(Bill W) March 5, 2012 – After getting their first weekend in with the ASCS Series, the Brian Brown Racing Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 race team heads to Las Vegas and Perris, California with the World of Outlaws this week. Things kicked off last weekend at Canyon Speedway Park near Peoria, Arizona.
Brian planned a long trip out west both to compete, but also to get things ready for his assault on Midwest competition in April. “Our whole western trip, we’re trying to find out some things about our cars and shocks…our whole package,” he says. “Every time we hit the track, we are better and better, and fine-tuning it. At Canyon, the draw worked against us a bit and put us behind the 8-ball. We really just didn’t have the finishes we would have liked.”
Things started Friday with a third place heat run, though that was due in part to attrition. “We had some luck on that deal,” says Brian. “Some cars had fallen out, and that worked to our advantage. We started eleventh in the feature and got up to seventh at one point. I tried making something happen on the high side on a restart and I ended up losing three or four spots.”
It seemed like one step forward and two steps back for the Grain Valley, Missouri driver. “We ended up getting back up to seventh or so, and I tried something again and lost ground,” says Brian. “I just don’t think I ran a very smart race on Friday night. Chad (Morgan) and Andy (Anderson) worked their tails off all weekend; we just didn’t get the results we wanted.”
Saturday night saw another draw at the back of a stout heat race. The track yielded a tacky, narrow surface. “Sometimes in the passing point deal, you get in a good heat with some good cars ahead of you,” says Brian. “It can be tough to pass, and that was the case on Saturday. I do think if we would have had the car a little better, we would have gotten a couple more spots.”
A sixth place finish in the heat saw Brian go through the B, getting up to the third and final transfer spot. “This time of the year, when you are trying new stuff every time out, running the B is not always a bad thing,” he shares. “We got the car pretty good for it.”
The feature saw Brian charge through the field to 11th. Despite a number of cautions, a penalty for jumping the initial start was not handed out until after the race. He was scored 14th. “We started 22nd and finished 11th,” he says. “We were credited with 14th, because we were charged with jumping the initial start. Going 22nd to 11th with that group of cars is nothing to hang your head about. We just needed to put ourselves in a starting position towards the front to win. That’s what we’re going to work on.”
The competition will take a major step up when Brian competes at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas with the World of Outlaws on Thursday. “We’re looking forward to Vegas,” he says. “We had a couple of tenth place finishes with the Outlaws there, and a couple years back we had a pair of seconds there with ASCS. It’s been a good track for us, and we need to see how our program is shaking out on a big half-mile like that. Al Parker has supplied some great power for us, and I’m looking forward to airing it out.”
The series moves on to the Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, California on Saturday. “I haven’t run Perris since 2004 with Lonnie Parsons,” says Brian. “When I ran there, it was a couple of days after breaking my shoulder at Manzanita, so I wasn’t in the best of shape. I don’t remember, but I don’t think our results were too good. We have some great FVP customers coming out to Vegas and Perris, and that’s something I always look forward to. Hopefully, we can get some solid results for them.”
Web site info
For up to date information on Brian Brown Racing visit www.BrianBrownRacing.com
Casey's: www.caseys.com
FVP: www.fvpparts.com
Brian's Q&A
Anthony Copper asks: What are the differences in the clay in the Southwest and the clay in the Midwest?
Brian answers: All the tracks out here seem sandy with not a lot of grip. That’s the biggest thing. Knoxville (Iowa) has a real sticky gumbo, and this is a lot different. Vegas can be different. I’ve been here when it is tacky and when it is slick. The sandiness of the dirt is the biggest difference.
Got a question for Brian? Send it to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for Brian" in your subject line.
Brown's Bits
Two second place finishes with the ASCS National Series at Las Vegas capped an outstanding season that saw twelve wins and a 410 track championship at Knoxville Raceway. The drivers who beat him were not chump change! Tony Stewart was the winner in the prelim, and Joey Saldana took the finale!
About Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s General Stores is a Fortune-500 company (NASDAQ CASY) operating nearly 1700 convenience stores in 11 states through the Midwest. Known for its “Homemade-To-Go” pizza, sandwiches, donuts and bakery items, Casey’s strives to consistently deliver quality gas, fresh kitchen-prepared food, clean environments and friendly service at every retail location. Casey’s is currently the 12th largest c-store chain and sixth largest pizza chain in the United States.
About FVP
We are very excited to introduce our new line of automotive chemicals, oils and fluids to our product offering. These new products will be available at many retailers across the country. We continue to offer a full line of high quality oil, air, cabin air and fuel filters, plus a complete line of high quality batteries for multiple applications including cars, trucks, SUV’s, commercial and other specialty vehicles. All products are made to OE manufacturer fitment specifications. FVP products are engineered to provide our customers with quality products that are equal or superior in performance to the major national brands at a competitive price. To learn more about our FVP products or to find out where you can have FVP products installed in your vehicle, visit us at www.FVPparts.com! FVP…The Confident Solution
SPLASH
In addition to our line of seasonal safety products, we are very excited to introduce a full line of SPLASH Wiper Blades. Our SafeView Performance Blades fit 95% of the vehicles on the road with quick and easy installation for everyone. The AccuVision Beam Blade offers memory curve steel, which provides uniform pressure for a clear wipe, without the streaks. Look for these great new SPLASH products! Whether it’s keeping your windshield clean or free of ice, protecting your RV, boat or pool from freezing in the winter, or your sidewalk safe to walk on, SPLASH Products are what you need! Check out our new SPLASH website at www.SPLASHWash.com! SPLASH…SEE SAFELY!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Searsboro Telephone Company’s www.FaxeMeService.Com
Brian says, “Don Long is an avid sprint car fan, and has been a part of the team for a few years now. We’re just really happy to have him here.”
Receive faxes through your e-mail when you’re away from the fax machine! Visit www.FaxMeService.com for easy sign-up options! It’s the simplicity of a fax through the convenience of e-mail. It’s easy to use, with no setup and a low fee!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – RateWin.com
RateWin.com strives to bring you the best online auto insurance shopping experience possible. Unlike many other sites that promise the ability to compare quotes between multiple companies, but simply sell your information to telemarketers as a hot lead, RateWin.com gives you the ability to choose which of the major companies you wish to do business with.
The people behind RateWin.com have been in the online insurance marketplace for a number of years. Through that experience they have learned that for long term success, they have to ensure their visitors are satisfied with their experience - both while on the website and after. They firmly believe that by simply suggesting the companies offering car insurance in your area they allow visitors to have a degree of control over their private information that most other online auto insurance comparison sites simply can't offer. Visit them today at www.RateWin.com!
Brian Brown Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, FVP, Searsboro Telephone Company, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps / impact4800.com, Champion Brands, SPLASH, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, Weld Wheels, Housby Trucks, www.RateWin.com, Arctic Cat, K&N Filters, Hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Awesome Racewear, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Bell Helmets, CP Pistons, Carrillo Rods, Engler Machine, Vortex Wings, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, AkzoNobel Sikkens, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance Products, Santomauro Racing Products, Cometic Gaskets, Kaeding Performance, Donovan, Magtech, ISC Racers Tape, Kinsler, Racing Optics, Don's Truck Wash, Gardner Farms, Hoosier Tires, GoPro, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Peterson Fluid System, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, and WSIB Insurance for all their support!
- Admin Account on Mar 05, 2012
- Article Date: 3/5/2012 by Bill Wright