Carson entered the car owner business in 2019 and proceeded to win two consecutive 360 track championships at Knoxville. He moved up to the 410's in 2021, and registered three top five finishes and an eight place point standing. He also finished second in the final Huset's Speedway standings. In 2022, he advanced to sixth in the Knoxville standings.

Carson became the first driver to ever win Rookie of the Year honors in all three sprint car classes by becoming 410 Rookie of the Year in 2018 by finishing tenth in points.

Carson is the youngest winner ever at the Knoxville Raceway at 16 years, one month in 2011. He captured his first win in his first night racing at the famous oval. He went on to become the youngest champion as well, claiming the 2011 305 season championship on the strength of three wins.

Carson has experience in his corner with seven-time track champ and father, Terry McCarl. The 2013 high school graduate stepped up to the 360 class in 2012, winning Rookie of the Year honors. In 2014, he partnered with Minnesota car owner Rick Mastell to race a regional schedule that included his first 360 win in Oskaloosa and a 13th place point standing at Knoxville.

Carson teamed with Jeremy Scadden in 2016 and 2017 for some successes including two Sprint Invaders wins.

410 Point Standing by Year:

2024 - 3rd, 2023 - 20th, 2022 - 6th, 2021 - 8th, 2018 - 10th

360 Point Standing by Year:

2020 - 1st, 2019 - 1st, 2014 - 13th, 2012 – 8th

305 Point Standing by Year:

2011 - 1st

Crew Members

Pat Murray
Jason Everly

Up Close with Micro Driver, Carson McCarl

At the age of 9, Carson decided that driving a racecar was what he needed to be doing. The McCarl family are racers, and Carson was going to follow the path set by his father, World of Outlaw driver Terry McCarl. He started out, like many other young racers do, in a go-kart and traveled with his older brother to the indoor events in Waterloo, IA. This worked out very well because the entire family was able to participate—throughout the summer months, his dad is out racing with the Outlaws. With many heat and feature wins behind the wheel of the go-kart, it was time to move up to something with a wing. In 2007, Carson jumped in the seat of a 600cc Micro Sprint and was teammates with his older brother, Austin. The two of them both raced at English Creek Speedway just outside of the legendary race city of Knoxville, IA. His Rookie season, he dominated 4 features and finished in the top five in points with a 4th.
This year, now at the age of 14, Carson started out with an indoor race in Kansas City and will be racing the 600cc Micro in Waverly, Nebraska, on Sunday nights at Wavelink Raceway Park. According to his father, if Carson’s grades stay up and he keeps doing well behind the seat of a micro, you might just see the young racer piloting a 305 Winged Sprint Car later in the year. Those are the steps a young racer needs to take, and so far, his dream of becoming a professional driver in the ranks of Indy Cars is getting closer and closer.