By Bill W
May 7, 2012 – The Brian Brown Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team endured a lot of windshield time this past weekend, as their planned venture to the Jackson Speedway in Minnesota was a wash. Returning to their home state of Missouri, they charged from 17th to 4th in ASCS-Warrior action at the Lucas Oil Speedway near Wheatland, Missouri. This weekend, they plan a return trip for the rain date at Jackson before running in 410 competition at the Knoxville Raceway.
After Friday’s rainout at Jackson, Brian and the team returned to Wheatland. “Impact Signs, Awnings and Wraps are a big partner of ours, and they were the presenting sponsor in Wheatland,” he says. “It was really important to go there and have a good run for them, along with the folks from Champion Brands and Ditzfeld Transfer.”
A tough track awaited and a pill draw that put Brian starting seventh in his heat didn’t help matters. “We drew the toughest heat race of the night,” he says. “Typically, it’s nice and wide with three or four grooves. On Saturday, it was pretty one-lane in the heats. I got from seventh to fourth pretty quickly, and then I tried to make something happen behind Kyle Bellm. He got balled up, and let Gary Wright back by. That put us fifth.”
The fifth place finish sent Brian to a third starting spot in the B main. He would win that and transfer to the main event. “We were able to win the B, but at that point, it was only two car lengths wide,” he says of the track. “We knew we had our work cut out for us starting 17th in the feature.”
The Grain Valley, Missouri driver struggled early with setup, but plugged his way forward in the talented field. “We just kept our car pretty free for the conditions,” says Brian. “If we were a little tighter than we were, maybe that would have helped us. We were able to kind of forge up there to eighth or sixth.”
As the Maxim sprinter started working well, the race was coming to a conclusion and Brian checkered fourth. “The last four or five laps we rolled around there really well, but we just ran out of laps,” he says. “I wish we could have been better there early. I think we could have had a chance.”
The fans showed up in good numbers on Saturday. “The crowd was probably the biggest I’ve ever seen there,” says Brian. “It was good to see. That’s not necessarily sprint car country. Hopefully, that will bring good crowds when the ASCS National tour Speedweek comes, and of course, for the Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial.”
The rig will be pointed North again this Friday. “Hopefully, the weather will be better this week and we can make it to Jackson,” says Brian. “It’s really hard to put that show on, and we hope to get up there and put on a show for our fans up North. We hope to do well Saturday with the 410 at Knoxville. Every trip there is a test for August. We’re working on maneuvering across the whole track.”
Web site info
For up to date information on Brian Brown Racing visit www.BrianBrownRacing.com
Casey’s: www.caseys.com
FVP: www.fvpparts.com
Brian’s Q&A
Alex Mendon asks: How often do you run a motor before you compete with it at the 360 or 410 Nationals?
Brian answers: Normally, we just run it one or two nights depending on where the fuel and stuff is at. We’ll save it back. That’s our hope, but it depends on where you are at…in case you have any motor issues or things like that. That’s our game plan, but it depends where you are at with the motor program.
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 hit the ground running in his first visit to Knoxville in 2000, but came crashing down to start the 2001 season. In his first appearance at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World”, Brian finished an impressive 6th in the 360 Nationals opener and fourth in the finale behind winner Wayne Johnson, Matt Moro and Larry Neighbors. 410 Knoxville plans for 2001 were dashed in the season opener in Danny Lasoski’s #3 when the motor blew up in hot laps. Brian would return in June and at the Nationals that season. In 2002, things clicked with six wins and a championship in the 360 class before making the jump to 410s for good in 2003.
About Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s General Stores is a Fortune-500 company (NASDAQ CASY) operating nearly 1700 convenience stores in 11 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 12th largest c-store chain and sixth largest pizza chain in the United States.
About FVP
We are very excited to introduce our new line of automotive chemicals, oils and fluids to our product offering. These new products will be available at many retailers across the country. We continue to offer a full line of high quality oil, air, cabin air and fuel filters, plus a complete line of high quality batteries for multiple applications including cars, trucks, SUV’s, commercial and other specialty vehicles. All products are made to OE manufacturer fitment specifications. FVP products are engineered to provide our customers with quality products that are equal or superior in performance to the major national brands at a competitive price. To learn more about our FVP products or to find out where you can have FVP products installed in your vehicle, visit us at www.FVPparts.com! FVP…The Confident Solution
SPLASH
In addition to our line of seasonal safety products, we are very excited to introduce a full line of SPLASH Wiper Blades. Our SafeView Performance Blades fit 95% of the vehicles on the road with quick and easy installation for everyone. The AccuVision Beam Blade offers memory curve steel, which provides uniform pressure for a clear wipe, without the streaks. Look for these great new SPLASH products! 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 are what you need! Check out our new SPLASH website at www.SPLASHWash.com! SPLASH…SEE SAFELY!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Maxim Racing
Brian says, “Chuck and Karen Merrill are not only great people, but they put everything into putting the best car out on the market. I’ve always been a supporter of theirs, and with Brian Brown Racing, you’ll always see their chassis.”
Brian has been partnering with Maxim since 2003. After years of success as a car owner, Chuck Merrill started his chassis business in a rented three-bay garage in November of 1988. The first car was driven by Johnny Herrera at the Florida All Stars Sprint Week in February of 1989. By June of that year, Maxim moved into a 7,000 square foot facility. By 2001, Maxim had grown substantially producing 304 chassis that year. In 2002, Maxim moved to its present 12,500 square foot location in Springfield, Illinois. Maxim continues to offer their customers unmatched service and support, and currently has 17 quality employees, and builds over 400 chassis on an annual basis. Their world-famous “K-car” was designed for Steve Kinser, and has won ten Knoxville Nationals titles and fourteen World of Outlaws championships! To top it all, Maxim offers a warranty if you are not completely satisfied with your car. For more information on Maxim, visit www.racemaxims.com!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Vortex Wings
Vortex Racing Products is the industry leader in Sprintcar Wing design. From humble beginnings in 1995, they began producing wings for their own use and quickly became engaged in producing wings for other race teams. Inspired by a life-long background in race car design and manufacturing from their father, Paul and Lynton Jeffrey continued to evolve into a company known for producing a product a little different from the rest. This ability to manufacture a Wing that is unique in design is what has been their success. They continually push the boundaries of design with an extensive testing program. It is their understanding of chassis design and manufacturing that allows communication with clients and tailors a wing package that best suits the race driver, team and make of chassis. It is called “The Vortex Advantage”. Visit them on the web today at www.VortexRacingProducts.com!
Brian Brown Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, FVP, Searsboro Telephone Company, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps / impact4800.com, Champion Brands, SPLASH, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, Weld Wheels, Housby Trucks, www.RateWin.com, Arctic Cat, K&N Filters, Hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Awesome Racewear, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Bell Helmets, CP Pistons, Carrillo Rods, Engler Machine, Vortex Wings, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, AkzoNobel Sikkens, Jack Links, Rockstar, Deli Express, Snap-On Tools, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance Products, Santomauro Racing Products, Cometic Gaskets, Kaeding Performance, Donovan, Magtech, ISC Racers Tape, Kinsler, Racing Optics, Don’s Truck Wash, Gardner Farms, Hoosier Tires, GoPro, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Peterson Fluid System, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, and WSIB Insurance for all their support!