Outside of an impressive fourth place run with the World of Outlaws at I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, Nebraska last Wednesday, it was a week to forget for Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team. A part failure could have meant disaster for the Grain Valley, Missouri driver, but fortunately, he brought the car and himself back in one piece. This weekend is a big two-night National Sprint League event at Knoxville Raceway, and it comes at a good time for a team that is ready to get “back on the horse”.
You timed in 11th quick at I-80.
We started off o.k., but we didn’t qualify as well as we wanted. We were just a little bit off both hot lapping and qualifying. We were able to go from fourth to second in the heat, which would have put us in the Dash. We were just a little bit tight all night long though, and I let Logan (Schuchart) get back by us.
The third place finish meant you would start eighth in the feature, but you went backwards at first.
I think at one point, we were back in 12th or 14th even. Once the fuel load came off, that thing started rolling around there pretty well. I think the last eight laps, we went from tenth to fourth. In a 50-lapper, we would have had something for them, but overall, for as off as we were, to come back and get a top five with the Outlaws was almost like a win.
At Jackson Motorplex in Minnesota on Friday, you again timed in 11th with the WoO.
We had a few things going on at I-80 and Jackson, that now looking back, we know why we were the way we were. We unloaded tight, tried to fix it, and qualified loose in a couple of spots. Then we were tight in the heat (running third).
You started in row six, but finished sixteenth.
In the feature, it was almost un-drivable. It was just so tight. Fortunately, Jackson has a lot of high paying races coming up, but unfortunately, it’s one of our worst tracks right now. We have some ideas of why that is. In the past, it’s been one of our better tracks. We need to go back to the drawing board there.
At Knoxville on Saturday, you timed in fourth quick and went fifth to second in your heat with the NSL. The invert had you starting seventh for the feature.
We were able to get to third rather quickly. I really didn’t drive too smart and made some bad decisions that you can’t make. We had a part failure on our left front. That cause the wheel to come off the spindle. It was one of those nights. From breaking down in the truck going to I-80, and you go back really through the month of June…we’re really glad to get into July.
You spun in turn three facing traffic. That could have been a lot worse.
Looking at the video, (the wheel) was off in one and two. It kind of stayed on there. Honestly, I’m lucky that the two drivers behind me (Sammy Swindell and Danny Lasoski) are Hall of Fame drivers. You get someone that’s not paying attention too much back there and it could have been bad. Fortunately, at Knoxville, we have quality drivers.
Your focus can be on Knoxville this week.
We needed this week to regroup and refocus. We’ve been able to nip a few items in the bud and really get ready for the “month of money” here. We want to concentrate on winning races. This is what the doctor ordered for us. We can get right back on the horse. There will be travelers coming in starting this weekend through the Nationals. We feel like even with the bad luck, we’ve had a fast car every time we’ve hit the track at Knoxville. I can’t wait until the Nationals; I guarantee you that!
The Driver’s Project
Read about Brian’s experiences in early 2004 with Lonnie Parsons’ #6 World of Outlaws team at “The Driver’s Project”… http://www.thedriversproject.com/2016/06/brian-brown-too-much-too-soon/
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
- administrator on Jun 30, 2016
- Article Date: 6/30/2016