By Bill W
May 14, 2012 – Second was the name of the game for Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 race team Saturday night at Knoxville Raceway. Not only were they second quickest in qualifying, they added second place finishes in both their heat and the feature. They will try to improve one spot this week at Knoxville as they seek their first win of the year there.
With 25 410’s in the field Saturday, Brian came out second to last in the order. “At Knoxville, unless you are running for points, the only time you want quick time is at the Nationals or when the Outlaws are there,” he says. “The way the format is, you are inverted in the feature. You’d like to be sixth quick. It is quick to slow down though.”
Still, it is good practice for August’s Nationals. “Our Charlie Garrett Motor ran really well,” says Brian. “We almost got quick time, but didn’t quite get it. It’s good to know you can go out nearly last and lay a good lap down.”
Brian got a break when Dusty Zomer didn’t start the heat on the front row. Starting fourth, he followed Lynton Jeffrey to the checkers. “At that point, you just want to get some good laps in,” he says. “You’ve got one tire, and you have to take care of them and not overdrive them. I felt like we used them too much at the Outlaw show and that cost us. Lynton did a good job and it was good to see him get a win.”
The Grain Valley, Missouri driver started seventh in the main event. “On the first lap, Ian Madsen took our line a bit,” says Brian. “I missed the bottom in one and two and slid up into the middle. I think at one time, I was running ninth or tenth. We did get going, and got rolling on the bottom of three and four. We were able to get by some cars there.”
Moving towards the front, Brian came upon a great battle for the top five positions. “We got up to (Bronson) Maeschen, Lynton Jeffrey and Terry (McCarl),” he says. “(Leader) Davey (Heskin) was right there too. With the racing that was going on, I don’t know how the fans wouldn’t love it. That’s the best marketing tool that Knoxville Raceway could ever have for a fan to come back.”
Brian would find his way to second. “I got to them, and I felt if I made the right decisions, I could win,” he says. “I was able to sneak up on Terry and Lynton without them knowing I was coming. I was able to get by them, but then I made a mistake and let Terry get me back. I was able to get back by him, and at that point, I found a little bit of rubber.”
Heskin was in his sights, but he would settle for the runner-up finish. “At that point, I thought I could sneak up on Davey,” says Brian. “I got there, but made a little mistake, and then a couple laps later, the red came out. He did what he needed to do to stay out front. It’s hard to believe that he hasn’t won in a couple of years, because he has a strong team. He runs the same motor we do, so it was great to see Charlie Garrett finish first and second at Knoxville.”
Every night at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” gives the team the information they need for August. “Overall, I think we’re where we need to be at Knoxville,” says Brian, who led twelve laps at the Outlaw show in April. “It was a different car from the Outlaw show. We’ve put that one away for the Nationals. We’re going to bring a third car out (Saturday) to try and find something we can be competitive with every week. These Goodyear tires make you do some different things, and we’re trying to figure that out.”
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
Brian’s Q&A
Nick Johns asks: What affect has the new muffler rule had on your team’s horsepower at Knoxville?
Brian answers: I can tell a little bit. It seems the car has a little vibration at different times. There may be some trouble getting the fuel out of the mufflers. I don’t really see a big difference. I don’t like the way they sound idling. But you have a town that is respectful of the racetrack, because of what it does. This helps the noise scenario, and it sounds like they are getting reports at City Hall of people who like the change. That’s a good thing.
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 won the ASCS National series feature in 2006 at the Lucas Oil Speedway near Wheatland, Missouri. The win came ahead of Sean McClelland, Randy Martin, Jesse Hockett and Aaron Berryhill. All-time ASCS leading feature winner, Gary Wright, was seventh.
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!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Smiley’s Race Products
Smileys Racing Products and Hoosier Tire Southwest have been in the racing business for 30 years in the Dallas, Fort Worth area. Visit Smiley’s the next couple of weeks, either in Kennedale, at the showroom store in Mesquite, or at the racetracks. All employees at Smiley’s Racing Products and Hoosier Tire Southwest are directly involved with race teams either as owners, drivers, pit crew members etc. What this means to you our customers is racing advice that has been tested on the track first, and then we pass our findings on to you our customers. From parts and tires to complete race cars, Smiley’s Racing Products and Hoosier Tire Southwest is ready to help you get to the checkered flag first. All aspects of our business can be seen at www.SmileysRacing.com. Click on catalog and put your information in and we will send you a catalog free of charge.
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Penray
Brian says – “We’re using all their brake cleaning materials. Mark and all the guys there are great to work with. We’re looking for a long relationship between them and Brian Brown Racing.”
Incorporated in 1950, The Penray Companies continue to grow strong after 50 years of service in the heavy-duty and automotive chemical industry. There are two main plants for the manufacture of both liquids and aerosol products. They are in Elk Grove Village and Wheeling, Illinois. Penray is comprised of four separate business units: heavy-duty, automotive, export, and custom manufacturing. Visit Penray today at www.Penray.com!
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, Jack Links, Rockstar, Deli Express, Snap-On Tools, 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!