Brian Brown - Win Ties Randy Smith at Knoxville!

Monday, May 15, 2017
Brian at Lakeside (John Lee – www.HighFly-NPhotos.com)  Brian at Lakeside (John Lee – www.HighFly-NPhotos.com) (Bill W) May 15, 2017 – Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team tied another Knoxville Raceway icon with their 35th career win at the famous half-mile.  The Grain Valley, Missouri driver is now tied for seventh on the all-time feature win list at Knoxville with six-time track champion, Randy Smith.  It was a nice capper to a busy weekend that also saw his daughter, Mikala, graduate from the University of Missouri.
 
The ASCS National Series visited Lakeside Speedway Thursday.
 
We didn’t draw very well (starting eighth in the heat), and when I looked at the board, I saw Ian (Madsen) behind us, and I wondered who I would even be able to pass.  We were able to get up to fifth and somewhat salvage the night.
 
You started in row seven in the feature.
 
It was still pretty narrow and heavy, and back where we were, we were able to get a couple on the start.  I ended up losing those spots.  I think we ended up twelfth, which wasn’t a good night…but I thought a lot of that was circumstantial with the draw and the way things played out.
 
The Jackson Spring Nationals in Minnesota were up next Friday.
 
It was an All Star format with qualifying, and we timed in second quick with our heat.  That put us starting third in the heat, and you have to run top two there.  The inside row didn’t get going and I think (Mark) Dobmeier (starting fourth) was second by the flag stand.  We were able to get to third and run those guys back down.  I made a mistake on the bottom, which cost about six or eight car lengths.  I missed second by a car length at the checkers so if I wouldn’t have messed up, we could have been in a better position.
 
That set you up starting ninth in the feature.
 
We tried some different things with the car.  Some worked and some didn’t, but we learned.  We just didn’t have the speed come feature time.  We were as high as seventh and as far back as fourteenth.  We were tight when the rubber came, and we went from eighth back to finish eleventh at that point.  We didn’t let the night bother us.  We just got in the truck and headed to Knoxville.  Again, a lot of the night was circumstantial.  Win, lose, or draw, you have to hit the reset button the next day.
 
That was a success!  Another strong qualifying run (second quick) at Knoxville Saturday.
 
I felt like we laid down a solid lap.  Kerry (Madsen) came out and laid a really nice one out.  To qualify within reason of Kerry and (crew chief) Guy Forbrook is a good feeling.  You know you’re in a good spot at that point.  They are an Outlaw caliber qualifying car.
 
You’ve made a habit of starting sixth in the heat and moving to the front.
 
The way Knoxville’s point format is, you have to race all night long.  That’s beneficial for the fans, and it keeps guys from cruising in the heats.  Every time we hit the track, we’re set on “kill”, and we try to make every lap count.  At Knoxville, you have to.  Our car was phenomenal.  We were able to maneuver around and make our way to the front.  It’s a good sign going forward that we can pass, and some can’t.
 
The invert for the feature was four, putting you outside row two.
 
I knew with Austin (McCarl) on the pole, and Ian (Madsen), Kerry and myself in the first two rows, that the winner could very well come from those four spots.  When the green dropped, we had to get to work quick.  We knew that we needed to get in position.  We were able to make two good laps on the bottom to get to second.  Ian was setting a very good pace.  We were equal to him, if not slower, so we needed to get to traffic.  We got to traffic, and he was making some good decisions.  There were eight laps to go, and I figured the race would come down to a couple of decisions.  We were a little tighter than we needed to be, and the yellow came out.
 
Did you feel the caution was going to help you?
 
I’d have rather have stayed in traffic and raced it that way.  You don’t know what’s going to happen on the restart.  What I planned, happened on the restart, and we were able to pull the trigger and slide in front of Ian.  At that point, you’re running as hard as you can, yet you don’t want to get into lapped traffic too quickly.  We were able to hold on, and it was a special win for a few reasons.
 
You tied one of the all-time greats in Randy Smith.
 
Growing up as a kid, going to Knoxville every week, Randy Smith was a guy you looked up to.  To be able to tie him at 35 wins…I honestly never dreamed about it.  I dreamed about winning one race at Knoxville, and to win 35 is a great honor.  If I never won another one, we’ve done more than I’ve ever dreamed.  I’m just proud of my team.  Chad has been the backbone of this team for so many years, and along with Michael, Holden and Jordan, they’re doing a great job.
 
I know you are proud of your graduate.
 
I’m so proud of my daughter Mikala.  She graduated with honors from the University of Missouri on Saturday.  She did something I could never do.  I’m glad we were able to win for her.  I’m so proud of her.  There were 1,300 Psychology graduates and she was ranked 13th in the class. 
 
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

Brian’s Bits
 
Brian won the ASCS National series feature in 2006 at the Lucas Oil Speedway near Wheatland, Missouri.  The win came ahead of Sean McClelland, Randy Martin, Jesse Hockett and Aaron Berryhill.  All-time ASCS leading feature winner, Gary Wright, was seventh. 
 
About Casey’s General Stores

Casey’s General Stores is a Fortune-500 company (NASDAQ CASY) operating over 1,900 convenience stores in 14 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 4th largest c-store chain and fifth largest pizza chain in the United States.

About FVP

Built on a commitment to quality and delivered with unmatched service, FVP is the confident solution for all of your OEM needs. FVP products are engineered to provide customers with OE quality products that are equal or superior in performance to the major national brands at a competitive price. FVP is proud to carry a full line of high quality oil, air, cabin air and fuel filters, powerful batteries for multiple applications including cars, trucks, SUV’s, commercial, boats and other specialty vehicles as well as automotive chemicals and oil, antifreeze, DEF, hub assemblies, radiators and condensers.  To learn more about FVP or to find out where you can have FVP products installed in your vehicle, visit FVPparts.com!  FVP…The Confident Solution.
 
Marketing Partner of the Week – Champion Racing Lubricants (Champion Racing 20W50 Motor Oil)
 
Visit Champion’s new web page at www.ChampionsUseChampion.com!  Champion Racing 20W50 Motor Oil is the one that started it all by beating the competition in providing more horsepower, torque, and aUnti-wear additives than many of the more well known brands of racing oil. Champion Racing 20W50's premium ZDDP anti-wear protection is among the highest in the industry. Champion's exclusive shear stabilizer delivers better film strength and piston ring seal at peak temperatures. Champion Racing 20W50 also delivers more foot-pounds of torque with higher compression than any competitor's brands.
 
Benefits include:
• Provides exceptional low coefficient of friction
• Offers film strength and viscosity stability of thicker mono-grades at higher temperatures
• Provides upper cylinder anti-wear protection
• Increases high-temp oil pressure and compression
• Formulated for flat tappet, roll over cams and bearings in turbo and super-charged racing engines
• Lowers engine temperature
• Compatible with petroleum and other synthetics
 
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Hinchman Racewear
 
A racing suit is an investment.  An investment for your future safety.  You shouldn’t assume that because a suit is expensive it’s constructed with the very best materials and is safer than other suits.  Do your homework. Ask questions. Find out what is in the suit.  Remember when you see a suit that is extremely light weight you are giving away some of your protection.  Hinchman racing suits are known for standing the test of time.  Hinchman Racing Uniforms is committed to giving theirr customers the best and the safest driving suits in the world, along with the best customer service in the industry.  Visit them online at www.HinchmanRacewear.com!

Brian Brown Racing would like to thank Casey’s General Stores, FVP, Wormall Civil, Impact Signs Awnings Wraps/ impact4800.com, Champion Brands, Weld Wheels, Ditzfeld Transfer, Maxim Racing, Smiley’s Racing Products, MSD ignition, MC Power, Housby, Searsboro Telephone Company, Next LED Sports, Hope for the Warriors, Factory Kahne Shocks, Arctic Cat, Lincoln Electric, K&N, www.hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, TI64, ATL Tanks, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Bell Helmets, Hinchman Uniforms, CP Pistons, Carrillo Rods, Vortex Wings, Penray, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, AkzoNobel, Kenny's Components, Snap-On Tools, Rod End Supply, KSE Racing Products, Winters Performance, Cometic Gaskets, Shell Shock, Donovan, ISC Racers Tape, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Racing Optics, 5-hour ENERGY, Hoosier Tires, NGK Spark Plugs, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, 6B Apparel, Garrett Racing Engines, and Fortress Wealth Management for all their support!

Photo: Brian at Lakeside (John Lee – www.HighFly-NPhotos.com)  
 
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
Twitter: @BillWMedia
e-mail: sprntcar@hotmail.com
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