From Bill W
Grain Valley, MO — (December 17, 2012) — Ten wins included some big ones for the Brian Brown Racing Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 racing team. But his biggest finishes may have been in the runner-up position. Two came on national television with the World of Outlaws…the Knoxville Nationals and the World Finals in Charlotte. The Grain Valley, Missouri driver took time to reflect on the 2012 season and look ahead at 2013.
Brian and the team followed their own schedule that encompassed many series and came away with a great season. “Going into the season, our goal is to win as many races as possible,” he says. “We won ten of them, which was a great accomplishment. That wasn’t quite as many as we wanted, but we did end up with seventeen second place finishes too. That’s a lot, and if we could have gained a spot in some of those, we would have been right where we wanted.”
Brian talked about the highlights of the season. “Winning the Spring Nationals at Jackson (Minnesota) and the Summer Nationals at Devil’s Bowl after starting 14th were big,” he shares. “Winning the Standridge Memorial was great too. It was at Jacksonville, Illinois, which is a place we’ve struggled in the past just to finish races. Other highlights were finishing second at the Knoxville Nationals, at the World Finals and at the Western World.”
As always, Brian is quick to thank those who make all of this possible. “Obviously, the biggest factor in our success is our partners,” he says. “Casey’s General Stores, FVP and Searsboro Telephone Company are huge for us. We have thirty-eight partners and every one of them is vital. Impact Signs Awnings and Wraps, Ditzfeld Transfer, Champion Oil, Housby, Maxim, Smiley’s, Weld wheels, MSD, TI-64, Twisted Tea, FSR, BMRS, Rod End, Hoosier Tire, CP/Carrillo to name a few along with a lot of others have been key to our 2012 success. We have to do our best to get on the podium and give them the exposure they deserve.”
Sprint car fans who didn’t know Brian certainly did after August’s Knoxville Nationals narrow second place finish to Donny Schatz. “The Knoxville Nationals really stand out in my mind,” he says of the race that paid him $75,000 for the runner-up spot. “To come close to winning really the biggest race of my life and our team’s life…it’s nothing to hang your head about. I felt like our goal going into the year was to run strong with the Outlaws. I feel there were five times we led or were in contention to win. Some driver mistakes cost us some of them, and that’s something I need to work on for 2013.”
The team was as strong as ever in 2012. “Chad Morgan came back as our crew chief,” says Brian. “He took a year off, but it was great to have him back. Chad Ely, Keke Falland, Mark Clemons, Andy Anderson, Greg King, Matt Mcgarry, grandpa George (Lasoski), Glen Wignall, Scott Ritchhart…and there are a few others who helped us throughout the season…they were all so important. Without them, our success wouldn’t be possible. I’d like to thank their families and my family for letting us do this.”
What’s in store next season? “We’re looking forward to 2013,” says Brian. “We’re thinking of going to Florida to start the 2013 season depending on where we’re at come late January preparation wise. We’re aiming for 80-85 shows. We want to go out and do the King’s Royal again. We want to do the ‘Month of Money’ as much as we can with the Outlaws. I really want to get to Williams Grove and the National Open. We want to do that for our motor builder, Charlie Garrett. He does a great job with our engines and has really turned our program around, so we would like to get there to see him. That’s one of the biggest shows in the sport, and I look forward to going out there.”
Plenty as always is planned for customer and employee events with partners such as FVP and Casey’s at the track and at their locations. “We really enjoy meeting our partners customers and employee’s and thanking them for all their support and we plan to do a lot of that again in 2013,” says Brian.
Assembling such a great team is surreal at times for Brian. “Five years ago, I would have never dreamed we could have a team like this,” he admits. “Crew help, marketing partners, friends and family have made it possible. Without all those people believing in us and helping us, it would just be a dream. I’m just thankful for every single person that’s involved.”
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
Facebook Links
Brian Brown Racing – www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-
Casey’s General Stores – www.facebook.com/pages/Caseys-
FVP Racing – http://www.facebook.com/
Other Web site info
Casey’s: www.caseys.com
FVP: www.fvpparts.com
Brian’s Q&A
Bill W asks: Is there an area or track you will focus on in 2013?
Brian answers: We’ll get to Knoxville as much as we can. Obviously, the one race that is on are radar list is the Knoxville Nationals. We’re going to do everything in our power to win it. The preparation started the Sunday after this year’s Nationals and we’ll do everything we can to prepare to do that. It’s our time to put that together and make it happen.
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Brown’s Bits
Brian ran 79 races in 2013. He recorded ten wins (13%), 47 top fives (60%) and 58 top tens (73%).