Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team put in another solid weekend with the FVP National Sprint League. They followed a sixth place finish at the Nebraska Cup at Eagle Raceway Friday with a second place run in the Jerry Richert Memorial at Cedar Lake Speedway near New Richmond, Wisconsin on Saturday. This Friday and Saturday, the Grain Valley, Missouri driver will be going after big money in the Casey’s Fall Brawl at the I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, Nebraska.
You were fifth quick on Friday at Eagle to start the Nebraska Cup.
The last time we were at Eagle, the track was a lot different than it was Friday. We drew a pretty early number to qualify and there was still some slime out there. It seemed the track got faster and faster and we were happy to hang on to fifth.
The track was definitely fast for the heats. You ended up fourth.
It seemed to get tackier and tackier and rougher and rougher. It’s tough to compete when it does that. There’s a fine line between being aggressive and being on the hook with a long drive ahead of you to the next race.
You started seventh in the feature.
We were able to get into sixth. We were able to go green for twenty laps. We ended up surviving and advancing to the next race. Unfortunately, it was just heavy, heavy.
Despite coming out 35th in the order at the Jerry Richert Memorial Saturday, you timed in sixth quick.
We’re really excited about where we’ve been the last month. That’s where we should have been all year long. We’ve had a little luck go our way too, which also helps. To come out that late in the order and get sixth quick says a lot about our car. Chad (Morgan) has a lot to do with that, and our engines are hitting.
You did what you had to do in the heat, starting in the third row and running fourth.
The heats are tough. You get guys in around you that are really good. You’ve got to make things happen. Luckily, we were able to get into fifth and get by Austin (McCarl) for fourth. That kind of gives you some breathing room to move around and see what your car is capable of.
The draw went your way for in the invert, and you started the main event on the outside of row two. What was your mindset heading in?
You’re trying to pay attention to the track. They’re doing a good job of making sure the track stays good all night long. They worked it before all the features. Then it’s a guessing game of how tight or how free you need the car to be.
You were able to get out and lead most of the way.
We were able to get a good start and get the lead there from the front row. We set a pretty good pace. Sometimes, when you’re leading, and you’re that good on lap one, you know you could be in trouble on lap 30.
There was a lot of traffic out there. There was just one caution early on.
As the race went on, it seemed we got a little slower. The car was doing things where we needed to be better in stages. I made a lap or two that wasn’t very good in traffic. To give a driver like Terry McCarl a shot to get that close…he was able to get by us. We were able to get back by him, but I couldn’t stick the bottom of three and four like I wanted to. That was all she wrote. Chalk that one up to not being as good as we needed to be later in the race.
Still, a strong second place finish with 39 cars in the house has to do your confidence some good.
We can use it to build on our momentum. The NSL put out a release today that said the last five races, we’ve been the highest point scoring car. That shows the direction we’re going and we look forward to building on that.
You have to be looking forward to the Fall Brawl.
I-80 has always been one of my favorite places. They’ve done a good job of getting the track wide. The last couple times, it’s been a little narrower than I like, but the Kosiski’s will do a good job getting that right. Having Casey’s be a presenting sponsor of that event gives us added incentive to have a good run. It’s $5,000 to win both nights and there’s a $20,000 bonus for sweeping…so there’s a lot of money we can pull out of there.
I know you shared in the loss of the racing community last Friday morning.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of one of our long-time partners, Jack Housby. He was a huge supporter of my career not only as a partner, but as a friend. He’s helped me in so many ways, and is a big reason that I’m even out here racing. There’s not a bigger race fan in this country, nor a greater supporter of ours. We’re going to miss him. We’ll continue to do that Housby decal proud!
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 picked up two wins at I-80 Speedway in 2005. On July 8, he topped Chad Humston, Jason Martin, Billy Alley and Don Droud Jr. in ASCS-Midwest action. He then topped an ASCS National field including Alley, Gary Wright, Jake Peters and Zach Chappell on August 3.
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 – XYZ Machining
Brian says – “Tim Norman and his wife do a great job there. We use their mounts and posts. They make a great product.”
XYZ manufactures aluminum and titanium racing components as well as custom products for other industries. Their company pays close attention to the three things important to customers: on-time delivery, quality work, and excellent customer service. Visit them on the web at www.XYZMachining.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 slides under Austin McCarl at Cedar Lake (Rob Kocak Photo)
- administrator on Sep 15, 2015
- Article Date: 9/14/2015 by Bill Wright