It was a weekend of first for Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team as they picked up two wins. The Grain Valley, Missouri driver picked up his first ever wins in Pennsylvania and his first two with the All Star Circuit of Champions. Both came on tracks that Brian has never raced on. It started Saturday at the Jim Nace Memorial at Selinsgrove Speedway and continued Sunday at Bedford Speedway. Three races are planned in PA this weekend including Susquehanna Speedway near Newberrytown Thursday, Williams Grove Speedway near Mechanicsburg Friday and the $20,000 to win “Dirt Classic” at Lincoln Speedway near Abbottstown Saturday.
I know the Jim Nace Memorial at Selinsgrove was a special race for your team.
Our engine builder, Charlie Garrett built engines for Jim Nace and they were good friends. We came in saying if we could win one, it would be this one. We had some high expectations going in, not only for us, but for Charlie.
Things started well as you posted quick time in your group and second overall.
That was good. We were one of the quickest hot-lapping, and Trey (Starks) picked up a little bit more than we did and we ended up second quick.
That helped get you into the Dash.
We were in a good spot being in the top two qualifiers. We were able to maintain and run fourth in the heat. We got a good draw (one the pole) for the Dash, and we made a few minor adjustments. Once we got in clean air, it changed everything and we had a rocket ship. Anytime you can set a four-lap track record, it’s cool. We were able to do that two weeks in a row out here.
You started outside row one, but the feature became a bit of an endurance race.
We were able to get the lead there. We had a red and the fog rolled in. We rode around there for six or ten laps until it lifted. It was still pretty foggy when we got going. We had some more yellows and reds. I felt like we got through traffic pretty well. I made a few minor mistakes, but it was a pretty clean race. To win that was really special for our team and Charlie Garrett. It was a pretty cool night.
At Bedford Sunday, you again timed in second quick overall.
It was kind of the same scenario exactly on Sunday. We were quickest hot-lapping and then Trey was a tick better in qualifying. We ran fourth in the heat again and drew a good number for the Dash and won that.
This time you started on the pole. What were your thoughts heading in?
Bedford is a big, wide, slick half-mile. You can watch videos, but you don’t know the characteristics of the track until you get there. I had to move around and hit my marks. Caleb (Helms) wasn’t going away. He stayed right there with us. He was running a different line than we are, and I’m not so sure it wasn’t a better one than we were.
Still, you were able to hold on.
We were able to get the win. We hadn’t won with the All Stars, and now we have two in one weekend. I’m just proud of Chad, Michael, Jordan and my Dad who are all out here helping. It’s been a very cool trip so far. It’s not an easy task to come out here for a month. You need great supporters and the partners that we have to do it. It’s also good to be out here and talk with Charlie Garrett about some things. He’s the best engine builder in the country. Running well out here is an added bonus.
This will be a busy week again for you.
The only track I’ve seen that we’re running this weekend is Williams Grove. Susquehanna is a pretty decent size track. I’m really looking forward to the Dirt Classic at Lincoln. Jared Adams and Phil Durst and their whole family have done a good job of promoting the event. It’s a big $20,000 to win show and I’m sure it’s going to be packed with cars and fans.
Follow Brian on the Web, Twitter and Facebook!
Follow Brian at his website located at www.BrianBrownRacing.com
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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 Sep 19, 2017
- Article Date: 9/19/2017