The first couple of events at the Knoxville Raceway have been tough for Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team. After their crash on May 9, they were anxious to get back at it. A spin in the feature meant going to the back on Saturday, however, and the Grain Valley, Missouri driver would checker ninth. This weekend finds a trio of events. Friday the FVP National Sprint League will be at the $10,000 to win Folkens Bros. Trucking Spring Nationals. On Saturday, Brian will return to Knoxville, before another NSL event on Sunday at Huset’s Speedway near Brandon, South Dakota.
You registered quick time coming out mid-pack at Knoxville on Saturday.
The night started off really well. We came home the week before after the wreck with Terry (McCarl) and kind of regrouped. We wanted to go over things that still weren’t right after the crash. We started off Saturday on a good note with quick time.
How do you insure a good time?
A lot of times, it’s way more the crew than the driver. Our Charlie Garrett engines run so well with our Maxim Chassis…our Schure Built Suspension and Pro Shocks, everyone works so hard. It’s that rather than the driver.
All three heat races were won from the sixth starting spot, including yours.
My hat’s off to the Dunkin’s. They took a beating a little bit last week and some drivers were critical. To have a track as good as we had it last Saturday…where all the heats were won from the third row…that’s a reflection on how good they are at what they do. It just led to better racing all night long.
That had to give the team a boost.
Winning the heat gave us some confidence. We posted the quickest time of anyone in the heats. Not that we are down on confidence, but anytime you struggle the week before, or have a bad run, you definitely want to bounce back as quick as you can. That started us off on a good note.
The redraw saw you start third in the feature.
We fell back to fifth on the start. We were able to get by Logan Forler for fourth. I was trying to find a way around (Brooke) Tatnell. Just when I thought I would be able to clear him, we had a caution. He was entering the bottom of the corner, and drifting high on exit. I was just having a hard time passing him.
You spun when battling for the fifth spot.
I was going to the top on another restart, and Terry (McCarl) and Danny (Lasoski) both got by us. Unfortunately, I tried to cross under him there in one and two and spun it. I don’t know if we had a car to win the race, but I felt we had a car good enough to be running up there with at least a fighting shot at it. I felt maybe I was overdriving a bit, trying to make up for what we didn’t have. Sometimes, you’re better off slowing down and letting it come back to you. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we did have some good signs with the quick time and the heat win.
You came back to finish ninth. What are your thoughts heading into this weekend?
One of our great supporters, Don Lamberti, gave me some good advice yesterday. He said, “Come August, no one’s going to remember who won on May 16 at Knoxville. Don’t let it eat you up too much.” He’s right, and it’s great to have that kind of support. I just need to make better decisions, but it’s not a time to start pressing either.
You hit Jackson Friday, Knoxville Saturday and Huset’s Sunday.
These are three tracks we’ve had some success at. We’ve had a lot lately at Jackson. We’ve been able to win three of these Folkens Bros. Trucking Spring Nationals, even though it’s been a 360 race the last couple years. Knoxville we’ve run well, and we’ve had three or four top tens in a row with the Outlaws at Huset’s. We don’t run there a lot, but we’ve been somewhat in the game there. Memorial Day weekend has always been about racing with the Indy 500, the Coca Cola 500, and all the local racing. Hopefully, we have a good weekend.
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
Last year’s Folkens Bros. Trucking Spring Nationals was worth $10,000 to Brian. Danny Lasoski finished second, ahead of Jason Johnson, Kaley Gharst and Roger Crockett.
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 – Impact Signs Awnings Wraps / impact4800.com
Brian says – “David and Julie Goodson have a great family there. They also make sure our trailer looks great with the graphics they provide. We’re proud to represent them.”
The goal at Impact Sign and Lighting is to make selecting the right sign and lighting for your business a simple process for you. Impact can design, create, and install virtually any type of sign on awnings, poles, buildings and much more including racecars, of course! They will work with you from conception to completion and make sure you are completely satisfied. We'll give you personalized service, expert consultation, quick turnarounds, and reasonable pricing. Impact Sign and Lighting are responsible for the graphics on the Brian Brown Racing #21. Visit them on the web at www.Impact4800.com!
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, 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!
Photo: Brian races at Knoxville (Rob Kocak Photo)
- administrator on May 22, 2015
- Article Date: 5/18/2015 by Bill Wright