From Bill W, image courtesy of Carey Akin/www.ManvelMotorsports.com
The 2010 season started in fine form for Brian Brown and his FVP #21 racing team last Saturday night at the Battleground Speedway in Highlands, Texas. He was able to top a stout ASCS-Gulf South field in exciting fashion for his first win of the season. He’ll stay in Texas and put the 410 in for some World of Outlaws action this weekend in Kilgore and Baytown.
Brian started Saturday night at Battleground outside of row two for his heat race. “We were able to get up to second behind Wayne on the first couple of laps,” he says. “The car felt fast enough to take the lead, but when I got close, it tightened up, and I didn’t want to push the issue. We were in the redraw.”
The draw was again outside row two for the main event. Confidence was high going in, though he would be starting behind a front row consisting of Wayne Johnson and Jesse Hockett. “The holes were pretty bad in one and two,” says Brian. “With a full fuel load on, I knew it would be a handful. We got better and better as the race went on. Wayne and Jesse were going at it pretty good for the lead.”
Hockett took the point about lap five, and Brian reeled in Wayne. A broken power steering line not only ended the night for Wayne, but almost for Brian as well. “I was pulling up on him, and his power steering went out,” says Brian. “He stopped in front of me, and I hit him with the right rear. That almost ended our night right there.”
An outstanding race commenced after the restart, with Brian briefly taking the point. “We were able to restart in second and chase Jesse for awhile,” he says of the top two trading spots. “We were able to get by him, and he came back by me. He was running well. A long yellow came out, and I didn’t want to outthink myself.”
Brian first tested high, but when Brady Bacon showed his nose on the low side, that’s where he stuck the FVP machine. “I didn’t really know what Jesse would do, because he had been switching it up quite a bit,” he says of the restart. “I followed him around the top, and that’s when I saw Brady Bacon pull alongside of me in three and four. I decided that’s where I better go, and the car set perfect on the other end. We were able to get by him for the win.”
Things started at Golden Triangle Raceway Park near Beaumont with a muddy mess. “We were able to draw well on Friday, which was a key, because they had some wet weather,” says Brian of his heat. “The track was about a lane-wide, and we were able to get out into the lead and win it.”
Starting fifth in the main event, he would come away seventh at the checkers. “The first start was tough coming off the bottom, because there was still water sitting down low,” says Brian. “By the time we were to the flagman, we were running seventh or so. On the first try, someone climbed our left rear tire and tore some of our wing off. That was an issue, but after turn two, the order was pretty much set, and we ran seventh. (Winner) Gary (Wright) did a good job, but he started up front also.”
Not lost on the Grain Valley, Missouri driver is the hard work put in during the off-season. “It’s a testament to the work Grandpa (George Lasoski), Chad (Morgan) and Kelby (Hopkins) did this Winter,” he says. “You don’t always win races at the racetrack…you need to work just as hard in the shop.”
Brian is looking forward to Friday at the Lone Star Speedway in Kilgore, and Houston Raceway Park on Saturday with the WoO. “It should be interesting,” he says. “It will be our first time on Goodyear tires, and I’ve run Hoosier my whole life. I think we have the capability of competing with them, and running up front, and that’s what we’ll try to do. If nothing else, it might help us to get ahead of the curve a bit for Knoxville.”
Replay From Battleground Speedway
The feature replay from the Texas Dirt Network starts at around the 38-minute mark on this link, or cut to the chase around 1:18:00, including the Victory Lane interview…
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5249487
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!
T-shirts
Catch Brian at the track for the new t-shirt, and it will also be up on the website soon!
Brian’s Q&A
Andy Phillips asks: What are you doing on a typical day in the off-season?
Brian answers: This year was a little different. I acted more as a car owner and let Grandpa and Chad do most of the work building the cars. I get to the shop at 9 or 10, and I did a lot of ordering parts, checking on them, and making sure they are right. Sometimes when you get them, you have to do a little manufacturing to make sure they fit right. I also have to make sure FVP and the rest of the partners have what they need from us as well.
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
Saturday was Brian’s first ASCS-Gulf South region win. He also has scores with ASCS-Midwest, ASCS-Northern Plains, ASCS-Sooner and the National series. He struck twice with the Midwest series in 2009, once at Nebraska Raceway Park in Greenwood, and once at the State Fair Speedway in Sedalia. His last National win came at the $5,000 1st Annual Cowtown Speedway Nationals near Kennedale, Texas.
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!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Searsboro Telephone – www.FaxMeService.com
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 – Impact Sign & Lighting
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 SuperClean #21. Check out their website at www.Impact4800.com!
Look for Brian’s new website design (soon to come) at www.BrianBrownRacing.com! If you have been searching for a reliable web solutions partner – your search is over! HostIowa.net is a homegrown, time-tested full-service web hosting and development partner. They will work with you to determine your needs and implement the right solution using services and technologies that best meet your goals. HostIowa.net is an industry leader in web hosting, web application development, and database solutions for a wide range of customers in Iowa and the United States.
Brian would like to thank FVP, SuperClean, Splash, Ditzfeld Transfer, Searsboro Telephone Company, www.FaxMeService.com, Housby Trucks, Maxim Racing, Champion Racing XP, 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, 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!