(Bill W) April 30, 2012 – The Brian Brown Racing Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 had a good weekend running with both the World of Outlaws and the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series. Both events at Knoxville (IA) Raceway and the Salina (OK) High Banks saw the Grain Valley, Missouri driver in contention to win. This weekend, he plans on 360 action in Minnesota and Missouri.
It was a last minute decision on Friday to run with the ASCS series in Salina. “We had planned on Eagle (Raceway in Nebraska with the WoO), but they canceled,” says Brian. “That gave us the opportunity to go to Salina. We weren’t very good hot lapping. We changed our package a little bit in the heat, and it worked pretty well for us (8th to 3rd). We were good, but not as good as we thought we could be.”
The finish qualified Brian for a redraw that saw him post outside of row four in the feature. “We ran well with the Outlaws there last year, so we went back to our notes a little bit,” he says. “We were able to get to fifth pretty quickly there. We had to work hard to get by (Matt) Covington. Then when we got to fourth, we were able to get by (Mike) Goodman and chase down Jack (Dover).”
The caution came out with Brian running third. “It went green about 15-18 laps,” he says. “There for a while, we could hardly see (leader) Wayne (Johnson). In a couple of laps, we were reeling him in and I thought things were going to get pretty good. Then the yellow came out. That gave Wayne open track, and we were able to slide by Jack for second.”
The pursuit of Johnson fell short with a solid second place finish. “I felt we were good enough to win at the end of the race,” says Brian. “Wayne had the track position, and he did what he had to do to win it. I felt we were as good as we’ve been with the ASCS National tour in recent memory.”
The WoO visited Knoxville on Saturday, and Brian was ready. Coming out 36th in a field of 42, he still registered the eighth quick time of the night. “We were excited to get there,” he says of Knoxville. “With the Outlaws in town, there is a lot of hype. We set the standard in hot laps, and the track was still in pretty good shape for us in qualifying. The car and motor we have right now are flawless.”
Starting third in his heat, Brian would come home second behind Sammy Swindell and qualify for the Dash. “We were able to sneak by Lynton (Jeffrey) there on the first lap,” he says. “I really believe we were better than Sammy in the heat there. The more I would pull up on him, the more tight I got, so I kind of just rolled there in second. It was a good feeling.”
The Dash draw saw Brian start second. He won going away. “We got the lucky draw,” he says. “This Outlaw deal is about putting yourself in position and getting a little luck, and luck was on our side. At that point, we were just trying not to screw it up.”
Starting on the pole of the 25-lap main event, Brian shot out to an early lead. “I really feel like we had a car capable of winning, but I don’t feel I was doing my job as far as driving-wise,” he admits. “Most of the time, you go out and run as hard as you can every lap, but with these tires, you have to take care of them a little bit. I don’t feel I did enough of that to win the race.”
He would lead the first 14 laps, before Swindell got by in traffic. “Once I got out front and into traffic, I couldn’t run as well as I wanted to,” says Brian, who had a blistered left rear tire. “That gave Sammy an opportunity and he got by. I almost got back by him at one point, and I felt good about our chances. Then the yellow came out.”
The veteran Swindell made a cagey move on the restart. “On the double-file start, I got a good run,” says Brian. “I really felt he was going to go to the top, but he chose to go to the middle and I was already committed. That gave Craig (Dollansky) a run at us on the backstretch. I believe with our blistered tires that we lost a lot of air pressure during the caution.”
At the checkers, he would settle for a solid fourth. “I was in good company with Sammy, Craig and Joey Saldana (in front),” says Brian. “We have until August (Knoxville Nationals) to get this figured out. The main thing is, our car is fast enough to win…I just have to do my part and we have three months to figure that out. I want to give us a chance to win that race in August.”
Brian plans on competing at the Jackson (MN) Speedway Spring Nationals on Friday, and the ASCS-Warrior show at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri on Saturday. “Van Wyhe Livestock and Folkens Brothers Trucking put up some big money and we want to win it,” he says of Jackson, which will pay $5,000 to win. “They do a great job promoting that race, and we’ve had some success there. Impact Signs Awnings and Wraps are putting on the ASCS-Warrior show in Wheatland, on Saturday, and we want to represent them well. We were able to win that one last year, and we’d like to do it again.”
There is much excitement surrounding the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 racing team right now. “I’m really excited about the team right now,” says Brian. “I think it’s the best we’ve ever been. Chad (Morgan) and Andy (Anderson) are giving us a good car every time we hit the track. That’s a good sign for me as far as confidence. I think we have more top fives at this point than we’ve ever had.”
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
Rick Clemons asks: Have you ever had a chance to race in another class?
Brian answers: Not really. I raced a go-kart one night. I was also a last minute replacement in a celebrity modified race in Sedalia at the Michael Ross Foundation event. I went out in hot laps and spun it twice. I tried to give up my seat, but they wouldn’t let me. I went back to the guy who owned the car, and told him to make it so I wouldn’t spin out. We went straight to the lead, and I was thinking it was pretty easy. I think the race was 15 laps, and I saw the white flag, and I was still out front. On the backstretch, here comes Tony Stewart about 20 mph faster than me. He had his left hand out the window waving at me. He had just been playing with me the whole time! We ended up second.
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
Brian won the 2010 Jackson Nationals title on the basis of his overall points finish. He finished in the runner-up spot both nights to earn the championship trophy.
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 – Ditzfeld Transfer
Brian says – “Ditzfeld Transfer is a family deal. Ronnie and his sons were our very first sponsor. They haul our motors, and if I would need anything hauled across the country, I would call them first.”
Ditzfeld Transfer has been with Brian since the start of his racing career, and was his first sponsor. The Sedalia based family owned trucking business has been in operation for over 45 years, and has a commitment to maintaining the highest level of service. Currently, Ditzfeld Transfer utilizes more than 50 power units and 160 trailers. To learn more about Ditzfeld Transfer, visit www.DitzfeldTransfer.com!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Engler Machine
Brian says – “Tim Engler is one of the nicest guys in this sport. When it comes to the choice on injection for our motor, I don’t see us running anything but Engler.”
All of Brian’s 410 motors and his current 360 motor have the new injection from Engler Machine & Tool. Engler Machine was started in 1980 by Tim Engler, his main line of business at that time was plastic injection molds. Over the years he has diversified very widely leaning more towards "high performance products". He now builds fuel injection systems, custom made pulling chassis, gears, shafts, specialty CNC products, racing engines and some custom machining. Tim has been involved in tractor pulling and holds 13 national titles in that sport; he no longer pulls himself but, has been influential to the success of many other pullers through his advice and building capabilities. He races winged sprint cars when time allows this is something he truly likes and wishes he had more time to do. Visit them online at www.EnglerMachine.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, Jack Links, Rockstar, Deli Express, Snap-On Tools, 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 May 01, 2012
- Article Date: 4/30/2012 by Bill Wright