By Bill W
September 26, 2011 – Brian Brown and the FVP #21 team went into the Daniel McMillin/Jesse Hockett Memorial with hopes of a win. Instead, they recorded two impressive podium finishes amongst a stout 66-car field. The prelim on Friday included a charge from 18th to 2nd.
Brian drew a number on Friday that allowed for zero error in his heat. He finished second after starting on the pole. “We started on the pole, and with the ASCS, especially with this many cars…you don’t want to start there in the third heat,” he says. “We had Tim Crawley beside us…a really good racer. He jumped the start or I was sleeping and he got out front and we finished second. When you draw the pole, you have to win the heat, and second sent us to the B.”
The FVP #21 performed flawlessly in a B main win. “It may have helped us to run the B,” says Brian. “The track changed quite a bit from the heat to the B to the A. I felt like some of the cars in the A missed it, where we were in the B and we could see what was happening with the track.”
Starting 18th, Brian started his charge forward. “I really wanted to run the bottom the whole way, but there were some guys running down there,” he says. “We had to go to the middle and the top. Chaddy (Cypert) and Bryan (Sundby) did a great job on the car all night long, and they kept working at it.”
The Grain Valley, Missouri driver caught a caution at the right time. “I think we were about eighth on the tenth lap when the yellow came out,” says Brian. “We had a good restart, and the next thing you know, I was up to fifth. Once I got there, everyone was moving off the bottom, and we really made up some ground at that point.”
From there, it was time to run the leader down. “We got to second behind Crawley with two to go,” says Brian. “We were really good, and I think if he weren’t on the bottom, we could have won it. Going 18th to 2nd with that competition was a huge compliment to our team and sent us into Saturday with some momentum.”
The racing surface at the 3/8-mile oval was great on Friday. “It’s always fun when the track is that wide, and you can race,” says Brian. “There were drivers on the top, middle and bottom. It was just great racing all night long. It’s a beautiful facility, and they’ve had some great races there lately.”
Having locked himself into Saturday’s finale, Brian drew a starting spot outside row one for the main event. “The track started laying rubber in the B, so I knew starting on the outside, that Jason (Johnson) had the upper hand starting on the pole,” he says. “We were able to get in behind him and cruise there for the first little while.”
Chasing Johnson, Brian had Crawley also enter the fray. “We stayed within two or three car lengths behind him,” he says of Johnson. “I was just a little bit tighter than I was on Friday, and I think that hurt me a little bit. Tim Crawley came about halfway in and passed me on the outside. I figured there may be some rubber up there, so I went up there for a lap or two. I lost five or six car lengths on Jason and Tim doing that. I think that cost me.”
Brian would settle for third. “We didn’t get it done,” he says. “At the end of the day, we got beat by two better cars. I thought we had the best car on Friday and didn’t win, but I think we were third best Saturday. It was disappointing not to win, because of what Jesse and Daniel meant, but it just wasn’t meant to be this year.”
Still, two solid finishes were encouraging. “Two podium finishes were good for our partners,” says Brian. “FVP is a huge part of what we’re doing. Don Long was there from Searsboro Telephone Company, and we also had folks from Champion Brands and Impact Signing, Awnings and Wraps. It was good to have two strong runs.”
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
Pat Scott asks: Did you ever think about driving in any other forms of motorsports?
Brian answers: Obviously, as a driver, you always think about NASCAR. Winged sprint car racing is my love and my passion. I’m not really even a big fan of non-wing racing. I probably haven’t watched five non-wing races in my life. I’m a fan of NASCAR and as I was growing up I dreamed of it, but sprint cars are where my heart is, and I’m able to do it for a living. We have great partners with it, and that’s what we’ll continue to do.
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 2007, Brian competed in 55 feature events. He has registered 14 (25%) wins, 29 (53%) top fives and 35 (64%) top tens.
FVP
We are very excited to introduce our new line of automotive chemicals, oils and fluids to our product offering. These new products will be available at many retailers across the country. We continue to 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. To learn more about our FVP products or to find out where you can have FVP products installed in your vehicle, visit us at www.FVPparts.com! FVP…The Confident Solution
SPLASH
In addition to our line of seasonal safety products, we are very excited to introduce a full line of SPLASH Wiper Blades. Our SafeView Performance Blades fit 95% of the vehicles on the road with quick and easy installation for everyone. The AccuVision Beam Blade offers memory curve steel, which provides uniform pressure for a clear wipe, without the streaks. Look for these great new SPLASH products! 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! SPLASH…SEE SAFELY!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Searsboro Telephone Company’s www.FaxeMeService.Com
Brian says, “Don Long is an avid sprint car fan, and has been a part of the team for a few years now. We’re just really happy to have him here.”
Receive faxes through your e-mail when you’re away from the fax machine! Visit www.FaxMeService.com for easy sign-up options! It’s the simplicity of a fax through the convenience of e-mail. It’s easy to use, with no setup and a low fee!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Awesome Racewear
Brian says, “When it comes time to decide who will make our uniforms as professional as possible, there’s no real decision. Awesome Racewear has the best product for all our needs.”
Awesome Racewear, a world-wide manufacturer of high quality American made safety apparel is located in Conway South Carolina. USA. They build only the Best in the Industry in Driving Suits, & Sublimated Crew Shirts. Awesome Race Suits continues to be the leader in the performance industry. With safety, quality, comfort, technology, and design built into one exciting package, you can be sure you are getting the best in the
racing industry with Awesome Race Suits! BUILT TO PROTECT… BUILT FOR YOU TO LOOK SIMPLY AWESOME! Visit them at www.AwesomeRacewear.com!
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!