By Bill W
June 11, 2012 – A podium finish with the World of Outlaws at Knoxville Raceway highlighted the weekend for Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 driver Brian Brown. It may have been two podium finishes if not for a tire issue at the Clay County Fair Speedway in Spencer, Iowa on Friday night. This week, Brian heads south to take in the six-day ASCS Speedweek with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series starting Friday and Saturday in Mesquite, Texas.
Things started last Friday night in Spencer. “We wanted to put a good show on for our FVP employees and customers in Spencer,” says Brian. “We were good right away. We were second best in hot laps, and then we were fourth quick in qualifying.”
With the good qualifying effort, Brian knew his trip to the Dash just depended on being in a transfer spot in his heat. “We wanted to run as best we could, but we just needed to be in the top six,” he says. “With three heats, there are always some good cars starting behind the invert. We had Danny (Lasoski), (Donny) Schatz and some others in ours. We were up to second, but we ended up rolling around in fourth.”
Starting in row three of the Dash, Brian advanced to third. “The Dash may have been the best we were all night,” he says. “We were able to move around, and improve our position for the A. We didn’t make too many changes going into the feature.”
Brian was confident he could grab his first Outlaw win. “I felt we had a shot to win it,” he says. “On the first start, we nearly got the lead. The next couple of laps, the car felt really decent. Then we lost the grip on the track. I was along for the ride from there on out. We lost two inches of stagger. There wasn’t a loss of air pressure, just a loss of stagger. It was unfortunate after the night we had. It was beyond our control with the tires we had.”
Still, a tenth place finish with the WoO with an ill-handling car lent some confidence headed into Knoxville. Brian was second quick of 43 cars entered on Saturday. “That was a brand new Charlie Garrett motor,” he says. “He has done a phenomenal job with our program. We can go out at any time, and really be in the hunt for qualifying.”
A super heat race followed featuring slide jobs and position changes galore. “That heat was brutal,” says Brian. “Sometimes you run harder in the heat race than the feature, and that was the case on Saturday. We had good guys in front of us, and behind us. We had Steve (Kinser), (Terry) McCarl and (Mark) Dobmeier behind us. They were scratching and clawing.”
He would end up fourth. “We wanted to get going,” says Brian. “Everyone is going for the gusto, and it puts a guy in a tough spot. We were able to get to second, then we had the last double-file restart. We were actually running low on fuel. We lost a couple spots, but that put us in the Dash.”
For the second night in a row, Brian moved forward in the Dash (from 5th to 4th) and put himself in the second row of the feature. “It moved us up a row,” he says. “You don’t want to lose any spots in the Dash, but if you can move up a row, that’s crucial.”
With a track that was dry-slick from the start, the team wondered what it may do in the feature. “There was some guesswork,” says Brian. “We pretty much knew it would lay rubber, we just didn’t know when. A lot of guys put a harder tire on. Our thought was to put a little softer tire on, get going and then try to hold on. We got going pretty well. We just didn’t get to the front before it laid rubber. From there, with the tire we had, I just cruised.”
Brian rode most of the way in third, and finished there. “It was good for every single one of our partners,” he says. “To have a good run with the Outlaws is great for our team. A lot of the people that help us don’t get the credit, but they deserve it. It’s good to run third with the Outlaws for them.”
ASCS Speedweek begins with the Summer Nationals this Friday and Saturday night at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway near Mesquite. It will then continue in Chatham, Louisiana (Monday), Murfreesboro, Arkansas (Tuesday), Lawton, Oklahoma (Wednesday) and Salina, Oklahoma (Friday). “We’re heading south to do the ASCS Speedweek,” says Brian. “It’s six races in eight days. We’re looking forward to getting down there. We’re working hard to get prepared for it right now. We’re looking forward to getting to Devil’s Bowl Speedway and seeing the folks from Smiley’s.”
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
Andrew Robinson asks: Why do you think we have so many rubber-down tracks right now?
Brian answers: I don’t think there are too many. You have two in a row, and you take notice. As far as Knoxville, you don’t see it very often. The Dunkins are the best in the world at track prep. It’s not because of lack of effort. They worked the track watering it all day long. Sometimes, circumstances dictate it. The only thing is…I thought they could have reworked it before the A. I’m sure if you would have polled the fans, they would have chosen to rework it. There was definitely good racing before that though.
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’s best run at Devil’s Bowl Speedway came in 2005 with a second place finish. Gary Wright was the winner, ahead of Brian, Kevin Ramey, Wayne Johnson and Gregg Bakker.
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 – 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 – KSE Racing Products
Brian says – “We switched to KSE at the beginning of 2010. Dave and all the guys down there build a great product, and I couldn’t be happier. The car steers as good as ever.”
Based in White House, Tennessee, KSE Racing Products offers a variety of products including Filter Reservoir Tank Assemblies, Power Steering Gears and Pumps, H.P.D. Water Pumps, Tandem Fuel Pumps, Fluids and more. To receive a catalog, visit their website at www.KSE-Racing.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!