5/27/2014
Sprint Source
Brian Brown – Back to the Grindstone!
(Bill W) May 27, 2014 – A sprint car team can never rest easy! Even after three straight 410 wins at the Knoxville Raceway, Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 racing team find themselves searching for answers again after a sixth place run at Knoxville and a fourth place showing at I-80 Speedway. They will work hard for the keys to victory this week at an event with the ASCS National series in Salina, Kansas on Friday and a return to Knoxville Raceway Saturday.
It was the week for the top eight qualifiers to draw for feature starting spots at Knoxville. You were able to do that.
Our main goal was getting in the redraw Saturday. We were able to do that with second quick. Justin (Henderson) laid down a good lap, and it was a little slicker than normal. The guys had the car pretty good there. We’ll take it.
With only three heats this week, with an invert of six, did it feel a little easier to qualify (top six) for the feature?
A little bit, but we had Mark Dobmeier behind us too. We haven’t been that great in the heat races all year long. That’s one thing we have to get better at. For the Nationals, you have to get through your heat. If you qualify well, you start eighth and you have to be able to race to win it or make the top four. That’s one thing we’ll be looking at this week…trying to get a little better in the heat. You need to be good at the whole package in August and we need to get better at that part of it.
The feature redraw didn’t go well for you.
I knew when we drew eight, with the level of competition in front of us and behind us, it was going to be tough. Every week, we’ve tried something a little different, and we just didn’t get it this week. It was a struggle to say the least to run sixth.
The previous week, you won from eighth, so obviously you didn’t have the same car under you.
Best case scenario, we maybe had a fourth place car. We were nowhere where we needed to be to run the guys up front down and challenge for the win. That’s the good thing about our sport…it can humble you real quick. We had won three in a row, and our confidence was as high as it’s ever been. You get your butt kicked and you go back to the drawing board a little bit and work harder. That’s what we’ll do for this week.
You went to I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska for the big show with the Nebraska 360 Sprints.
When we go to I-80, we feel that unless something bad happens, we have a chance to win. Sunday was no different. There was good money for the Charlie Clark Memorial. I started third and Danny (Lasoski) started fourth in the heat. We got to the lead there, and he was just better than us. He passed us on the white flag lap, and we finished second. Getting passed at I-80 doesn’t set well with us any time. I don’t care if it’s hot laps or the heat race. We had to go to work on that thing.
Even finishing second, you made the redraw and drew the pole for the feature. Again, you struggled with the car.
There’s no if’s and’s or but’s about it, we got whipped and ended up fourth. We weren’t where we needed to be with the car, and we got exposed. We raced with Lee Grosz the first few laps jockeying for position. (Jack) Dover blew the numbers off the side of the car, then Danny got by us for third. We were abel to get by Lee again, but we had just a fourth place car.
I-80 is a place you have dominated in the past.
It didn’t set well with the whole team or myself. As much as anything, we need to keep working at it. Just because you won at I-80 five years ago, doesn’t mean that others haven’t gotten better. They’ve been working on their stuff, and we need to put our nose back to the grindstone there too.
What does the team have planned this weekend?
We’ll be at Salina, Kansas with the ASCS National tour. It’s always a pretty racy track. We went there last year and ran halfway decent (fifth). Saturday, we’ll be back at Knoxville.
I know one of your partners is heading into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Saturday at Knoxville.
I’m looking forward to my partner Chuck Merrill with Maxim Chassis being inducted. He’s been an instrumental part of my career, not only with Maxim Chassis, but along with his wife Karen, they are very good friends of mine. I’m really happy for him to be inducted.
I know you have an admiration for all the nominees.
A couple of guys that meant a lot to me growing up are Dave Blaney and Mark Kinser. Mark’s a guy that I always idolized growing up. He and his wife Cindy always treated me well growing up. I haven’t seen him in six or eight years, so hopefully, I’ll get to spend some time with him. Dave Argabright is another one that comes to mind that has done a lot for the sport and I respect a lot.
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 hit the ground running in his first visit to Knoxville in 2000, but came crashing down to start the 2001 season. In his first appearance at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World”, Brian finished an impressive 6th in the 360 Nationals opener and fourth in the finale behind winner Wayne Johnson, Matt Moro and Larry Neighbors. 410 Knoxville plans for 2001 were dashed in the season opener in Danny Lasoski’s #3 when the motor blew up in hot laps. Brian would return in June and at the Nationals that season. In 2002, things clicked with six wins and a championship in the 360 class before making the jump to 410s for good in 2003.
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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 – 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.”
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Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Wolfe Eye Clinic
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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!
Attached: Brian at Knoxville (Serena Dalhamer Photo)
Article Credit: Bill Wright
Submitted By: Admin Account
