Brian in Victory Lane at Knoxville (Danny Howk Photo)
Brian Brown – Pain and Gain at Knoxville!
(Bill W) April 24, 2017 – Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team started their Knoxville Raceway season on a winning note in last Saturday night’s season opener at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World”. It was his second career win at a Knoxville season opener. It’s always a challenge to win at Knoxville, but the Grain Valley, Missouri driver had his work really cut out for him after spending much of last week in the hospital with a blockage/kink in his small intestine. Brian will be back at Knoxville this Saturday night.
It seemed the track conditions surprised a few.
We knew there had been guys testing there and it had been lightning fast. It ended up being slicker than we had thought. To go out there and get second quick was decent for us. We had a decent lap, but maybe not the best we could have, so we were happy. The way that Knoxville does their point system, it’s important to get yourself up there in the top five or six in qualifying and move forward in the heat. Even with a half decent lap, our Garrett engines can pull us through. I’ve said it a hundred times, but Charlie does a phenomenal job with our engines and has worked hard over the winter.
You had a stout heat, but ended up driving from sixth to win it.
When I saw our heat, I knew it was going to be tough. There were tough guys all the way through it…guys that are capable of going anywhere in the country and winning. Honestly, I thought finishing third or fourth would have been good. But when we got out there, the car was so maneuverable…top, bottom, middle…it didn’t matter. We were able to win it, and that was pretty awesome.
What’s been the secret to keeping your car tuned in throughout the night?
We’ve been able to race twelve or fifteen times this year. As the night progresses and the track changes, we’ve been able to make some great adjustments. We did the same on Saturday, and that’s a credit to Chad, Michael and Holden. I think the strength of our team shows in our results.
Luckily, the “0” was drawn, meaning as the high-point driver, you started on the pole of the feature.
That was good. The track was phenomenal. It’s the best opening night track that I remember in a while. To have the top on the fence and a bottom to run as well…you can’t ask for much more. We knew Kerry (Madsen) and the guys behind us would be tough. We had to get out in the lead right away, and we were able to do that. We were able to move around in three and four. We got to traffic, and we felt good there too. There was a yellow, and we were able to continue what we were doing. In the latter part of the race…with five laps to go or so…I found some rubber in one and two. There were patches of it in three and four, but nothing on exit. I got caught in four a couple times and that killed my momentum. Kerry caught us a couple times, but we were able to hold him off.
Physically, it must have been a tough night on you.
It wasn’t fun. Laying around in the hospital for four days…I wasn’t in the best of health and I ran some sloppy laps. I’m obviously weak. When your insides hurt, it’s amazing how much vibrations that you don’t notice otherwise, really stand out. The harmonics of the engine and the track go right through you. When you have some pain, you tend to hold your breath, and that’s why it was wearing me out a little. Again, my hat’s off to the team. I hadn’t been in the shop all week, but I knew when I got there Saturday, that the car would be ready to go. They do such a great job.
I know you’ve heard a lot from our race family this week.
I’d like to thank all the fans, friends and family who have called, texted and given me well wishes about my health. The doctors did a great job last week, and I’m looking to continue to improve my health for this weekend and beyond.
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 2010 Knoxville Raceway championship with consistency. Counting features during the Knoxville Nationals, he started 19 A mains, recorded four wins, 12 top fives and 15 top tens. His wins came on May 8, May 29, June 26 and September 4. In the Season Opener, he suffered a DNF, but closed the season strong with a win on Season Championship Night.
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 – Wormall Civil
Wormall Contracting commenced operations in 1984, primarily as a specialist underground services installation contractor. A period of sustained growth saw the company transform into Wormall Civil, a main contractor now for over ten years, providing quality civil engineering construction services to both private developers and government clients.
Wormall Civil operates throughout the greater Perth metropolitan area and regional WA, having undertaken a number of major projects along the northern coastal strip between Perth and Geraldton and mining/resource developments in the Pilbara, the Mid and North West.
The company's standard of work and positive outcomes for its valued clients has seen it attain preferred contractor status with leading land developers throughout this region. Wormall Civil is also a Tier 1 civil contractor for the state government land agency LandCorp.
Wormall Civil is a third party accredited company to AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Management System, AS/NZS 4801 Safety Management and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems.
This proud WA family-owned and operated company is backed by a strong and stable management team with extensive ground up experience, together with a committed team of qualified civil engineering and project management professionals and dedicated field staff. Visit them online at www.WormallCivil.com.au!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – Wolfe Eye Clinic
If you're one of the 140 million Americans who are afflicted with a refractive disorder such as being nearsighted, farsighted or having astigmatism, LASIK surgery may offer the vision you want without the constraints of glasses or contacts. There are a variety of important factors to consider when deciding on a refractive surgeon. Experience and training should be two of the most important considerations. For years, the physicians at Wolfe Eye Clinic have been leaders in LASIK laser vision correction. In fact, our physicians have been leaders in the development of laser vision correction and were the first to bring this technology to Iowa. They have been performing refractive surgery since 1984. With more than 29 years of experience and over 37,000 refractive surgeries performed, no one in Iowa is more qualified to provide LASIK surgery than the physicians at Wolfe Eye Clinic.
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 in Victory Lane at Knoxville (Danny Howk Photo)
Bill W Media
Monroe, IA USA
Twitter: @BillWMedia
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