[i (Bill W) September 8, 2009]
A strong finish to the season clinched the second spot in the season 410 sprint car standings at the Knoxville Raceway for Brian Brown. The Grain Valley, Missouri driver drove to a second place finish on the night, and also cinched third place in owner standings at the track. As racing will do, a trip to Lake Ozark Speedway for their 360 Nationals brought the SuperClean #21 team back to Earth! This weekend, Brian plans on more 360 action in Missouri and Nebraska.
With two-tenths of a second separating quick time from 14th in time trials Saturday at Knoxville, despite coming out late, Brian was 13th in the order. “I didn’t think I could draw any worse than I did last week, but I ended up with the last number (75) in there,” he says. “We had this qualifying thing figured out, but we’ve struggled the last month or so getting the car balanced.”
Still, the run put him outside row one for the heat. “On a good note, it put us up a little further in the heat,” he says. “Calvin (Landis) had a really good start, and we were able to cruise in there behind him.”
Brian started tenth in the 25-lap main event, and quickly established the strength provided by his Ostrich powered Maxim. He blew through to a second place finish, trailing Dusty Zomer to the line. “To be able to pass guys like Terry (McCarl), (Don) Droud Jr., Wayne Johnson and some of the others, was great,” he says of his run. “When we passed McCarl with about eight to go, I thought we would be able to cruise from there. We were able to run Dusty down there. He was running low in three and four, and we were good on top. A lap car (Bob Weuve) changed Dusty’s line, and I think that ended up winning the race for him, because he stayed high after that. Dusty and his team did a great job too.”
Brian’s slim chances of grabbing a second championship were dashed in the heat race when Johnny Herrera transferred with no problem. “Johnny, Larry and Lori Woodward, Troy Renfro and the rest of that team did a great job, and they should be very proud of their accomplishment,” he says. “It’s about being consistent, and they did that all year.”
The Brian Brown Racing #21 team can be proud of their accomplishments at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World”. “It was a great way to end our first year as a car owner at Knoxville,” says Brian. “We’ve been very fast at times, and just mediocre at others this year. Saturday was one of those nights where I felt we had the fastest car on the track. We’ll see where next year leads us, but we’d like to come back and win another championship.”
Several inches of rain fell in the Ozarks last week, making for a muddy mess and a treacherous racetrack for the LOS Nationals. “They got dealt a tough hand with the rain down there,” says Brian. “That Winged Outlaw Warrior format is probably the toughest in the World when you don’t draw well, unless you were Jack Dover on Saturday. Hopefully, the WOW can take a look at that for next year, especially for a big event like that one. The track was really tough to pass on in the heats. It is what it is. If I drew well, I’d probably be praising it!”
Brian started fifth in his heat, having to win to make the dash, and run third to make the main. He ended up fourth. “We messed around with J Kinder too long,” he says. “By the time we were ready to pass Bryan Grimes for a transfer in the last corner it was too late. Coming out of four, I knew his right rear would beat my left front, so that forced me out of it.”
He posted third for the B. “They only took two, so we got into second quickly,” he says. “I had some driver error and spun over in turn two. I took Mitchell Moore with me, so I have to apologize for that. Racing is funny. We came off a high at Knoxville, and then we were driving home in the fog on Saturday night thinking it wouldn’t be so bad for this rig to go off the road. That’s why they call it racing, and that’s why we love it.”
Plans this weekend include more WOW action at Brian’s hometown Valley Speedway and the $5,000 to win Nebraska Cup on Saturday. “We’re going to help with the promotions a bit for the Grain Valley race on Friday, and then we’ll head up to Eagle for the Nebraska Cup on Saturday,” he says. “We may even head over to Quincy on Sunday with the Sprint Invaders.”
Website
For up to date information on Brian Brown, visit www.BrianBrownRacing.com!
T-shirts
T-shirts are available and can be ordered at Brian’s website (www.BrianBrownRacing.com), or catch us at the races!
Brian's Q&A
Jared Bahr asks: Are racecar drivers athletes?
Brian answers: I think anyone who says racecar drivers are not athletes, should go around a few laps at Knoxville when it’s tacky, or around a little rough bullring for 40 laps. I think sometimes we may be above some other sports when you bring not only the physical side in, but the mental side we need to have as well. You have to think laps ahead in a sprint car, and there’s a chess match going on all the time out there.
Got a question for Brian? Send it to us at sprntcar@iowatelecom.net, and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for Brian" in your subject line.
Brown's Bits
Brian won the Valley Speedway WOW race in 2007, besting Josh Fisher, Jay Russell, Jesse Hockett and Larry Pinegar II. Brian will be seeking his first career win at Eagle. His last run there was the 2008 Icebreaker Challenge when he finished third behind Terry McCarl and Billy Alley.
SuperClean
SuperClean is the “super product” for your home, auto, outdoor and marine cleaning jobs. Whether it is grease, oil, wax, tar or dirt that you need to clean from concrete, wheels or just about anything else, SuperClean is the product for you! To learn more about SuperClean, visit www.SuperClean.com!
SuperClean Products include:
Tire Gloss
Get a showroom shine every time! Rejuvenate your tires with SuperClean Tire Gloss. Our unique formula clings to tires, giving them a long-lasting luster while protecting against dirt, dust and road grime.
Accuvision
When wet weather hits, rest assured that SuperClean AccuVision will help you drive safely by keeping your windshield clear and the road in sight! Our advanced technology improves visibility by repelling rain, sleet, and snow without any rubbing, buffing or waxing. Use it on any glass surface for a long-lasting, high-quality treatment.
Tough Task Cleaner-Degreaser
If you have tough, caked-on grease, then SuperClean Tough Task Cleaner-Degreaser is the multipurpose cleaner you need. This concentrated, industrial strength formula quickly removes grease, oil, wax, tar, and dirt on contact leaving your surface as clean as new.
All Wheel Cleaner
If you love your car more than you love your…well you know, then SuperClean All Wheel Cleaner is for you. This custom-blend formula instantly releases road grime and brake dust, leaving wheels clean to the original finish.
Car Wash
Use SuperClean Car Wash for the shine your car deserves.
See Heather at a grandstand entrance near you or visit the team’s trailer to get your free sample! SuperClean is available at Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Casey’s, Menard's, Mills Fleet Farm, O'Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, Pep Boys, Wal-Mart, and many other fine retailers, to find a retailer near you, visit www.SuperClean.com/where.php.
Factory Value Parts
Factory Value Parts specializes in the battery that you need. They know it has to be tough, and priced right. They have a line of high-performance batteries for SUVs, trucks, cars and other specialty vehicles that give you quality without breaking the bank. To find a dealer near you, visit them on the web at www.fvparts.com/locator.php!
Marketing Partner of the Week – Housby Trucks
Since 1969, Housby has been known for the quality of new and used trucks they sell and their excellent customer service. What started out primarily as a Mack Truck dealership has grown into a conglomerate of vertically integrated businesses that share synergy by bringing multiple services to their customers. Businesses include Housby Mack, Inc., Housby Mixer Group, Housby Truck Lube, Vocon Remarketing, Second Generation and Housby Motorsports. Visit www.Housby.com for more information!
Associate Marketing Partner of the Week – K&N Filters
Brian is a proud partner with K&N Filters. K&N Engineering, of Riverside, California, is the inventor and leading innovator of reusable cotton gauze filter technology for automotive applications. From humble beginnings as a family run business over 35 years ago, K&N Engineering, now a truly global company with offices in the U.K. and the Netherlands, continues to exist as a family owned business with an enthusiast mindset and a direct connection with motor sports that carries over throughout all levels of management and manufacturing. Today, K&N exists as both the sales and brand leader for performance filters, and maintains a stocking catalogue of over 3,500 part numbers, including an extensive line of both factory replacement drop-in filters, FIPK (Fuel Injection Performance Kit) applications, and its line of innovative Performance Gold oil filters. Visit them at www.KNFilters.com!
Brian would like to thank SuperClean, Ditzfeld Transfer, Searsboro Telephone Company, www.FaxMeService.com, Housby Trucks, Maxim Racing, Champion Racing XP, NOS Energy Drink, My State Insurance Rates, Smiley’s Race Products, Impact Sign and Lighting, Arctic Cat, Michael Ross Memorial Foundation, K&N Filters, Hostiowa.net, FSR Race Products, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Awesome Racewear, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Weld Wheels, Bell Helmets, Paul's Auto Body Supply, Engler Machine, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Butler Built Seats, Rod End Supply, Winters Performance Products, ISC Racers Tape, Racing Optics, Pro Shocks, Don's Truck Wash, Gardner Farms, Hoosier Tires, XYZ Machining, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Peterson Fluid System, Red Devil Brakes, Schoenfeld Headers, www.Impact4800.com, WSIB Insurance and Rubbin’ Repair for all their help!
[u Photo - Brian at Knoxville (Ryan Northcote Photo)]
- Bill Wright on Sep 09, 2009
- Article Date: 9/9/2009