If you've been around a local small town track... you already know it's a family affair. This season the McCarl family from Altoona, IA, took that to a whole new level at Husets Speedway.
Terry McCarl has been a household name at Huset's for years. In fact he holds the tracks all-time wins record. But this year he had some help and some competition from a new challenger... his 19 year old son Austin.
"Early in the summer I didn't think I was going to be racing at all. Had a couple things fall through with rides and such and sponsors just never really worked then one day I got a call that they were going to help me out with engines and racing here every week and short track shows and its paid off," Austin McCarl said.
Thanks to some help from the Bargain Barn, Austin was able to make the 5-hour trip from Altoona, IA, to Brandon with his family each week to compete against his dad, and he fared pretty well. Finishing third overall in the 410 sprints standings, two spots behind his dad Terry who took the track championship.
"Hopefully one day we can beat the guy but for right now we'll take it," Austin McCarl said.
"Husets will make you into a great race car driver and it's something that I'm proud of. He's so smooth for a driver his age and he works so hard," Terry McCarl said.
While some families spend the weekends at the lake or at home relaxing, the McCarls head to the track.
This summer Austin did more than just compete against his dad. He was also his crew chief.
"Most of the time at the shop this summer it was me and Lori and Austin and Carson. It was a real family affair so I think I'm more proud of that than anything," Terry McCarl said.
And with his son keeping his car running, and knipping at his heels around every corner... Terry says this years points championship is unlike any other.
"I've won a lot of championships, and I think Knoxville and Husets these are the ones I'm most proud of because my crew chief was a 19 year old kid who worked his but off all year long," Terry McCarl said.
Not bad for a team and a family that didn't even plan on racing full time at Huset's this summer.
