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McCarl Swipes O'Reilly ASCoT East Bay Night Two Honors
Lonnie Wheatley, TAMPA, Fla. (January 26, 2007) – Defending "King of the
360's" Nationals champion Terry McCarl secured a position in Saturday night's
$10,000-to-win Ronald Laney Memorial by making a late-race move to win Friday
night's 25-lap O'Reilly American Sprint Car Series on Tour preliminary feature at
East Bay Raceway Park's 31st Annual Winter Nationals.
Running third behind Travis Rilat and Gary Wright when the race's only caution
flew after 16 laps, McCarl took to the high side and raced by both Wright and
Rilat in the final five laps, taking command for good on the 23rd lap to secure the
victory aboard Mark Burch's Morgan Farms/Big Game Tree Stands/Engler Tool
No. 1m Wolfweld.
"How awesome was that?" McCarl exclaimed in victory lane. "To beat a couple of
racers like Gary (Wight) and Travis (Rilat) in a race like that on a track like this,
it's a real testament to my car owner Mark Burch and the car he puts me in to
race."
Seeking a sweep of the opening two nights of the three-night event, three-time
and reigning ASCS National champion Wright paced the opening eight rounds
before 2001 ASCS kingpin Rilat roared into the lead.
Rilat appeared to have his second East Bay ASCoT triumph in as many years in
the making, only to have McCarl race by for the lead with just two laps to go.
Rilat made one last bid on the final lap, only to come up a car-length short with
Wright a close third.
Kenny Adams raced from twelfth to claim fourth, with Darren Stewart rounding out
the top five in front of 17th-starter Danny Smith, Jason Martin, Jason Sides,
Wayne Johnson and Greg Wilson.
The top seven point earners over the two preliminary nights are locked into
Saturday night's $10,000-to-win Ronald Laney Memorial, the final leg of the "King
of the 360's" Nationals. The top five include Wright, McCarl, Johnson, Danny
Smith and Wilson. Darren Stewart and Tim Shaffer deadlocked in a tie for sixth,
so both drivers have been awarded berths in Saturday's "A" Main. The balance
of the field, which totaled 75 competitors over the two preliminary nights, will
battle the remaining feature starting berths through heat races and "B" Main
action which fires off at 7:00 p.m.
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