(Image Credit: Steve Eichelberger?)
(Bill W) September 6, 2017 – Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team has spent many Labor Day weekends at the Lake Ozark Speedway near Eldon, Missouri. That was interrupted when the track closed for almost a decade. The Grain Valley, Missouri driver made his return last weekend with a runner-up finish in Sunday’s finale there with the ASCS Warrior region. This weekend, Brian will tackle the $50,000 to win Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway in Pennsylvania.
What did you think of the work done to reopen Lake Ozark Speedway this year?
What a phenomenal job Tim Trimble and all of his family and supporters have done. It’s like Lake Ozark never shut down, and it’s back better than ever. I felt it was important for us to go support that event with us being a local team here. We’re looking forward to racing there again.
In Saturday’s prelim, you had a good draw for the heat.
We started on the front there. You know you have to win it at that point with the passing points. The track was pretty narrow at that point, and Dusty Morgan (who started on the pole) is a good racecar driver. He did what he had to do. We showed him the nose a couple of times and he shut the door. We just didn’t get him passed. That was a big spot. It took us from the redraw to where we started back in 11th.
What did you think of your chances back in row six?
We knew it was going to be tough to win it with the field there. We were hoping to scratch and claw our way up to at least fourth and get ourselves locked into Saturday. We were able to ride around the first quarter of the race, and once the track widened out, we went to the cushion and made some time up. We were able to get to fourth and lock ourselves into Saturday.
How did you feel going into Sunday’s finale?
We were feeling good, and we felt we had a good opportunity to win. On Saturday, our times were as good as anyone who was on the track. We had confidence going into Sunday.
You started second for the finale Sunday. What were your thought heading in?
We were able to start on the front row, and we knew we had our work cut out for us. We had to be good for forty laps, we had to be good in traffic, and have the ability to move around.
How did things go early on in the feature?
We were able to get out to the lead, and we were able to move around early. As the race wore on, I felt like maybe I wasn’t the best, and Jonathan (Cornell) was a little better. We had a red there, and we had already exchanged the lead a couple of times.
What were you thinking at that point?
I gathered my thoughts and came up with a game plan for the last 22 laps. We took back off and got going. I just couldn’t shake him. Everything I tried, running my line, running his line, trying to run a faster line…I just didn’t feel the best with any of it. With six or seven to go, I knew he was running the bottom to the middle. I felt if I could clear a lapped car or two, I could maybe win it. I drove it in a little bit too hard and gave him the opportunity to drive by me.
You ended up second.
Sometimes it works that way. I remember a race in 2006 at the same event between Jesse Hockett and me. I was able to pass him late in the race. Sometimes you win them and sometimes you lose them. Jonathan did a great job. He moved around when he needed to, and maybe I didn’t run the right part of the track at the right time. I’m proud of my team…Chad, Michael, Jordan and Dad. They deserved a win there.
I know you’re excited to get back to Port Royal.
We’re looking forward to Port Royal. I really enjoyed racing there last year. I think we ran fourth or fifth with the Outlaws there last year, and when we saw it on the schedule, we were looking forward to going back.
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
Brian’s Bits
Brian won at Valley Speedway with the Winged Outlaw Warriors on September 8, 2007. He moved by Jay Russell on lap two, and went on to win over Josh Fisher, Russell, Jesse Hockett and Larry Pinegar II.
About Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s General Stores is a Fortune-500 company (NASDAQ CASY) operating over 1,900 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 4th 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 – Smiley’s Race Products
Smileys Racing Products and Hoosier Tire Southwest have been in the racing business for 30 years in the Dallas, Fort Worth area. Visit Smiley’s the next couple of weeks, either in Kennedale, at the showroom store in Mesquite, or at the racetracks. All employees at Smiley's Racing Products and Hoosier Tire Southwest are directly involved with race teams either as owners, drivers, pit crew members etc. What this means to you our customers is racing advice that has been tested on the track first, and then we pass our findings on to you our customers. From parts and tires to complete race cars, Smiley’s Racing Products and Hoosier Tire Southwest is ready to help you get to the checkered flag first. All aspects of our business can be seen at www.SmileysRacing.com. Click on catalog and put your information in and we will send you a catalog free of charge.
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, Wormall Civil, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps/ impact4800.com, Champion Brands, Weld Wheels, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, MSD ignition, MC Power, Housby, Searsboro Telephone Company, Next LED Sports, Hope for the Warriors, Factory Kahne Shocks, Arctic Cat, Lincoln Electric, K&N, www.hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, ATL 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, Snap-On Tools, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance, Cometic Gaskets, Shell Shock, Donovan, ISC Racers Tape, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Racing Optics, 5-hour ENERGY, Hoosier Tires, NGK Spark Plugs, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, 6B Apparel, Garrett Racing Engines, and Fortress Wealth Management for all their support!
Photo: Brian at Lake Ozark Speedway (SteveEichelberger.com Photo)
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
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- Bryan Hulbert on Sep 07, 2017
- Article Date: 9/7/2017