By Bill W
February 27, 2012 – Brian Brown sat down to answer a few questions and discuss the upcoming 2012 season…
BW: Things get started this weekend. Where are you headed?
We’re heading to Peoria, Arizona for the Opening Weekend of the ASCS National tour. We’re really looking forward to getting out there and getting on the track. Chad and Andy have been working their tails off at the shop and were starting to get cabin fever so were ready to get on the track. We know anytime you go to race with the ASCS national tour that it will be tough but I think we are for the challenge.
BW: Obviously, the big news this offseason was your affiliation with Casey’s General Stores. What does that mean for your program?
I think it’s going to be great for our program. We’ve always been on the cusp of some great things. Now our partnership with Casey’s has an opportunity to put us over the edge. No matter the organization: World of Outlaws, ASCS, IRA, MOWA…anyone we race against…I think it will be allow us to be right in the hunt each and every night. I’ve always had a great relationship with Casey’s since I drove for them in 2003 and 2004. It has come full circle. It’s an absolute honor to represent them and all of the nearly 1700 stores and all their employees. We’re going to have some cool promotions throughout the 2012 season that I think all the fans will enjoy. So to say were excited about partnering with them would be an understatement.
BW: It looks like your schedule includes the Western Swing with the World of Outlaws. It’s been awhile since you’ve been out that way.
We’re going out to get some racing in before the season in the Midwest kicks off. We may take some lumps…hopefully, we don’t…but by the time we come back home we should be loaded for bear. We have some great appearances with FVP planned out on the West Coast, so that will be a big part of the trip as well. That is always fun. The King of the West Series also has some talented racers, and we’re looking forward to getting out there. We can’t wait to get to places we haven’t been like Chico and Tulare. The California fans are great just like the Midwest fans so it will be neat to meet some of them.
BW: I noticed you also have the King’s Royal and Brad Doty Classic in Ohio tentatively scheduled.
I feel like we are going to be where we need to be to compete in those races. It’s something we want to run. The King’s Royal is $50,000 to win, and one of the crown jewels of our sport. We want to win that one just like we want to win Knoxville. The Brad Doty Classic is a race that honors and icon in our sport and someone, who has done so much for the sport. We have never gotten to be a part of that race and we definitely want to be a part of that race.
BW: There’s also plenty of ASCS racing on your calendar, but it looks like you may have more 410 shows than in the past couple of seasons.
We kind of did that for a reason. The Knoxville Nationals is really important to us. The more 410 shows you can compete in, the better off you are going to be. Getting up to speed and racing outlaw speed can take time. I feel by racing with the World of Outlaws as much as we can will better prepare us for the month of money.
BW: Last year, you had a number of crew members, but it looks like you have some familiar faces this year that may provide some stability and familiarity to the team.
I’m really excited about that. Chad Morgan is back with us after a year off, and Andy Anderson is back with us too. I feel like they are two of the best guys that I’ve ever had. They’ve been working hard, and hopefully, that hard work can show in our results, starting this weekend. We all seem to mesh really well together and I feel we each bring a little something different to the table. They are just as focused as me and have the same goals going into the 2012 season.
BW: FVP has been and is a big part of your program. I’m assuming you will still be a part of many of their events in marketing their products.
Yes, we signed another contract extension with them this off-season and we’re very blessed to be partners with such a great company. They have been and will continue to be a big part of what we’re doing. There employees have treated me like family since day 1 and that means a lot. We will be doing a lot of open houses at their locations and some at the track hospitality events for FVP in 2012. I really enjoy meeting and mingling with all their customers and employees anytime we get the opportunity. We’re fortunate to be involved with two awesome corporate partners. These are exciting times for Brian Brown Racing. Please check out fvpparts.com to see what FVP has to offer you.
BW: You also have the support of Don Long and Searsboro Telephone Company, Impact Signs/Awnings/Wraps Impact4800.com, Ditzfeld Transfer, Champion Brands, Maxim, Smiley’s Racing Products, Housby, Weld Wheels and others again going into the 2012 season.
Yes all of those great partners will be back. Don has been a huge part of my racing since 2008 and there is no way we could do what we do without him or anyone of our partners for that matter. What is cool about every single one of our marketing is they’re not only business partners of ours but there are friends also and that means a lot to our program. They’ve supported me over the years thru thick and thin and we really appreciate it. Going into the 2012 season we looked at how to make our team better in every aspect of the sport. So we’ve made some changes on some of our key components of our race cars. Al Parker and Parker Racing Engines out of Newton, Iowa is doing some of our engines this year and I feel like that will be a huge boost to our engine program. We’re also doing some things with Kaeding Performance with their Factory Kahne Shocks. Shocks are a big big part of the set up of these cars and I feel Brian and Willie can really help us fine tune that area. We looked over nook and cranny of our cars in the off season now it’s my job to go out and get the job done on the track.
BW: Ultimately, what are the goals for Brian Brown Racing in 2012?
In the past, we’ve set the goal at winning twenty races. I really feel like with the partners and team we have, and the schedule we have, we can get that done. We are aiming at winning the Knoxville Nationals, the 360 Nationals, and we want to be in the top 3 every single place we go. I feel like if were consistent and do that the wins will come out way. That Nationals is really on our radar we were on the pole of the Nationals two years ago, and we finished seventh last year. That takes some pressure off of knowing how to prepare mentally for that race and now we just need to go put ourselves in position to win it again and take advantage of it.
Web site info
For up to date information on Brian Brown Racing visit www.BrianBrownRacing.com
Casey’s: www.caseys.com
FVP: www.fvpparts.com
About Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s General Stores is a Fortune-500 company (NASDAQ CASY) operating nearly 1700 convenience stores in 11 states through the Midwest. Known for its “Homemade-To-Go” pizza, sandwiches, donuts and bakery items, Casey’s strives to consistently deliver quality gas, fresh kitchen-prepared food, clean environments and friendly service at every retail location. Casey’s is currently the 12th largest c-store chain and sixth largest pizza chain in the United States.
About 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!
Brian Brown Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, 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, Engler Machine, Vortex Wings, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, AkzoNobel Sikkens, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance Products, Santomauro Racing Products, Cometic Gaskets, Kaeding Performance, Donovan, Magtech, ISC Racers Tape, Kinsler, Racing Optics, 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 support!
421730_10150606700373451_173586763450_9147326_1072806825_n