By Bill W
October 22, 2012 – Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team have a big weekend in store. They will be tackling the $15,000 to win 25th Annual Short Track Nationals at the I-30 Speedway near Little Rock, Arkansas this weekend. The Grain Valley, Missouri driver had a bit of a frustrating time of it last weekend at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway Winternationals. It was highlighted by a charge from 20th to 8th in Friday night’s prelim.
Brian did not draw well all weekend, and struggled from 8th to 6th in his heat on Friday. “Devil’s Bowl can definitely be a place that can get one-lane,” he says. “That was definitely the case on Friday night. We drew a pretty good heat and we just weren’t albe to advance.”
Brian advanced to the main event by running second in the B main. “The car was working better in the B,” he says. “We were able to transfer into the feature which is what you need to do. The trouble was we were starting twentieth.”
The best drive of the weekend came in the main event when Brian found enough room to maneuver up to eighth at the checkers. “The guys had the car working really well for the feature,” he says. “We were able to get through there in good shape and get up to eighth.”
Things couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start in Saturday’s finale. “We were running behind the 8-ball all night long,” says Brian. “In hot laps, there was oil leaking on me and we had to change the motor. That set us back for the rest of the night.”
Again, the heat draw didn’t go well. Brian moved from seventh to fourth. “We ran up to fourth, but that just wasn’t enough to get into the feature,” he says. “That sent us to the B for the second night in a row.”
After again running second in a B main, Brian would start 19th and checker 16th in the feature. “The track just wasn’t conducive to much passing,” he says. “Everyone was riding around the bottom of turns one and two, and pretty much in the middle of three and four. We couldn’t make up ground like we did in the summer when we came from 14th to win.”
Brian and the team are looking forward to this weekend. “We’re really excited to get to Little Rock,” he says. “I feel really good about our team going in. We have our short track program working pretty well. As always there, you just need a little luck on your side.”
Follow Brian on the Web, Twitter and Facebook!
Follow Brian at his website located at www.BrianBrownRacing.com!
Also keep up with FVP, Casey’s and Brian on Facebook and Twitter at the following links…
Twitter Links – @BrianBrown21, @FVPRacing
Facebook Links
Brian Brown Racing – www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Brown-Racing/200630163294222
Casey’s General Stores – www.facebook.com/pages/Caseys-General-Stores/112073528804354
FVP Racing – http://www.facebook.com/FVPRacing?ref=ts&fref=ts
Other Web site info
Casey’s: www.caseys.com
FVP: www.fvpparts.com
Brian’s Q&A
Bob Welpott asks: What do you think of your chances this weekend at the Short Track Nationals?
Brian answers: I think they are as good as they’ve ever been. Our short track program is really good right now. Of course, anytime you are at Little Rock, you’re going to need a little luck! I think it is really cool that the event will be on Pay-per-view. That way the folks who aren’t able to make it who may be living in Australia can see it. I encourage everyone to support the event in that way if they can’t make it out!
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 five trips to the Short Track Nationals finale, Brian has three top four finishes. In his first attempt in 2004, he ran fourth. After a 13th place showing in 2005, he followed that up with a second place effort in 2006 after coming through one of four B mains. In 2008, he would run third. Last season, his night ended in the B.
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 – Maxim Racing
Brian says, “Chuck and Karen Merrill are not only great people, but they put everything into putting the best car out on the market. I’ve always been a supporter of theirs, and with Brian Brown Racing, you’ll always see their chassis.”
Brian has been partnering with Maxim since 2003. After years of success as a car owner, Chuck Merrill started his chassis business in a rented three-bay garage in November of 1988. The first car was driven by Johnny Herrera at the Florida All Stars Sprint Week in February of 1989. By June of that year, Maxim moved into a 7,000 square foot facility. By 2001, Maxim had grown substantially producing 304 chassis that year. In 2002, Maxim moved to its present 12,500 square foot location in Springfield, Illinois. Maxim continues to offer their customers unmatched service and support, and currently has 17 quality employees, and builds over 400 chassis on an annual basis. Their world-famous “K-car” was designed for Steve Kinser, and has won ten Knoxville Nationals titles and fourteen World of Outlaws championships! To top it all, Maxim offers a warranty if you are not completely satisfied with your car. For more information on Maxim, visit www.racemaxims.com!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – K&N Filters
Brian says – “We’re proud to run with K&N. They have a carbon-fiber air box. The key to horsepower is air. When you’re choosing the filter to save the bearing and keep the dirt out, it’s K&N.”
Brian is a proud partner with K&N Filters. K&N Engineering, of Riverside, California, is the inventor and leading innovator of reusable cotton gauze filter technology for automotive applications. From humble beginnings as a family run business over 35 years ago, K&N Engineering, now a truly global company with offices in the U.K. and the Netherlands, continues to exist as a family owned business with an enthusiast mindset and a direct connection with motor sports that carries over throughout all levels of management and manufacturing. Today, K&N exists as both the sales and brand leader for performance filters, and maintains a stocking catalogue of over 3,500 part numbers, including an extensive line of both factory replacement drop-in filters, FIPK (Fuel Injection Performance Kit) applications, and its line of innovative Performance Gold oil filters. Visit them at www.KNFilters.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, 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!