By Bill W
August 3, 2010 – This week, Brian Brown hopes his yearlong preparation will result in his first championship at the 20th Annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Nationals held at the Knoxville Raceway. He will qualify on Thursday for Saturday’s finale, and hopes to end up on top of the podium in the FVP #21. Of course, it will be double duty on Saturday, as he attempts to extend his lead in the 410 standings at Knoxville as well.
Brian has a few podium finishes in his career at the 360 Nationals. This will be his 11th attempt. “From the first time I competed, I’ve always wanted to win the 360 Nationals,” he says. “Two weeks ago we brought the car to Knoxville and everything worked well. We just need to be consistent on Thursday to put ourselves in contention.”
The competition will be as tough as ever this week. “I think realistically, we need to be in the first three or four rows,” he says. “There are some serious heavy hitters. The 360 Nationals is harder than the 410 Nationals in a lot of ways. There are probably 35 guys that could win the 360 deal, while there are only around 15 that could win the 410 Nationals.”
Brian should be feeling good about his chances. He entered the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series race at LA Raceway in La Monte, Missouri last Friday having won four 360 main events in a row, including one at Knoxville. “There are years that you don’t feel so confident heading in, and others you feel like you can really win it,” he says. “This year, we feel like we can win it.”
Friday’s race at the 3/8 mile oval in La Monte saw Brian start outside row one in the stoutest heat of the night. The heat included Josh Fisher on the pole, as well as Jason Johnson, Tim Crawley, Jack Dover and Justyn Cox. “It was the toughest heat of the night, so we were lucky to start up front,” says the Grain Valley, Missouri driver. “Josh (Fisher) is doing a great job, and he got the jump on us going into turn one. Whoever did that was in the driver’s seat for the win.”
Brian’s second place finish in the heat put him outside row five for the feature. “On the initial start, Josh spun it and we got into the back of Jonathan Cornell,” he says. “That knocked our nose wing off, and I knew that I had to drive the car different without the down force.”
Brian brought the FVP #21 forward, but ended up on his lid. “We were able to drive up to sixth, and I felt we may have a top three car despite the nose wing,” he says. “The tenth lap, we went into turns three and four and something broke and we tore the car up. We believe we lost a stop. They found it in turns one and two.”
Preparations had to be made for 410 racing Saturday night at Knoxville. “The guys worked really hard from 2 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday morning to get ready for Knoxville,” says Brian. “They did a great job.”
With a stout 39-car field at Knoxville, Brian qualified second quick. “We had a fresh motor that we may run at Nationals,” he says. “To qualify that well with the competition we had gives you a good feeling heading into the Nationals.”
Brian surged from sixth to third in his heat. He would lose the brakes and struggle to a ninth place finish. “The heat went really well and I felt good heading into the A,” he shares. “We had a decent first and second lap, but about the third lap, the brake pedal went to the floor. We ran the rest of the race without the brakes. You don’t really miss them until you don’t have them. It was tough to do any racing without the brakes to help us.”
He will be ready with the 410 this Saturday night. His point lead over Don Droud Jr. will be 100 heading in. “I think we could have been in contention, but it was a good point night for us anyway,” Brian says of Saturday’s events. “If we’re consistent the last three (point) weeks, we’ll be in good shape.”
Win Brian’s Helmet!
FVP Race Fans! You picked the helmet Brian will wear at the Knoxville Nationals, and now you can register to win it! Visit the FVP Facebook page for complete details at http://bit.ly/2rakgn!
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 will be ready for Nationals! You can choose from two styles. See below!
Brown_Brian_10_Kville_ud
Brown_2010_driversuit_FrontCompBrown_2010_driversuit_BackComp
Brian’s Q&A
Mark Baker asks: Do you feel any added pressure when you race close to home like you did at La Monte?
Brian answers: You want to be good anywhere you go, but especially at a place like La Monte where we have our great partners like Ditzfeld Transfer, Impact Sign & Lighting and Champion Brands close. We want to do well for our local fans there too. We don’t get to run there as much as we would like. Unfortunately, it didn’t work too well Friday night, but we’ll be back at Sedalia for the State Fair.
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 is looking to win the 360 Nationals for the first time. In ten attempts, he has two podium finishes in preliminary action, along with six top tens. In finales, he has actually fared better. He has finished 2nd (2008), 3rd twice (2005, 2006), 4th (2000), 5th (2009), 6th (2002), 13th (2001) and 18th (2007).
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 have provided 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 – Racing Optics
Brian says – “Bart at Racing Optics is one of the smartest guys in sprint car racing. He came up with the laminated tear-off. Looking through ten is like looking through one, and they sure help on those nights where the track is heavy.”
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Racing Optics is the world’s largest manufacturer of laminated tear-offs for Auto Racing Helmets, Motorcycle racing Helmets, helmet shield protectors and NASCAR windshield tear-offs. Racing Optics also makes Laminated Tear-offs for Police and Military applications along with Medical and Industrial applications. Racing Optics has you covered from professional racers to professional law enforcement. Take some time to view all of their products at www.RacingOptics.com, and you might be surprised to see what else they do!
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!