knoxville Hospital and Clinics, Cycle Liquors, HRP, and Rider Racing Engines for their support.
ON TAP: At time of press, McCarl is slated to take this weekend off before returning to Knoxville Raceway on August 29th.
STAY CONNECTED: Make sure to follow Austin McCarl on Twitter @AustinMcCarl17a.
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