Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 opened the FVP National Sprint League season at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa last Saturday. The result at the end of the night saw a seventh place finish. The team is preparing for another opener this weekend at the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.
How did qualifying go?
We were kind of nervous about going out late (33rd out of 40), but it didn’t seem to hurt us. We were a bit tighter than we wanted to be. I couldn’t run four like I wanted. We were still fourth quick, and it was a good start. With the way the NSL lineup points work, it puts you in a good place.
The NSL format has the quick timer in the last heat, so with you being fourth quick, you were in the first.
It’s definitely a little different than what everyone’s accustomed to. I think it gives quick time a little advantage coming out in the last heat and maybe the track isn’t quite as narrow. The only thing I would change is the quick timer is always in the heat with fifth quick. I would rather see quick time and eighth quick in the same heat, and fourth quick and fifth quick in the same heat (‘snaking’ the qualifiers).
You were able to go from sixth to fourth in the heat.
These heats are tough. You have to hustle to make the top eight for the feature redraw. Every spot is crucial. We were able to get up to fourth and get in a transfer spot. From there, we were really concentrating on the car and seeing what it was doing with the track.
You redrew inside of row three for the feature. What were your thoughts heading in?
Our goal going in was to stay in contention for the first several laps. We were able to get to fourth there at the beginning. On the early restart we were able to get to third. We were right there with Terry (McCarl) and Wayne (Johnson).
At that point, you had to be feeling good about your chances.
I don’t know if we had enough to run with Terry. It seemed like he was better than both of us. On lap ten or eleven I went into turn three and went to use the brakes and they were gone. More than anything, not having brakes messes with your head. Things get out of whack and you start running the racetrack different.
Still you came home with a solid finish in a strong group of cars.
We ended up seventh. We’re not making excuses. We had maybe a second or third place car. We just need to get better. We’ll get ready for the next NSL race at Eagle.
How did you assess the first night out for the FVP NSL?
I think things went really well for the NSL. From Chuck (Zitterich), Bill (Wright) and Natalie (Sather) to Tod (Quiring) and all of his volunteers, it was a great success. Amy and Jeff (Laue of 34 Raceway) had a great crowd. It was good quality racing, and we were done by 10:45 or 11. You can’t do much better than that.
It has to be a source of pride to have FVP be the title sponsor for the NSL.
We’re extremely proud to have the opportunity to represent FVP with our race team. I think them being the title sponsor for the NSL just shows you their commitment to sprint car racing, and the levels they will go for their great employees and customers.
This Saturday night, is the opener at the Knoxville Raceway.
I don’t think we could be any more excited. We’ve been counting down the days for the opener. It’s no secret that it’s my favorite track and the best facility for the fans. It’s kind of like opening day for baseball. There’s only one opening day!
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 won six times at Knoxville Raceway. His four 410 wins included three in a row, and his prelim at the Knoxville Nationals. His two 360 wins included winning his first 360 Nationals.
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 over 1,850 convenience stores in 14 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 5th largest c-store chain and fifth largest pizza chain in the United States.
About FVP
Built on a commitment to quality and delivered with unmatched service, FVP is the confident solution for all of your OEM needs. FVP products are engineered to provide customers with OE quality products that are equal or superior in performance to the major national brands at a competitive price. FVP is proud to carry a full line of high quality oil, air, cabin air and fuel filters, powerful batteries for multiple applications including cars, trucks, SUV’s, commercial, boats and other specialty vehicles as well as automotive chemicals and oil, antifreeze, DEF, hub assemblies, radiators and condensers. To learn more about FVP or to find out where you can have FVP products installed in your vehicle, visit FVPparts.com! FVP…The Confident Solution.
Marketing Partner of the Week – Maxim Racing
Brian says, “Chuck and Karen Merrill are not only great people, but they put everything into putting the best car out on the market. I’ve always been a supporter of theirs, and with Brian Brown Racing, you’ll always see their chassis.”
Brian has been partnering with Maxim since 2003. After years of success as a car owner, Chuck Merrill started his chassis business in a rented three-bay garage in November of 1988. The first car was driven by Johnny Herrera at the Florida All Stars Sprint Week in February of 1989. By June of that year, Maxim moved into a 7,000 square foot facility. By 2001, Maxim had grown substantially producing 304 chassis that year. In 2002, Maxim moved to its present 12,500 square foot location in Springfield, Illinois. Maxim continues to offer their customers unmatched service and support, and currently has 17 quality employees, and builds over 400 chassis on an annual basis. Their world-famous “K-car” was designed for Steve Kinser, and has won ten Knoxville Nationals titles and fourteen World of Outlaws championships! To top it all, Maxim offers a warranty if you are not completely satisfied with your car. For more information on Maxim, visit www.racemaxims.com!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Fuel-Safe Tanks
Brian says, “Since day one, we’ve run Fuel-Safe Tanks. They build the lightest, most durable, safest tanks on the market. That’s why we choose them.”
From the high banks of Daytona to the low groove at Knoxville, Laguna Seca’s corkscrew to Baja’s torturing elements Fuel Safe has provided the safest, most dependable fuel cells and accessories for championship winning teams and drivers around the world. Fuel Safe’s ongoing commitment to quality and service is number one. Our ongoing research and development pays off as we discover new and improved ways to make our products stronger, lighter and safer. At Fuel Safe we are continually striving to compliment our product line with courteous and knowledgeable customer service personnel to better serve your racing needs. Regardless of your type of racing, whether it is road, circle, off road, vintage, dirt or drag we will provide you with the best fuel cell for your application. Fuel Safe is the official fuel cell of PRI; American Sprint Car Series NW Region; O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions. Visit them on the web at www.FuelSafe.com!
Brian Brown Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, FVP, Print Place, Searsboro Telephone Company, MC Power, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps / impact4800.com, Champion Brands, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, Enco Tools, Weld Wheels, Housby Trucks, Pro Shocks by Schure Built Suspension, Arctic Cat, Lincoln Electric, K&N, www.hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Bell Helmets, Hinchman Uniforms, 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 and Flexzilla for all their support!
Attached: Brian races with Bryan Clauson (Rob Kocak Photo)
- administrator on Apr 13, 2015
- Article Date: 4/13/2015 by Bill Wright