(Bill W) June 17, 2014 – The tracks in Jackson, Minnesota and Knoxville, Iowa tested the drivers over the weekend in more ways than one. Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team came home with hard-charger honors at Knoxville, having driven from 23rd to 9th on a challenging race surface. They are weighing their options for racing this week as they prepare for Knoxville on Saturday.
Qualifying 15th at Jackson on Friday left you out of the heat invert.
It seems we haven’t had a lot of luck lately. We’ve been racing pretty well, but our overall general racing luck hasn’t been there. We drew a good number to qualify, but we sat there and the track sat there and waited and waited and waited for David Gravel to change his motor. I think sitting there, with the wind blowing the way it was…it was dirty for the first five or six guys who went out there. It changed a bunch after hot laps, and we weren’t tight enough. As it cleaned off, I think the track got better for the guys who went later.
You got through your heat (finishing fifth) and started 15th in the feature, but the track had rubber-down early on and you finished 14th.
Once you qualify like that, the way the format is, you’re in trouble. The track was laying some rubber already in the heat. They went out and reworked it. It was a freight train around the bottom is the best way you can put it. When the hard-charger passes four cars, it’s disappointing. There was a big crowd, and they missed it on the track. Sometimes, it happens. Hopefully, it’s better next time.
Strong winds and another very dry track awaited at Knoxville on Saturday.
We knew drawing second to last (to qualify) would be tough. With the weather conditions, and having the bikes there the night before, I thought the Dunkin’s did a marvelous job not to have a track that was laying rubber in hot laps. They had to have it ice slick for the bikes, and forty mile per hour winds on Saturday were a recipe for disaster.
Late timing slots killed a lot of drivers and you were 32nd quick.
I wish they would have maybe done the 360’s after us, or drew for heats, or even had one-lap qualifying for them to save the track a little bit. It is what it is though. That being said, Joey Saldana and Paul McMahan got qualified in (the invert) five or six cars before us. We didn’t do our job 100% either. At that point, we were figuring how we were going to get in the show, rather than win it.
As it turns out, you were challenging Terry McCarl for the win in the best heat of the night.
At that point, we had to go eighth to fifth (to make the feature). I got a little anxious on the start, and we had to go tenth to fifth. We had a red flag there to start the race, and I was able to line up on the double-file inside row three. We got through there into second.
At that point, you briefly passed for the lead.
I think I got a little over-anxious and showed my hand too early. I think we were better than (McCarl) in the heat. He was just blocking us at that point. A little bit of driver-error and lack of patience cost us there. At that point, we were disappointed not to win, but happy to be in the show.
You made the most of it in the feature, going from 23rd to 9th.
It was a super-run really, looking at what we did. On a tough track to pass at the end, we were able to get up to ninth. We were on the same straightaway as the leaders. (Brad) Sweet was gone, but I could see (second place) McCarl at the end. We could have used a yellow in there to bunch things up, but overall, it was a good finish considering how the night started. We’re looking forward to the next couple of weeks at Knoxville. We working towards solidifying our program for the Nationals.
Follow Brian on the Web, Twitter and Facebook!
Follow Brian at his website located at www.BrianBrownRacing.com!
Also keep up with FVP, Casey’s and Brian on Facebook and Twitter at the following links…
Twitter Links – @BrianBrown21, @FVPRacing, @CaseysGenStores
Facebook Links
Brian Brown Racing – www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Brown-Racing/200630163294222
Casey’s General Stores – www.facebook.com/pages/Caseys-General-Stores/112073528804354
FVP Racing - http://www.facebook.com/FVPRacing?ref=ts&fref=ts
Other Web site info
Casey's: www.caseys.com
FVP: www.fvpparts.com
Brown’s Bits
Brian posted four ASCS National wins in 2013. They came at Tucson International Raceway in Arizona, the Front Row Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, the Jackson Nationals in Minnesota and at the Winter Nationals at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas.
15% off of Enco Tools Purchase!
Receive 15% off of your order with Enco Tools! Just go to www.UseEnco.com and use the coupon code “BBR21”!
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
Marketing Partner of the Week – Champion Racing Lubricants (Champion Racing 20W50 Motor Oil)
Visit Champion’s new web page at www.ChampionsUseChampion.com! Champion Racing 20W50 Motor Oil is the one that started it all by beating the competition in providing more horsepower, torque, and anti-wear additives than many of the more well known brands of racing oil. Champion Racing 20W50's premium ZDDP anti-wear protection is among the highest in the industry. Champion's exclusive shear stabilizer delivers better film strength and piston ring seal at peak temperatures. Champion Racing 20W50 also delivers more foot-pounds of torque with higher compression than any competitor's brands.
Benefits include:
• Provides exceptional low coefficient of friction
• Offers film strength and viscosity stability of thicker mono-grades at higher temperatures
• Provides upper cylinder anti-wear protection
• Increases high-temp oil pressure and compression
• Formulated for flat tappet, roll over cams and bearings in turbo and super-charged racing engines
• Lowers engine temperature
• Compatible with petroleum and other synthetics
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Carrillo Rods/CP Pistons
CP Pistons and Carrillo industries have joined forces with one goal in mind: offer high quality performance products with excellent customer service. CP has built a reputation of high-end quality pistons, buil5 to perform and outlast; especially in power-sport and sport compact. They are recognized as a technological leader in piston design and development for all venues of motorsports. They focus on providing industry-leading products and performance while maintaining the highest level of customer service.
Nearing their 50th Anniversary, the name Carrillo is synonymous with connecting rods. Carrillo has won more races in virtually every format of motorsports than any rod manufacturer in the world. They carry a full line of stock replacement rods and specialize in custom applications. They focus on providing industry-leading products and performance while maintaining the highest level of customer service. All products are proudly made in USA. Visit them online at www.CP-Carrillo.com!
Brian Brown Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, FVP, Searsboro Telephone Company, MC Power, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps / impact4800.com, Champion Brands, DNA Energy, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, Enco Tools, Weld Wheels, Housby Trucks, www.RateWin.com, Arctic Cat, K&N, www.hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Bell Helmets, Hinchman, CP Pistons, Carrillo Rods, Vortex Wings, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, AkzoNobel, Kenny's Components, www.AllDayParts.com, Tru Square, Jack Links, Deli Express, Snap-On Tools, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance, Cometic Gaskets, Shell Shock, Donovan, ISC Racers Tape, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Racing Optics, Mothers Wax, Hoosier Tires, Klein RV, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, 6B Apparel, Bosch, Garrett Racing Engines, MSD, Moyle Racing Engines, Fortress Wealth Management, Legacy, Flexzilla and WSIB Insurance for all their support!
Attached: Brian races at Jackson Speedway (Serena Dalhamer Photo)
- Admin Account on Jun 17, 2014
- Article Date: 6/17/2014 by Bill Wright