By Bill W
September 2, 2014 – For the second year in a row, Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 claimed the $4,000 special at the Randolph County Raceway near Moberly, Missouri on Sunday. Rain dictated things at last weekend’s Jackson Nationals in Minnesota, where the Grain Valley, Missouri driver would checker ninth on Saturday. Friday’s prelim was a wash. The team is still deciding on this weekend’s race plans.
Obviously, you can’t get a heavier track than what you had on Saturday in Jackson. You started third in your heat and that’s where you would finish.
With the rain they had, we knew it was going to be crucial to draw a good number. We drew fairly well, but the guy on the inside didn’t take off as well as I’d hoped. Matt Covington got a better run on the outside. I kind of cycled around the outside of him and nearly got by, but I just kind of ran out of real estate and had to tuck back in and ran third. That may have been the difference between Matt winning the race (feature) and me being in the back.
Your heat finish had you starting sixteenth in the finale, and you finished ninth.
It was a deal where we wondered whether we should just make a lap and pull in. The track was actually getting faster and narrower. We got a pretty good start and fell in line. Some guys fell in front of us and we gained some spots. At that point, we had run six or eight laps, and at that point, we wondered…what was the difference in running 22 more?
Fortunately, you had an open red. Unlike most nights, it wasn’t fuel you were worried about, but something else.
One of our partners, Racing Optics had a good night. I think we used 55 or 56 tear-offs in thirty laps. It was brutal, but they did everything they could do to put the race on, and that’s what matters.
Your team made the long haul from Jackson, Minnesota to Moberly, Missouri overnight.
That trip from Jackson to Moberly…Chad (Morgan) and Zac (Thomas) did a great job getting the truck back to the shop (in Grain Valley). We were at the car wash with the car at 9:30 or 9:40 on Sunday morning. They slept for an hour or two and then we headed to Moberly. That’s a testament to those guys and the team. It’s a pretty good haul from Jackson to Moberly, and those guys deserve the credit for us being able to do that.
You found the going tough in your heat after starting fifth.
Randy (Martin) was on the front row, and Jon Agan and (Dustin) Selvage were in the second row. Josh Fisher and I were in the third row. The track was a little narrower than usual there, and those guys are great race car drivers. We ended up fourth.
Starting 13th in the feature, what were your hopes heading in?
I was hoping I could get in the top three or four. When you have guys like Wayne Johnson, Jonathan Cornell, Jason Johnson and the other guys starting in front of you, it’s going to be tough.
You had a good start, and you were able to pick those drivers off.
We were able to get into the top six or eight in the first few laps. I was able to find the rubber a little earlier than most guys and got them in three and four. We got into third, and we had a heck of a battle. I was watching Jason Johnson and Cornell in traffic. I got to racing with them, and I was able to sneak by Jason.
Talk about taking the lead.
I was able to get in behind Cornell and we had a yellow. I thought that may be the end of our chance to win it. I got a good run on the restart and we were able to get around him. We kind of set sail from there. I think it was a great race from a fan’s standpoint, with three guys racing for the lead the majority of the race. It’s a great facility, it was a great crowd and a great event. We were proud to win it.
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-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
Brown’s Bits
Brian won last year’s Labor Day event in Moberly as well. He started seventh, and the victory came over Jeff Swindell, Jonathan Cornell, Jason Johnson and Russ Hall.
15% off of Enco Tools Purchase!
Receive 15% off of your order with Enco Tools! Just go to www.UseEnco.com and use the coupon code “BBR21”!
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
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 – Rod End Supply
Brian says – “Bob Douglas and Rod End Supply have always been very good to us. They make the nicest, most durable rod ends in racing, and we are proud to run them.”
Whether you’re running a go-cart, micro, mini-sprint, midget, modified, late model, sprint or a tractor, Rod End Supply has the assortment of rod ends, radius rods, and specialty products that will help you lead the field in performing at your maximum potential. At Rod End Supply, “They don’t just sell ‘em, they race ‘em! Visit them on the web at www.RodEndSupply.com or call 1-800-284-2902 today!
Brian Brown Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, FVP, Searsboro Telephone Company, MC Power, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps / impact4800.com, Champion Brands, DNA Energy, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, Enco Tools, Weld Wheels, Housby Trucks, www.RateWin.com, Arctic Cat, K&N, www.hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Bell Helmets, Hinchman, CP Pistons, Carrillo Rods, Vortex Wings, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, AkzoNobel, Kenny’s Components, www.AllDayParts.com, Tru Square, Jack Links, Deli Express, Snap-On Tools, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance, Cometic Gaskets, Shell Shock, Donovan, ISC Racers Tape, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Racing Optics, Mothers Wax, Hoosier Tires, Klein RV, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, 6B Apparel, Bosch, Garrett Racing Engines, MSD, Moyle Racing Engines, Fortress Wealth Management, Legacy, Flexzilla and WSIB Insurance for all their support!