From Bill W
A top five finish was not what Brian Brown was looking for after a front row starting spot at Knoxville Raceway on Saturday night. A frustrating weekend all around has the FVP #21 racing team working hard to get things righted for Friday with the World of Outlaws in McCool Junction, Nebraska, and Saturday, back at Knoxville.
Last Wednesday, Kasey Kahne’s “King of Sedalia” event fell to rain and was rescheduled for June 29. Qualifying was run, but then the rains came. “I think we were tenth or eleventh in the hot lap session, so we were feeling confident,” says Brian. “We just didn’t get the balance of our car right for qualifying. We made some adjustments that were wrong and we ended up fifteenth. I don’t mind starting from scratch on the 29th.”
Friday, the tow was made to northwest Iowa and the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa. The 410 special marked Brian’s second appearance of 2010 at the bullring. He drove from 8th to 2nd in the heat. “Last time we were there, we struggled a little,” says the Grain Valley, Missouri driver. “We wanted to support that 410 program that they are running in the region. Things went well in the heat, so that was good for our confidence.”
One step forward after starting in row five, led to two steps back. “In the A, we started ninth, and got up to fourth on the first lap,” says Brian. “Everyone went to the bottom of three and four, and I stayed up high, which ended up being ‘No-man’s Land’. After the first lap, we were back in seventh or eighth, and we just weren’t very good.”
Brian would end up sixth at the checkers. “The track ended up taking rubber, and that was it,” he says. “It was our first run on the Goodyears on a slick track other than Knoxville. I felt like we learned a little bit with the tires, and we are working towards August on that. I’d like to congratulate Austin McCarl on getting his first career win.”
Despite a week resembling monsoons at Knoxville, Saturday’s track was blowing dust in hot laps. Brian timed in seventh quick. “A lot of times you will see that,” he says of the track’s condition despite the rain. “The Dunkins did a good job of keeping the track sealed with all the rain they’ve had. They tried to do some work prior to Saturday. The dry stuff makes it tough to qualify, but again, it is good practice for August if you draw a 75 pill.”
After a heat that saw him run third, Brian would start beside Don Droud Jr. in row one for the feature. The two are currently dueling for the point lead. “I just felt like we were off a little all night long,” says Brian. “We weren’t as good as we had been. We were able to start up front in the feature though, and I knew starting beside Droud, we’d have to get going pretty quick.”
Brian and the team anticipated a rarity at Knoxville: a rubber-down racetrack. “It wasn’t a matter of if, but when on the rubber,” he shares. “We were able to trade the lead with Droud on the first lap there. We had a yellow four or five laps in, and I made a bad decision in not going to the top on the restart. That allowed Wayne (Johnson) by me, and then (Johnny) Herrera found the rubber before we did.”
Brian would checker fifth. “I just felt like I made a C- performance in the feature there,” he says. “If you do that at Knoxville, you’re lucky to run fifth. I just need to pick my game up to even think about a championship.”
Brian looks forward to running at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Nebraska on Friday, before rolling on to Knoxville again on Saturday.
Knoxville Video Highlights Brian!
Brian is featured as “Racer of the Week” on the Knoxville website. Just go to www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com. Click on the “Videos” box on the homepage, and then scroll up and click on Brian’s featured video. The clip is about ten minutes long, and chronicles Brian’s history at Knoxville and in racing, and his recent second place finish with the Outlaws. You can also access highlights from the features at Knoxville all year long.
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
Henry Anderson asks: The weekly car counts seem to be down a bit. What do you see as the cause?
Brian answers: The marketing partners are hard to come by out there. That’s where the economy hits hardest. For me, I had been on a Hoosier tire deal for most of my career, so when they switched tires it hit my bottom line. That may be the case for some. I don’t think it is one thing, I think it is a combination. From here, it could get way worse or way better. Personally, I don’t think you need more than 22-24 cars to have a good show. 40 will give you a B, but the cars we have now at Knoxville are quality.
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
In ten career starts at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Nebraska, Brian has won five times. He has added three seconds, a third and a twelfth place finish. Brian won the first time he saw the track on April 8, 2005, besting Chad Humston, Don Droud Jr., Jason Danley and Steve King. He has never run a 410 at the 3/8 mile oval.
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 – Housby Trucks
Brian says, “Jack, Kelly and Kevin Housby have been great to me since I was in the Casey’s car. They provide our truck, and they do great service on trucks in the Des Moines area.”
Since 1969, Housby has been known for the quality of new and used trucks they sell and their excellent customer service. What started out primarily as a Mack Truck dealership has grown into a conglomerate of vertically integrated businesses that share synergy by bringing multiple services to their customers. Businesses include Housby Mack, Inc., Housby Mixer Group, Housby Truck Lube, Vocon Remarketing, Second Generation and Housby Motorsports. Visit www.Housby.com for more information!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – KSE Racing Products
Brian says – “We switched to KSE at the beginning of 2010. Dave and all the guys down there build a great product, and I couldn’t be happier. The car steers as good as ever.”
Based in White House, Tennessee, KSE Racing Products offers a variety of products including Filter Reservoir Tank Assemblies, Power Steering Gears and Pumps, H.P.D. Water Pumps, Tandem Fuel Pumps, Fluids and more. To receive a catalog, visit their website at www.KSE-Racing.com!
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, Funk for Congress, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Peterson Fluid System, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, www.Impact4800.com and WSIB Insurance for all their help!