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JANUARY
23, 2008 --- For the first time in its seven year history, the popular Searsboro Telephone Company Ultimate Challenge will be sanctioned by the United States Auto Club (USAC)! The partnership ensures that the best in the non-wing sprint car business will be on hand, Tuesday, August 5, at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa!
The richest single day event in non-wing racing has become a staple for sprint car fans that descend on Iowa for Southern Iowa Sprintweek in early August. The popular event has been dubbed the “One Night Stand for 30 Grand” by many.
“USAC is extremely excited to partner with the Ultimate Challenge,” says USAC President Kevin Miller. “This is one of the most prestigious open wheel events in the country. The week of the Ultimate Challenge is obviously a great week for sprint car racing in Iowa, and USAC is proud to be a part of it. It’s significant for our growth and our racers and takes us to another level. It gives our drivers a shot at a big purse. USAC has the premier drivers in open wheel racing today, and we want to make sure iconic races like this one are under the USAC banner.”
The popular promoters of the event are Bill McCroskey and Terry McCarl, who together comprise McTwo Promotions. McCarl believes this is another shot in the arm for an event that is already popular. “We’re assured of the greatest non-wing racers in the world with the greatest non-wing series,” he says. “Bill and I have always strived to do what we can for the fans at Oskaloosa, and I feel this is going to be huge for them. The gentlemen that have me excited are Kevin Miller and (USAC Senior Vice-President of Race Operations) Jason Smith. They are both young, intelligent, and I believe they have a great vision for the future of USAC. Hopefully, we’re giving them a premier event on their sprint car schedule. Bill and I started this event back in 2002 because we love non-wing racing. We could probably pay out a lot less than we do and still get a lot of cars, but we wanted to make this the biggest event in the non-wing world. I think this partnership will help us, and help USAC as well.”
Past entries in the Ultimate Challenge have not been devoid of talent, but being on the USAC schedule assures that the best will be present. There have been nine USAC sprint car champions crowned in the past thirteen years, and all have competed at the Ultimate Challenge. Tony Stewart (USAC champ in ’95), Brian Tyler (’96, ’97), Tony Elliott (’98, ’00), Dave Darland (’99), JJ Yeley (’01, ’03), Tracy Hines (’02), Jay Drake (’04), Levi Jones (’05, ’07) and Josh Wise (’06) have all tested themselves in the Ultimate Challenge. Of those champions, only Jones has risen above the stellar fields assembled to take home the $30,000 to win prize (2005).
Other Ultimate Challenge winners have included Travis Rilat (’02), Boston Reid (’03), Dickie Gaines (’04) and Jerry Coons Jr. (’06). This year’s Ultimate Challenge is expected to be like the rest in that a variety of drivers from different forms of motorsports will test their mettle against the best.
McTwo Promotions hopes to attract race fans of all kinds in August. “I think this event holds a lot for any sprint car fan,” says McCarl. “I know there are a lot of hardcore USAC fans out there, and we welcome them as well. Maybe they haven’t made it to our event before. We want to attract them to this venue. Bill and I are sprint car historians just like many of the fans, and we’d love to have them! It also can give the winged fans a chance to see just as good or maybe better racing while they’re in town!”
Unfortunately, the 2007 version of the Ultimate Challenge succumbed to heavy rains. Those who held tickets can renew them beginning February 19. All other seats become available April 1. Call McTwo Promotions Tuesday-Thursday beginning from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 515 957-0020 to renew your seats!
Infield Party Passes for the August 5 event will be $20 in advance or $25 the day of the race!
For more information on the Challenges or on TMAC Motorsports, visit www.TerryMcCarl.com.
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