By Bill W
October 21, 2013 – Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team picked up another big win at last Saturday’s Devil’s Bowl Speedway Winternationals in Mesquite, Texas. The win paid the Grain Valley, Missouri driver $4,000. It was the second weekend in a row he took that sum home for a victory, and it was his sixteenth feature in of the season, an all-time best. They’ll try to add some more wins this week at the Short Track Nationals at Little Rock Arkansas’ I-30 Speedway.
You were rained out in Friday’s prelim at Devil’s Bowl, but you were involved in a charity event on Thursday as well.
It was unfortunate we got rained out on Friday. When you go that far, you want to race as many nights as you can. The good part was coming down early for Smiley’s Racing Products Steve King Foundation (for injured drivers and crewmen) Golf Tournament on Thursday. We were able to raise around $25,000, which was great.
You finished third in your heat race after starting sixth.
We drew the third row of the heat. We’ve been trying some things for next year. We weren’t really that great in either hot laps or the heat to be honest.
The redraw saw you starting eighth in the feature. What changes did you make?
We kind of went back to the same setup we used to win the Summernationals there in July of 2012. Pushing off, I didn’t know if we could make a move. I was really hoping for a top five. The track started laying rubber in the heats. We went back to square one, and we were able to drive from eighth to second on the first lap. Our only chance was to make something happen on the start.
What got you to the front?
We decided to try the top with everyone else on the bottom. We had a yellow a couple of laps in. We were able to get a good run on Wayne Johnson, and got by him high in one and two on the high side. We were kind of able to set sail from there.
It sounded like you pulled away from there.
I feel once we were out front we had the fastest car. It felt like with the track conditions, we kind of stole one there. It was a good night. Chad Morgan, Travis March and the rest of the team don’t give up. Things weren’t going well early, but no one got frantic about it. They stick to their game plan and get the job done.
You had to feel good about winning another race with so much history.
Winning the Winternationals is awesome. As a kid, I saw Steve (Kinser), Sammy (Swindell) and (Doug) Wolfgang win that race. It’s pretty cool to get that win and it makes me proud.
The World of Outlaws are coming to Devil’s Bowl next Spring. Will this give you a leg up?
That’s going to be fun. The Outlaws are tough anywhere we go. I think we have a good baseline here to work with. We should be able to be in contention.
You go from one big event to another this weekend…the Short Track Nationals in Little Rock.
If I was a race fan only, the Short Track Nationals is a race I would hit every single year. I just think it’s the best three or four nights of racing outside of the Knoxville Nationals that you’re going to see. Everything is based on passing points. You may look at the lineup board and wonder who #30 is. You look over and he’s on an open trailer. Then he drives away from you in the heat. That’s what’s cool about it. It’s about setup and not motor.
What do you think of your chances this week?
I feel as confident as I’ve ever been going in. If we do our job, and keep our nose to the grindstone, I think we can pull it off.
Your sixteenth win in 2013 is an all-time best.
That’s cool. Our goal is always twenty, but I think our top in feature wins has been fifteen. In this day in age with the competition, I think it’s a huge accomplishment for our team. We are really peaking right now. It’s just too bad we’re coming towards the end of the season.
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, @CaseysGenStores
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
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 – Carrillo Rods/CP Pistons
Brian says – “With our Ostrich Racing Engines, Carrillo and CP have been my choice the last four or five years. We’re happy to use them, and hope we can win some races for them.”
CP Pistons and Carrillo industries have joined forces with one goal in mind: offer high quality performance products with excellent customer service. CP has built a reputation of high-end quality pistons, buil5 to perform and outlast; especially in power-sport and sport compact. They are recognized as a technological leader in piston design and development for all venues of motorsports. They focus on providing industry-leading products and performance while maintaining the highest level of customer service.
Nearing their 50th Anniversary, the name Carrillo is synonymous with connecting rods. Carrillo has won more races in virtually every format of motorsports than any rod manufacturer in the world. They carry a full line of stock replacement rods and specialize in custom applications. They focus on providing industry-leading products and performance while maintaining the highest level of customer service. All products are proudly made in USA. Visit them online at www.CP-Carrillo.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, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Bell Helmets, CP Pistons, Carrillo Rods, Vortex Wings, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, AkzoNobel Sikkens, AllDayParts.com, Tru Square, Jack Links, 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 Fuel Injection, 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, ADD, 6B Apparel, Zips Energy Seeds, Bosch, NGK, Garrett Racing Engines, MSD and WSIB Insurance for all their support!