By Bill W
September 17, 2012 – Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team are gearing up for a busy week of racing. Wednesday night, they will tow to the Eagle Raceway to compete with the World of Outlaws. Friday and Saturday will be the ASCS-Midwest “Fall Brawl” at the I-80 Speedway with plenty of cash on the line. The Grain Valley, Missouri driver had a tough weekend with the Outlaws last week, though he managed an eleventh place finish in Spencer, Iowa.
The Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer hosted the WoO on Friday. “Getting back up there was good,” says Brian. “Craig Dollansky and his group always put on a great event. We’ve had good success there, and we were looking forward to getting back racing with the Outlaws. We were good hot lapping and fifth quick in qualifying.”
Unfortunately, problems arose in time trials that would hamper the rest of the night. “We had some sort of motor issue on our last lap of qualifying,” says Brian. “We didn’t have a lot of time to diagnose, so we went ahead and changed it. We were in the first heat, so we didn’t get it changed in time. That put a hiccup in our night.”
Brian headed for the B, and would end up eleventh in the main event. “We were able to win it and start twelfth in the A,” he says. “We just didn’t have our car where it needed to be. We didn’t have the time with the motor to keep up with what the track was doing. We were kind of tight and not able to move around in the dirty air like we should have been. Sometimes you are going to have those nights.”
The FVP Showdown was next on Saturday at the Deer Creek Speedway near Spring Valley, Minnesota. “The last FVP Showdown race was at Cedar Lake and we led 22 laps there,” says Brian. “We felt good coming in to Deer Creek. It was good to have all the FVP employees and customers there.”
Things started well enough. “We were the quickest car in hot laps,” says Brian. “We came out late in qualifying, and registered ninth quick. We were able to win the heat as well. We had to start back on the fifth row of the Dash. We tried some things to try to make the car better.”
Starting tenth in the feature, Brian wouldn’t make a lap. “On the first start, I kind of got bottled up behind Sammy (Swindell) before the yellow came out,” he says. “On the next start, I wanted to make sure I didn’t get balled up. I just kind of lost it, and spun sideways there.”
Unfortunately, others were involved. “I feel sorry and apologize to Davey Heskin and Bill Rose,” says Brian. “Davey was able to keep going, but Bill got banged up and hurt his leg. I hope he’s o.k. When you make mistakes like that, you don’t want to take other cars out. It wasn’t the way we wanted to end the weekend. We just have to keep our head up and look forward to a lot of big races coming up.”
The big races include another date with the WoO on Wednesday in Eagle, Nebraska. “I’m looking forward to it,” says Brian. “I haven’t raced a 410 there for at least three or four years. We haven’t been the best with the 360 there, so maybe the 410 will change our luck.”
I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska will host Friday and Saturday. “We’re really looking forward to the ‘Fall Brawl’,” says Brian. “Don Long of Searsboro Telephone Company has been instrumental in that and is sponsoring a backwards point fund. The race pays well and has a lot of other stuff going on. We’re licking our chops. Obviously, that’s one of our favorite tracks.”
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
Aaron Jansen asks: You do a good job of promoting the sport. Have you thought about promoting races?
Brian answers: Actually, that’s what I want to do after racing. I’d really love to promote a place like Knoxville. I’ve thought deep and hard about doing some stuff the last couple years. Terry (McCarl) does a good job at Oskaloosa, and Tony Bruce does a good job with it. (Craig) Dollansky does a great job at Spencer too. I just don’t feel like I have the time to do it right, and to do it right, you have to put in the time. After I’m done racing, I’d love to work for Knoxville in some capacity.
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 has 11 wins in 19 career runs at the I-80 Speedway. His last came on April 7.
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 – 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 – Schoenfeld Headers
Brian says – “Doug Schoenfeld and all the guys down there have the most used product on every race car, because they’ve been the most reliable. They’ve been around a long time, and we’re proud to wear their decal and run their product.”
Founded in 1974, Schoenfeld Headers is the largest circle track header manufacturer in the world. At Schoenfeld Headers, they listen to you, the customer, understanding your needs and giving you a quality product at a fair price. Check out their catalog at www.SchoenfeldHeaders.com today!
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, AllDayParts.com, Tru Square, 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, Mothers Wax, 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!