(Bill W) August 30, 2010 – Brian Brown’s hopes of sewing up a second Knoxville Raceway 410 championship were dashed in a first-lap feature tangle that ended his night. He’ll enter this Saturday with an 81-point lead over Don Droud Jr., and will do his best to bring home the Championship Cup. Meanwhile, other races loom, including Friday’s ASCS-Midwest run at I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, Nebraska, and Sunday’s 7th Annual Lake Ozark Speedway 360 Nationals near Eldon, Missouri.
Last Friday night, Brian took on the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series at the Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois. He drew the pole of his heat and won it. "The pill draw in the ASCS races is so important,” he says. “We were able to get the jump on Kyle Hirst and roll pretty well there. We had the issue with the rocker arm the previous Sunday, and we were able to take that up to Lee Nelson (Ostrich Racing Engines) in Des Moines and he got us in and out of there and had it fixed."
The Grain Valley, Missouri driver drew a six for a starting spot in the main event. A first lap tangle eliminated several cars and put him on the front row for the restart. "It was weird to have the first lap stuff happening two nights in a row,” he says. “Friday didn't get me, but Saturday did. I got up to fourth at the flagman and I had the opportunity to roll the bottom in one and two. I saw Danny (Wood) and Matt Covington get together, and I was able to sneak through."
Brian shot out to an early lead, but a problem that had surfaced earlier continued. "We had had a problem with the throttle linkage and it was stuck wide open,” he says. “The red gave us an opportunity to see what the problem was, but we couldn't get it fixed. We restarted up front, and we ran the rest of the race with a stuck throttle."
The driver of the FVP #21 overcame the problem, but was preoccupied with it. He would be passed for the lead. "We did the best we could,” says Brian. “Before the rubber showed up, when we were out front, I still think we had the fastest car. I was really concerned with the throttle and not crashing, and honestly, I may have been more in tune with where the rubber was showing up, I may have found it."
Jerrod Hull and Hirst shot by Brian, and he tucked in behind them. "With four to go, we had a problem with the steering and the pitman arm,” he says of his retirement from the event. “We had a good run, we just didn't have the luck. It's good to know that everywhere we've been going and whoever we've been running against, we've been competitive. That's a testament to Chad (Morgan), Kelby (Hopkins) and the rest of the team."
The team registered the quick time of the night at Knoxville on Saturday to gain valuable points. "Qualifying gets you some good points, and we were able to get quick time,” says Brian. “Ever since we've used these Pro Gas shocks, they've worked really well. We've had them on since the Nationals."
An invert of eight in the feature following a second place run in the heat, put Brian outside row four for the main event. It would end before it even started. "There's really not much you can say about it,” he says of getting caught up in the mess. “You can't blame it on anyone. Seth (Brahmer) had his sideboard fly off and spun. We tried to get through there, but just had nowhere to go. We had crashes going on all night long, and I just thank the Lord no one was seriously hurt."
Brian took a hard hit. "On my end, I'm just glad to have Butlerbuilt seats and Bell Helmets,” he says. “That's the hardest hit I've taken in a long long time without turning over. Going from 130 to a sudden stop isn't much fun, and I felt it on Sunday."
A positive attitude will be carried into Knoxville’s Season Championship this Saturday. "We're in a good position, and one anyone would trade with us,” says Brian. “We just have to do the best we can. We could have been hurt a lot more, but Don struggled a bit in the A."
This weekend, three races will keep the crew busy. "I-80 has become kind of a 'home away from home',” says Brain. “We’ll pull in there with some confidence, and we'll do the best we can. Hopefully, we'll do well at Knoxville, and I look forward to Lake Ozark Speedway on Sunday. Kevin and Tammy Gundaker do a great job on the track, and I'm sure the crowd will be rowdy and look forward to seeing us there!"
Follow Brian and FVP Racing on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube!
The FVP marketing team has launched a Twitter page, a Facebook page, and a Youtube page (make sure to subscribe to all!) to keep up to date with Brian and FVP racing! You can become a fan and follow along by clicking on the links below:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/fvpracing
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2rakgn
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=fvpracing
Web site
For up to date information on Brian Brown, visit www.BrianBrownRacing.com!
New T-shirts
Brian’s new t-shirts are here! You can choose from two styles!
Brian's Q&A
Harold Amaker asks: Is there any difference between the way you feel going into Saturday, and the way you felt going into the last night in 2007?
Brian answers: In 2007, we had clinched it before we went in. We were cruising along. Anytime you are in a tight points' race, you worry about it. The guy who tells you he isn't, isn't telling the truth. You work hard all year long to win a championship, and you don't want to give it away on the last night.
Got a question for Brian? Send it to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for Brian" in your subject line.
Brown's Bits
Brian has had much success at Lake Ozark Speedway. In 12 career features run, he has won half of the time (6). He has also recorded seven top fives and eleven top tens. He won the 3rd Annual LOS Nationals in 2006 ahead of Jesse Hockett, Bobby Hawks, Robbie Standridge and Foster Landon.
FVP
FVP specializes in the battery that you need. They know it has to be tough and priced right. They have a line of high-performance batteries for SUVs, trucks, cars and other specialty vehicles that give you quality without breaking the bank. To find a dealer near you, visit them on the web at www.FVPparts.com!
SuperClean
SuperClean is the “super product” for your home, auto, outdoor and marine cleaning jobs. Whether it is grease, oil, wax, tar or dirt that you need to clean from concrete, wheels or just about anything else, SuperClean is the product for you! To learn more about SuperClean, visit www.SuperClean.com!
Splash
Whether it’s keeping your windshield clean or free of ice, protecting your RV, boat or pool from freezing in the winter, or your sidewalk safe to walk on, Splash Products from SuperClean are what you need! Click on the “Splash Products” link at www.SuperClean.com!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Searsboro Telephone Company’s www.FaxeMeService.Com
Brian says, “Don Long is an avid sprint car fan, and has been a part of the team for a couple of years now. We’re just really happy to have him here.”
Receive faxes through your e-mail when you’re away from the fax machine! Visit www.FaxMeService.com for easy sign-up options! It’s the simplicity of a fax through the convenience of e-mail. It’s easy to use, with no setup and a low fee!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Brown & Miller Racing Solutions
Brian says – “We feel John Harper and the folks at Brown and Miller have the lightest weight, strongest, best looking lines out there. We use them for all our fuel, wing and motor lines. We've had no issues at all, and we've been using them since 2008."
Brown & Miller’s lightweight range of hose satisfies virtually every racing application and their fittings are designed for safety, reliability and optimum weight saving. With an industry standard ProGold convoluted hose system, Smoothbore hose and Adaptor ranges, they have the complete system. To further complement these products, they can also provide custom engineered fittings designed to optimize hose installations where standard fittings may not be suitable. With outlets world wide, there is no excuse to settle for second best! At Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, they maintain the simple philosophy that when our parts are on your racecar, they are a part of your team. Visit them on the web at www.BMRS.net!
Brian would like to thank FVP, SuperClean, Splash, Ditzfeld Transfer, Searsboro Telephone Company, www.FaxMeService.com, Housby Trucks, Maxim Racing, Champion Brands, My State Insurance Rates, Smiley’s Race Products, Impact Sign and Lighting, Arctic Cat, K&N Filters, Hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Awesome Racewear, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Weld Wheels, Bell Helmets, CP Pistons, Carrillo Rods, A1 Mortgage, Rockwell Security, Paul's Auto Body Supply, Engler Machine, Vortex Wings, Ostrich Racing Engines, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance Products, Santomauro Racing Products, Cometic Gaskets, Kaeding Performance, Donovan, Magtech, ISC Racers Tape, Racing Optics, Pro Shocks, Don's Truck Wash, Gardner Farms, Hoosier Tires, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Peterson Fluid System, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, www.Impact4800.com and WSIB Insurance for all their help!
- Bill Wright on Aug 30, 2010
- Article Date: 8/30/2010