From Bill W, Robert Kocak Photo
October 20, 2010 – A three-race weekend yielded mixed results for Grain Valley, Missouri’s Brian Brown and the FVP #21 racing team. A trip to the Devil’s Bowl yielded a crash in the prelim and a sixth place finish in the finale. On Sunday, the team came home with a second place finish in Wichita. They’ll take the weekend off in anticipation of the Short Track Nationals in Little Rock, Arkansas, October 28-30.
Brian and the team were anticipating the Lucas Oil ASCS National two-day showdown in Mesquite, Texas. “I was really looking forward to getting down there, because we had had some bad luck there,” he says. “It’s been either feast or famine. We’d been drawing badly, but we’ve made it work. Friday, we weren’t able to do that. ”
He rebounded from row two to the win the B and set himself up in row ten for the main event. “We were able to run well there in the B,” says Brian. “We were looking forward to the feature. We figured the way the track was, that we were going to drive up through there and maybe even get locked in for Saturday.”
The race ended in a twisted ball of metal almost before it got started. “We went down the front straightaway, and someone slowed in front of Kolt Walker,” says Brian. “He turned to avoid the other car, and we got over his left front with our right rear. That was all she wrote. It was unfortunate. It was definitely one of those nights that you don’t want to be a car owner. You know that the rest of the month…unless you win Little Rock…is going to be a money loser. I was just thankful to have a Butlerbuilt Seat, Bell Helmet and a suit from Awesome Racewear in that situation.”
Undeterred, the FVP team was ready for Saturday. “The other car was in bad shape, so we pulled the other one down,” says Brian. “Again, our draw wasn’t the best on Saturday. Lanny (Edwards) had the track really good for the heat though, and we were able to win from sixth.”
The high point man in the heats, Brian drew outside row three for the feature. “We knew we had our work cut out for us, because Jason (Johnson), Jack (Dover), Brady Bacon and (Johnny) Herrera were all fast in their hot lap session,” he says. “They cut the track before the feature, which was a blessing. That’s the good thing about Lanny. The key to the ASCS deal is a wide track all night. To do that, usually you need to rework before the feature. Tony Bruce also did a good job of that at Eagle.”
After being in contention, Brian would cross the stripe sixth at the checkers. “We kept the car on the free side,” he says. “We went from fourth to second, and we were challenging Brady for the lead. About lap ten on, though, the track blew off where it was, and our setup was a little off at that point. We fell back to sixth, but the cars in front of us were really good. Sometimes you may the wrong decisions, you get passed, and you head off down the road.”
The team headed to Wichita for a Sunday special. “I’d like to thank C. Ray (Hall) and 81 Speedway for having a decent paying show on our way home,” says Brian. “I would have liked to have seen more cars there (14). We were able to finish third in the heat.”
In the main event, Brian made a bid for his second career win at 81 Speedway. “We started in row three in the feature, and we were able to move by Jack (Dover) for second,” he explains. “We were chasing Mike Peters for the lead and we got within striking distance. We tried a slider about midway through the race and didn’t get him cleared.”
Unbeknownst to him, the race was winding down quicker than anticipated. “I knew with Dover behind me, that I needed to clear Mike,” says Brian. “As I was ready to make a move on him, the checkers came out. Supposedly it was a 25-lap race, but they threw the checkers after 20 laps without us knowing. It happens, and Mike ran a good race. I just wish it was 20 ½ laps. It was a lot better finish than Friday, so it definitely could have been worse.”
Link to Devil’s Bowl Crash
See the highlights from Devil’s Bowl, including Brian’s crash on Friday at http://www.thrillerphoto.com!
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
Jason Cox asks: Do you keep any racing memorabilia? If so, what is your favorite piece?
Brian answers: Two pieces really stick out in my mind. One is the visor from Steve Kinser’s 500th World of Outlaws win. He was originally the rear tires, but Hoosier wanted those. Then he was going to give me the helmet, but Bell wanted that. I was tickled to get the visor. I would have taken his underwear from the 500th. The other piece is gloves from Danny Lasoski’s win at the Texas IROC race. Those are two things that I think are the coolest. I have helmets and uniforms from my championships, and I’d like to collect some more stuff from other drivers.
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 seventeen career feature starts at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Brian has posted six top fives and nine top tens. His best outing to date was a second place showing in October of 2005. Gary Wright won the ASCS National event that night. Kevin Ramey was third, ahead of Wayne Johnson and Gregg Bakker.
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 – HostIowa.net
Brian says – “One of the most important parts in making your team look professional, is your website. I believe we have one of the most professional ones out there. Kyle McCullough at HostIowa.net has not only been able to help us, but a lot of my friends. He’s a good friend, and I appreciate what he does for us.”
If you have been searching for a reliable web solutions partner – your search is over! HostIowa.net is a homegrown, time-tested full-service web hosting and development partner. They will work with you to determine your needs and implement the right solution using services and technologies that best meet your goals. HostIowa.net is an industry leader in web hosting, web application development, and database solutions for a wide range of customers in Iowa and the United States. Contact Kyle today at www.HostIowa.net!
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!