By Bill W
September 15, 2010 – Brian Brown drove his FVP #21 to victory for the twelfth time this season last Friday night at the Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg. The ASCS-Midwest weekend schedule also saw the series head to McCool Junction and Eagle in Nebraska, where the Grain Valley, Missouri driver finished second and fifth.
Despite the track being just down the road from Higginsville, Brian doesn’t get to Warrensburg to race often. “It was the first that we had been there since 2005, I believe, and it was good to be back there,” he says. “Fortunately, the car was working well in the heat and we were able to win it. We were lucky in that we were able to draw the pole for the feature.”
Rain during the day put doubt in officials and fans minds, but things were ready to go come race time. Brian led every lap of the feature despite a late charge by Jack Dover. “The track was a little fast,” he says. “It had been taking water all day. We were really good the first fifteen laps, but the last ten we were struggling with a tight condition. Jack was able to gain on us, and actually briefly take the lead on the last lap, but fortunately, we were able to hold on.”
It was on to the Junction Motor Speedway on Saturday. “We ran sixth to second in the heat at McCool, and we drew inside row three for the feature,” says Brian. “We were able to get up to third in the first lap or two. I kind of got high in three and four, but Ryan Roberts got by, and we were racing for a bit.”
Brian avoided disaster on a restart. “On the restart, Roberts right rear and my left front made contact,” he says. “That could have been a bad deal. As it was, I lost a few spots. The race went nonstop the rest of the way.”
The FVP sprint car surged to the front. “The car was working well and we were able to come back up into a three-wide race for the lead (with Jason Johnson and Lee Grosz),” says Brian. “A red came out, and I felt good about our chances. Jason and I both got by Lee, and I drove up on Jason a couple of times before the yellow came out.”
There was one last chance, but Brian would settle for second. “There were about nine laps to go,” he says. “Jason was running the top of one and two and the bottom of three and four. I was going to try the top all the way around. That worked pretty well, but the yellow came out again. That time, he had a good start and we weren’t able to do anything with him.”
The heat at Eagle Raceway’s Nebraska Cup on Sunday almost saw the end for Brian. “We haven’t been drawing very well for the heats lately, but we have had some luck fall our way,” he says. “At Eagle, we didn’t. We were able to get up to fifth (from eighth) right away. I hooked a hole in three and four and put the car up on two wheels. I was lucky to not be upside down, but everyone got back by me. In the end, we salvaged fourth. That was disappointing because on the stopwatch, we were quicker than anyone in the heats.”
Starting 13th in the main event, strategy would be key. “It was kind of a tough track, it was slick all the way up in one and two, and three and four never really got blown off that much,” says Brian. “It really was a night where the driver had to think about their approach and outthink some guys.”
Brian was quickly moving forward and would notch yet another top five. “We were able to drive up to fifth and take fourth on the white flag lap, but Mike Boston did a good job getting back by us,” he says. “Eagle has not always been on the top of our list of tracks…we just weren’t good enough to win. When you are discouraged about finishing fifth at the Nebraska Cup with the competition the way it was, I guess your year is going pretty good.”
This weekend, Brian plans to take on the World of Outlaws on Friday at the Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa, and on Saturday at the Deer Creek Speedway near Spring Valley, Minnesota. “Spencer was good to us a couple of years ago (5th) with the Outlaws, and we were pretty good at Deer Creek last year too,” he says. “We’re going to have a lot of Factory Motor Parts, FVP and SuperClean employees out for an employee appreciation barbeque. I’m looking forward to that too.”
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
Brian’s new t-shirts are here! You can choose from two styles!
Brian’s Q&A
Ronnie Walker asks: What do you remember from your first win?
Brian answers: It was just my grandpa and I at a 410 race at Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas. If I remember right, the race was cut from 25 to 20 laps. Grandpa was mad at me for spinning out the week before that. I remember it was a two and a half hour drive with just the two of us, and that was pretty cool. It started raining right after it was over, so we got out of there.
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’s only other trip to Warrensburg had been in WOW competition on May 29, 2005. He finished second to Randy Martin that night. Jon Corbin was third, ahead of Toby Brown and Sean Walden.
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 – 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!Generation and Housby Motorsports. Visit www.Housby.com for more information!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Red Devil Brakes
Brian says – “The braking system is one of the most important parts on the car. Red Devil and Ultralight have not only the strongest, but the lightest brakes out there. It’s the only caliper I will use. I’ve used others, and there is a night and day difference.”
Investment Cast Ceramic Coated 8740 Chromoly and Titanium 6-4 Racing Brake Rotors are the strongest Brake Rotors in the world. Having high tensile strength in the 140,000 to 160,000 range makes them almost 4 times the strength of the best racing cast iron rotors on the market. They are almost half the weight and have 25 % more continuous stopping power. Learn more at www.RedDevilBrakes.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, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Peterson Fluid System, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, www.Impact4800.com and WSIB Insurance for all their help!