From Bill W
November 5, 2012 – The World Finals at the Dirt Track in Charlotte, North Carolina wound up the season for the World of Outlaws. Brian Brown and Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team did well for themselves in front of a sellout crowd and a national TV audience. On Friday night after leading several laps, the Grain Valley, Missouri driver ended up second, before charging to a sixth place finish in the finale. He’ll head to the Southwest this weekend to catch up with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Series.
Things actually started on Thursday night with two sets of time trials that would determine starting spots for the heats on both Friday and Saturday night. “A big part of the World Finals is the qualifying piece,” says Brian. “Last year, we didn’t have really good luck with it like we did this year. We had a fresh Charlie Garrett motor provided to us by Searsboro Telephone Company, and it ran really really well. I didn’t think I ran a very good lap for Friday’s program and we ended up twelfth. We went out late for Saturday, and we ran well and were fourth quick.”
After timing in twelfth for Friday night’s prelim, Brian would start outside row one and run second in his heat. He would then advance from eighth to fifth in the Dash. “We were able to settle into second there behind Lance (Dewease),” he says. “We had a shot at him on the restart and the yellow came out. At that point, we just had to hold on and make sure we were in the Dash. We were able to get a good start and get up to fifth. Anytime you move forward rows in the Dash, it’s big.”
Starting inside of row three, Brian wasted little time contending for the lead. “We were able to work on our car all night long, and figure out where the car was working,” he says. “We were able to move up into third fairly early behind Dale (Blaney) and Sammy (Swindell). We were able to run them down and get the lead. It was probably one of the most fun nights I’ve been a part of.”
Brian swapped the lead with Blaney several times. “I think there were seven or eight lead changes in about eight laps,” he says. “It’s nice to know you can race that close with Dale and know you’re not going to crash. To be able to do it in front of a sellout crowd of 20,000, and put our partners in that big of a limelight was great as well.”
Swindell was on Brian’s tail late in the going, relegating him to second. “Dale had a problem there with six laps to go,” says Brian. “That put us double-file up front with Sammy there, and I felt like I made some pretty good corners. I kept seeing Sammy out of the corner of my eye, and the car was loosening up a bit. I think it was due to some air pressure on the right rear. I had to slow on the entry to three, and Sammy got a good run on us.”
The second place run was something to build on. “I felt like we did everything we could to win the race,” says Brian. “We just came up a little short again. I know we’ll get an Outlaw win. Hopefully, a number of them will come after that. To start the World Finals weekend that way and showing people how strong our team is…I never dreamed we’d be in this position.”
Saturday’s finale saw live TV and a tough start for Brian, who finished sixth in his heat after starting fourth. “Being fourth quick isn’t the most ideal place to be, but it was going to play into our hands when Dale Blaney and David Gravel made it through,” he says. “All we had to do was finish fourth. We just didn’t do what we needed to with the car. We didn’t get it tight enough for the conditions.”
The team regrouped at that point. “The cool part about this team is we never give up,” says Brian. “We got the car good for the B, and ran second. We started 13th in the A. Other than Paul McMahan, most had a tough time getting going. We charged up through there and we were able to get sixth.”
Brian again had one of the faster cars on the track. “We were up to fourth at one point, I just couldn’t drive it in there like I needed to finish up front,” he says. “To go to Charlotte and run that well is a huge accomplishment for our team. We look forward to getting back there and maybe getting a win.”
Brian is excited about a big charity event he is involved with Thursday for the MDA. More information is located at www.BrianBrownRacing.com. “We have a big event on Thursday night with the Muscular Dystrophy Association at Prairie Meadows (Altoona, Iowa),” he says. “They choose seven athletes to be a part of it. It’s an honor to represent the sprint car world and Casey’s there.”
Friday and Saturday’s ASCS events will be at El Paso Speedway Park and at the Southern New Mexico Speedway in Las Cruces, respectively. “We’re looking forward to El Paso,” says Brian. “We’re not sure what to expect there, but we’ve had some good racing in Las Cruces in the past. We’ll try to get up front.”
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-
Casey’s General Stores – www.facebook.com/pages/Caseys-
FVP Racing – http://www.facebook.com/
Other Web site info
Casey’s: www.caseys.com
FVP: www.fvpparts.com
Brian’s Q&A
Ryan Lewis asks: What priority do you put in getting your partners on TV?
Brian answers: It’s huge. We don’t have a lot of TV coverage. When we do, the best way to do it is to run up front. That’s the best way to get on TV. We treat those TV races like they’re gold. If we’re having a rough night, desperate times call for desperate measures. Like this weekend, I grabbed Casey’s and FVP decals and stuck them on the TeleTubbies. Sometimes you need to think outside the box! Those TeleTubbies probably had a better chance of being on TV than we did if we weren’t running good!
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 competed in 55 feature events in 2007. He registered 14 (25%) wins, 29 (53%) top fives and 35 (64%) top tens.
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 – FSR Race Products
Brian says – “Garry (Bell) and his family have been a big supporter of Brian Brown Racing since its inception. We use a lot of their products that I feel racers should be using like their engine mount radiators, block heaters, toe plates and their hot water heater. They make a lot of great products, and it’s great to represent them.”
This is Brian’s second year being involved with Four Seasons Radiator (FSR) Race Products. The products used from FSR include engine mount radiators and an engine block heater that runs off 110 volts. FSR Radiator wants to insure the highest level of customer service by meeting your product needs. They are dedicated to Ground Support Equipment and understand the high demands of the industries they are involved in. They specialize in building radiators and fuel tanks for tug and beltloader applications. They also build forklift, push-back and other GSE radiators. Their radiators are designed to fit! No Universal Applications! Plus, all of their radiators come with a ONE YEAR WARANTY! Visit them on the web at www.fsrradiator.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!