Brian Brown – Four Seconds!

 (Bill W) May 28, 2013 – To run in the same spot for four straight races is definitely against all odds.  Unfortunately, for Brian Brown and the Casey’s General Stores/FVP #21 team that spot was second.  Still, it was an extremely solid run, and they’ll look for a win in Salina, Kansas or Knoxville, Iowa this weekend. 

Things started with a heat win at Valley Speedway in your hometown of Grain Valley, Missouri on Thursday. 

We knew we were going to have our hands full with Wayne (Johnson) on the pole.  He always runs well.  He actually got to turn one first.  We were able to get around him, which is really important for the rest of the night.

 

The redraw saw you starting inside row three for the feature. 

We were able to settle in to fifth or sixth there.  Most were running the bottom and middle, and we made the decision to go upstairs to see if we could make something happen.  It cleaned up enough that we could run around there.

 

You were able to drive around some people and work your way towards the front. 

We were able to get to third.  Danny (Lasoski) and Johnny (Herrera) were out there.  Johnny was going well.  We were able to run him down, and right before a caution about halfway through, I got a good run on him off of four.  I let off a bit.  I didn’t want him to hear me, and the yellow came out.  He must have heard me, because after the green came out, he went to the top.  Sometimes, it happens that way, especially when you get someone as smart as Johnny, who’s been around it as long as he has.

 

It ended with you and Johnny in a classic battle for the win. 

He and I were able to get by Danny.  Johnny and I had a heck of a race for a while.  It was fun to race him good and clean like that.  I felt if I could have made a slide job stick, we could have won.  I never got it to stick and we were second.  I think it was a lot of fun for the crowd.  They enjoyed it.  It was a good way to start Memorial Day weekend.

 

At I-80 Speedway on Thursday, you were able to hit the top of the track and win your heat from sixth. 

It seems at time we can go to the top when no one else can.  We knew if we were going to move forward, we had to move around.  I didn’t think we’d be able to catch Wayne.  He was a half a straight ahead of us or something.  We were able to get him in the last corner, and that’s saying something getting by someone like Wayne.  We knew the car and motor were working well.

 

The redraw didn’t go as well, and you started eighth in the main event.  It was another good race, but you settled for second behind Danny. 

We were able to get up to third on the first lap.  I was running the top there, and saw Danny out of the corner of my eye.  I went to the bottom in one and two and he got back by us.  That was maybe the race right there.  There just wasn’t enough on the top.  If there were a little more up there, maybe we would have had a shot at him or make it a better race.  Jason (Johnson), Wayne and I had a good race the majority of the way through there.  We’ve had a lot of success there, but we’ve lost five in a row there now, which is no fun.

 

You won your third heat in a row (after starting third) Friday at McCool Junction in Nebraska. 

I was able to get to second pretty quickly, and Jason Danley was out front on the start.  I was able to get by him on a restart with three or four laps to go.

 

You drew outside row two for the feature.

Jack (Dover) started on the front row, and the track was pretty “hammer down”.  You could go as hard as you ever want to go.  He got off to a good start.  We chased him down late in lapped traffic.  I had a shot with two to go, but I got over the cushion and almost got in the fence.  It just wasn’t meant to be.

 

So what were you thinking after three seconds in a row? 

It’s disappointing more than anything.  Most drivers would love to be in that position, but our mentality is such that it’s disappointing if we don’t win.  We need to figure out a way to win these things.

 

With Knoxville rained out, you went to an open show Saturday at LA Raceway in Lamonte, Missouri. 

It’s always good to race close to home.  We get to race in front of the people from Champion brands, Ditzfeld Transfer and Impact Signs (Impact4800.com).  They are big supporters who don’t get to see us race around there often enough.

 

It sounds like the heat race was adventurous.  You started sixth. 

I got my left front brake line knocked off right away.  I almost crashed and took Miranda Arnold out because I didn’t have brakes.  I was out of control before I figured out how to race the car.  We were able to get to third eventually.

 

You started seventh in the feature.  You were second again. 

We knew we would have our work cut out for us with some good cars in front of us.  We were able to get to second pretty quick.  Jonathan (Cornell) got out to a good lead.  I think we lapped up to fourth.  It was pretty exciting and hairy sometimes in lapped traffic.  Jonathan did a really good job, and didn’t make any mistakes in traffic.

 

What are your plans this weekend? 

We’re looking to go to Salina, Kansas on Friday with ASCS, and then head to Knoxville and run the 410 for sure there.  We’ll see how things shake out, we may run the 360 also.

 

It can be a grind running that many nights in a row. 

It’s grueling and tough to run four nights in a row.  I’m proud of Chad Morgan, Travis Marsch, Greg King, Mark Clemons, Grandpa (George Lasoski) and Glen Wignall.  Those guys worked their butts off to give us a car capable of winning every night.  Even though we didn’t get a win, they will come and we need to hold our heads high about four straight seconds.

Category: Brian Brown, Driver Updates