By Bill W
September 5, 2011 – The FVP #21 was rolling on Sunday night at the Lake Ozark Speedway, as Brian Brown drove from tenth to second in the finale at the LOS 360 Nationals. A busy weekend lies ahead, as ASCS regional action finds the Grain Valley, Missouri driver at three different venues in three nights.
With 42 cars in the field, Brian drew the pole for Saturday’s prelim heat. Even though he won, he only registered enough points in the passing points system to start eleventh in the feature. “It seems like we have a hard time drawing well, but when we do, it has its drawbacks as well,” he says. “The way the passing points work, you don’t necessarily want to start on the pole. I wouldn’t have minded being in the second or third row where we could get some passing points.”
There was plenty of racing action on Saturday, and Brian jockeyed for position much of the way. “We just missed it a little bit,” he says. “We just weren’t as good as we needed to be. We weren’t bad, but not up to where we needed to be. We were anywhere from sixth to fourteenth during the feature.”
Though he ended ninth, Brian felt good about his prospects for Sunday’s finale. “We were still right there at the speed of third through eighth or so,” he says. “It was promising going into Sunday and knowing that we weren’t great, but we were still close to the speed of some of the top guys. Our job was to get locked in, and we weren’t able to get there.”
Another draw at the front of the heat greeted the team on Sunday for the finale. Brian would win it and start tenth in the main event. “It definitely didn’t help the situation in trying to start up front,” he says. “It is what it is. You have to play the card that is dealt you and do the best you can. I was a little worried because Randy Martin has been going good, and we were on the front row together. Brady Bacon and Zach Chappell were behind us. The last thing you want is to get passed and end up second or third in the heat.”
It was time to set up for the finale from outside row five. “Bryan (Sundby) and Chaddy (Cypert) did a great job like they always do,” says Brian. “The car was rolling around really nice. We’re really getting the Super Shox to where I like them. We seem to be finding out more and more about them.”
Brian began his charge forward. “We slowly worked our way up,” he says. “We had some restarts where we could move up a couple spots here and a couple spots there. With ten laps to go, we had a yellow or a red, and I was able to pass Jason (Johnson) on a restart. Then, Dustin Morgan and I were racing hard for a couple laps and I was able to get second.”
Soon, Brian was within sight of the leader, but fell a lap or two short of getting a serious look at the lead. “Jack (Dover) got out there on me about a straightaway or so with about six to go,” he says. “We ran as hard as we could for six laps and closed within a car length. I would have liked to be a little closer when I tried to slide him after the white flag, but I worried that I’d be a little tighter right behind him without the air on my wing. I thought that may have hurt me in three and four.”
He would settle for second. “I tried it, and I probably could have used us both up,” says Brian. “Jack races me clean, and I think we try to race each other as clean as we can. I checked up and figured that tenth to second was a pretty good run for us. After Saturday’s run, we hit it pretty good on Sunday.”
This weekend, the ASCS-Warriors will be at the Valley Speedway in Brian’s hometown of Grain Valley. Saturday and Sunday, the ASCS-Midwest will compete in Nebraska at the Junction Motor Speedway near McCool Junction on Saturday and at the Eagle Raceway in Eagle on Sunday. “Hopefully, we can use the momentum heading into this weekend,” says Brian. “It will be fun. It’s good to see the three tracks working together to pay a little extra to the drivers running all of them. Valley is close to home. Danny (Lasoski) got us there a few weeks back, so we’d like to redeem ourselves a bit in front of the hometown crowd and the folks from FVP and Factory Motor Parts.”
New T-shirt Designs Available!
Catch Brian at the track, or visit www.BrianBrownRacing.com!
Follow Brian and FVP Racing on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube!
The FVP marketing team has launched a Twitter page, a Facebook page (including Brian’s GoPro In-car camera videos and FVP Racing Report), 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!
Brian’s Q&A
Nicole Waits asks: What would your perfect track be as far as distance, banking, etc.?
Brian answers: I think a place like I-80 Speedway. I’m partial to it because we’ve had success, but a 3/8-mile to ½ mile track with some banking to it suits me best. You’ve got to have the car and the motor at places like that. Another track that I really like is Little Rock. It has two different corners and different characteristics. Those who haven’t been to the Short Track Nationals are missing it.
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 will be running five of his next six shows in Nebraska. Of Brian’s seven wins this year, three have come in Greenwood. His win in July gave him ten in his career there. Wayne Johnson was second, ahead of Billy Alley, Jordan Boston and Danny Lasoski.
FVP
We offer a full line of high quality oil, air, cabin air and fuel filters, plus a complete line of high quality batteries for multiple applications including cars, trucks, SUV’s, commercial and other specialty vehicles. All products are made to OE manufacturer fitment specifications. FVP products are engineered to provide our customers with quality products that are equal or superior in performance to the major national brands at a competitive price. Visit us on the web at www.FVPparts.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 are what you need! Check out our new SPLASH website at www.SPLASHWash.com!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Ditzfeld Transfer
Brian says – “Ditzfeld Transfer is a family deal. Ronnie and his sons were our very first sponsor. They haul our motors, and if I would need anything hauled across the country, I would call them first.”
Ditzfeld Transfer has been with Brian since the start of his racing career, and was his first sponsor. The Sedalia based family owned trucking business has been in operation for over 45 years, and has a commitment to maintaining the highest level of service. Currently, Ditzfeld Transfer utilizes more than 50 power units and 160 trailers. To learn more about Ditzfeld Transfer, visit www.DitzfeldTransfer.com!
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, Searsboro Telephone Company, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps / impact4800.com, Champion Brands, SPLASH, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, Weld Wheels, Housby Trucks, www.RateWin.com, Arctic Cat, K&N Filters, Hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Awesome Racewear, Wolfe Eye Clinic, 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, GoPro, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Peterson Fluid System, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, and WSIB Insurance for all their help!