It was a weekend of ups and downs for Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21. The car was fast every time it hit the track, with the Grain Valley, Missouri driver setting quick time at both the Jackson Speedway in Minnesota Friday and at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa Saturday. After a top five run at Jackson’s Folkens Bros. Trucking Spring Nationals, it looked like Brian’s first feature win of the year at Knoxville may happen Saturday until a mechanical failure. The team hopes to bounce back with as many as four races this week.
The FVP National Sprint League event at Jackson was awesome!
Jackson has been a place where we’ve had success. We’d won the last three Folkens Bros. Trucking Spring Nationals. Tod Quiring and his staff there just did a phenomenal job. They made the right changes to make that a top notch facility.
You were able to come out mid-pack (17th out of 35) and set quick time.
Most of the time that credit goes to having a good chassis in Maxim, and a good engine with Charlie Garrett. A lot of times, it’s just me trying to hold the wheel straight and not screw up. We’ve been able to do that lately. That sets you up for a solid night.
You were able to charge from sixth to second in your heat on what was essentially a new track.
They widened the track about 25 feet, and we were able to go from sixth to second there. I knew we were in a good spot point-wise, so we didn’t want to push the tire if we didn’t have to. That was a really good start. We were able to get a Weld wheel for that (high point man after qualifying and heats). That’s what makes the Folkens Bros. race an event.
You went from eighth to fifth in the Dash. How did you feel going into the feature?
It felt like we had a good opportunity to win. It was kind of a crapshoot in that we knew it was going to take rubber, it was just how soon and where. Every one of our starts went well except the last one that ended up counting. I think we went fifth to third, fifth to fourth and then the last one, we lost a spot.
When did you notice the track was taking some rubber?
We got passed by Aaron Reutzel. He found the rubber before we did. He had trouble and fell out. I tried to make a move on the outside on one of the restarts and got my right rear over the lip of the track a little bit. I almost went over the edge and lost three or four spots.
In the end, you checkered fifth.
I feel if I would have stayed in line, the results may have been a little different. We were going for the win, and we were able to get back to fifth. Overall, it was a solid night. It was a great night for the NSL. Jackson is a great facility and the stands were jam-packed.
You repeated your quick time effort again at Knoxville.
We always look towards the Nationals, and that’s what we look at. You have to qualify well, and you have to move forward in your heat race. We had those two things handled again Saturday.
You were able to go from sixth to second in the heat.
In my opinion, we’ve had the toughest heat every week we’ve been there. This week was no different. It was a dogfight between Kerry (Madsen), Wayne (Johnson), Bill Balog and myself. Those three guys could win anywhere in the country. To get through that and run second was an accomplishment.
The feature started really well. You redrew four, but had the lead by the time a lap was completed.
We went back to our basic notebook. The car was phenomenal. We were able to get the lead pretty quickly. We ran five or six laps really hard, and then kind of took care of the tires and went as hard as we needed to go. I think we still had a couple second lead at that time and we were in traffic.
Then, uncharacteristically, you had a mechanical issue.
I came up on Lynton (Jeffrey) and Wayne and they were running side by side. Coming down the back straightaway, we had a part failure on the inside of the motor. We feel we have the best engine builder in Charlie Garrett. Doing the math, that was about 14,000 laps without any issue at all! In this day and age, with the horsepower these engines make…it’s phenomenal. He’s the best engine builder in the country. From time to time, you’re going to have something happen inside the motor that’s beyond anyone’s control. Saturday night was one of those times.
You have to be excited to be racing with the NSL in your home state this weekend. You’ll be at the Saint Francois County Raceway in Farmington on Thursday.
Farmington is a place that we’ve probably only run once or twice. It’s a unique little facility that you wouldn’t be surprised to see a local win at on Thursday. It’s that tough there. It’s kind of like the PA Posse. They are as good as anyone there.
Friday, you’ll be at the Randolph County Raceway near Moberly where you’ve had a lot of success.
I don’t think we’ve ever lost at Moberly. Of course, that was in 360 competition, so this will be different. We’re looking forward to getting back to Knoxville on Saturday too. We may go to Belleville (Kansas) on Sunday (ASCS) as well. It would be nice if Mother Nature took a few weeks off for us right now so we can get some racing in.
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 is unbeaten at Moberly. Of course, that has all been in 360 competition. His last came on Sunday, September 1, 2013 and was worth $4,000. Starting seventh, Brian’s win came in ASCS-Warrior action over Jeff Swindell, Jonathan Cornell, Jason Johnson and Russ Hall.
15% off of Enco Tools Purchase!
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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 – 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.
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Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Vortex Wings
Vortex Racing Products is the industry leader in Sprintcar Wing design. From humble beginnings in 1995, they began producing wings for their own use and quickly became engaged in producing wings for other race teams. Inspired by a life-long background in race car design and manufacturing from their father, Paul and Lynton Jeffrey continued to evolve into a company known for producing a product a little different from the rest. This ability to manufacture a Wing that is unique in design is what has been their success. They continually push the boundaries of design with an extensive testing program. It is their understanding of chassis design and manufacturing that allows communication with clients and tailors a wing package that best suits the race driver, team and make of chassis. It is called “The Vortex Advantage”. Visit them on the web today at www.VortexRacingProducts.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 Jackson (Jeff Bylsma Photo)
- administrator on May 28, 2015
- Article Date: 5/26/2015