This message was edited on
August 13, 2008 at
04:54:12 PM by Bill W
Brian Brown – Rescued!
(Bill W) August 13, 2008 – It wasn't the way 2007 Knoxville Raceway track champion, Brian Brown, envisioned his first 2008 win at Knoxville, but he'll take it. The Grain Valley, Missouri driver captured Friday night's $5,000 to win feature at the SuperClean Knoxville Nationals. It rescued the Tim and Gina Doogs SuperClean #21 team from what was a tough Thursday night program, and it offered some added exposure for the sponsor of their car and the biggest event in sprint car racing. Brian had already been rescued in his own way. The Knoxville Fire and Safety crew is the best in dirt track racing, and was on the spot when the car erupted into flames on Thursday.
Problems in time trials have plagued Brian and the team for most of the season. Things were good after practice, but a mechanical gremlin returned and left them 42nd quick in the 56 car field on Thursday. "Obviously, qualifying has been a problem for us," says Brian. "We were the quickest car in our set of hot laps. We had a magneto slip. That's the same thing that happened to us on the Saturday prior to the Nationals."
The poor time put Brian on the front row of one of five inverted heats. Though he won, his time lined him up outside row eight in the main event. After fixing the mag problem, Brian surged forward. "We rolled off 16th in the A, and we moved up," he says. "We got to racing with Tim Kaeding there for awhile like we were racing for the Knoxville Nationals title. We were up to sixth or seventh, or in that neighborhood when we took the white flag."
That's when things went bad. The motor in the #21 exploded. "When it blew up, all the oil coming out of the oil pan started a fire, and got up underneath my helmet and I couldn't figure out where I was going," Brian explains. "I hit the infield embankment and got the car on its side and tore some more stuff up."
Fire is the scariest thing in racing, but the Knoxville fire crew was right there. "Thank God I was at Knoxville with their fire crew," says Brian. "They are second to none. Not only with my situation, but all week long they were there for several guys. I think that's something those of us who race here take for granted. You think it's luck when you go to the pill draw and draw a 10, but the real luck is in the fact we have the safety crew that we have. I know Jeff Shepard and his family have to be happy that if his accident had to happen, it was at Knoxville. My thoughts and prayers are with them."
Other than being left with half an eyebrow, no eyelashes and a few facial abrasions, Brian is fine. "I've got some effects from the burns, but it could be a lot worse," he says. "I have great safety equipment with Awesome Racewear, Bell Helmets, Butlerbuilt Seats and Simpson gloves and shoes."
If Brian had completed the last lap under power, he would have put himself solidly in the B main, but as it was he headed for Friday's program 56th in points. Starting outside of row one, he led his heat from start to finish putting himself on the pole of Friday's feature. "If you're winning heat races, you want to win them from the third row on back on Wednesday or Thursday, not the first row on Friday," he says. "This was a big heat because the win put us on the pole for the feature."
A common theme has been a fast car all year long once the racing starts. This 20-lap feature was no different. "We were able to get out to a comfortable lead," he remembers. "The car was working great and the motor was good. I hated to see the yellow on the last lap, because Kerry Madsen was charging through (from 22nd), and Mark Dobmeier is a great racer too. Anything can happen at that point, as Jason Meyers knows after Saturday."
Brian did hold on to beat Madsen and Dobmeier for his first Knoxville win of the season. "If you would have asked me Wednesday if that was the feature I wanted to win, I would have said no, but it was good to get more exposure for SuperClean, and it wasn't all bad," he says. "It was somewhat of a salvation of the week."
Winning the A on Friday puts you in the 11th starting spot for the cutthroat C main on Saturday night. A relatively narrow and heavy track greeted the drivers, who were looking for just two spots to transfer to the back of the B main. "The C and B Mains are tough deals every year," says Brian. "I wish the track would have been a little bit wider when we got out there. The Dunkin boys did a great job. To have eight great tracks in eight tries over ten days is unheard of, but they've been doing that all year long. I thought there may have been a little too much moisture on Saturday, but a lot of the racing went non-stop too. When it is heavy and wide open, it's tough to pass. Maybe with a couple of different moves I could have put us in position, but it was tough."
After climbing as high as fifth, Brian settled for sixth in the C. He's looking forward to hitting the racetrack again this week in Minnesota. "We'll take it all and move on to try to win the Jackson Nationals this week," he says. "It pays $5,000 to win, and at the end of the day, that's what pays the bills. Hopefully, we can put on a good show."
Brian on KGGO Friday Mornings
…by a radio station. Brian will be joining Lou, the Round Guy and Heather on KGGO "Classic Rock that Rocks" at 94.9 on the FM dial. He is calling each Friday morning at 6:45 a.m. during the race season to keep them apprised of his latest outings. Be sure to listen in!
Website
For up to date information on Brian Brown, visit the revamped www.BrianBrownRacing.com!
T-shirts
New t-shirts are available and can be ordered at Brian's website (www.BrianBrownRacing.com), www.Racingthreads.com, or catch us at the races!
Brian's Q&A
Leonard in Kansas City, MO asks: What was it like running the Nationals for the sponsor of the event? Was there added pressure?
Brian answers: There's pressure when you're racing around home for $1,000. A driver always puts pressure on themselves. There was little more with SuperClean sponsoring the Nationals, and anyone who would tell you different would be lying to you. They not only have supervisors there, but they have customers and employees from SuperClean and Factory Motor Parts there. Obviously, you want to do well for all of them. I don't think we disappointed them. We struggled, but you need to take the positives out of your bad situations. There will always be the next Nationals, but unfortunately, it's 355 days away!
Got a question for Brian? Send it to us at [email protected], and we may answer it in this section! Put "? for Brian" in your subject line.
Brown's Bits
If the cash were handed out by heat race win, Brian would be swimming in it. He has won six heats in a row that he has taken a part in. The last time he didn't win, he finished fourth in a 410 heat on July 19. His Knoxville heat win streak includes wins with the 410 on July 26, the 360 Nationals on August 1, the 410 on August 2, the BRODIX Tournament of Champions on August 3, the Knoxville Nationals on August 7 and the Friday of the Nationals on August 8.
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.
Concrete Cleaner
Great house…dirty driveway? Then you need SuperClean Concrete Cleaner. This concentrated, professional strength formula cuts away grease, grime, dirt, and organic stains leaving your concrete surface as clean as the original finish.
See Heather at a grandstand entrance near you or visit the team's trailer to get your free sample! Superclean is available at Wal-Mart, Autozone, O'Reilly Auto Parts, or to find a retailer near you visit www.superclean.com.
Brian's Updates
Brian's Releases are an up close look at the past, present and future of 2007 Knoxville Raceway track champion, Brian Brown. To receive Brian's weekly updates, send an e-mail to [email protected] with "Brian" in the subject line.
Brian would like to thank SuperClean, Ditzfeld Transfer, Boss Hogg Food Products, Maxim Racing, American Compressed Steel, Michael Ross Memorial Foundation, Champion Brands, Legend Suzuki, Housby Trucks, K&N Filters, Hostiowa.net, Yeager's Harley Davidson, Saldana Radiators, Fuel-Safe Tanks, Blue Springs Extreme Powersports, Awesome Racewear, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Shock Doctor, Weld Wheels, Fire-Down Graphics, Bell Helmets, CP Pistons, Paul's Auto Body Supply, Butler Built Seats, Rod End Supply, Winters Performance Products, ISC Racers Tape, Simpson, Racing Optics, Pro Shocks, Dake Law Office, Wes. Mo. Auto, Don's Truck Wash, Sunshack Tan, McCroskey Chevrolet, Gardner Farms and Hoosier Tires for all their help!
The Doogs SuperClean #21 team celebrates their Friday Win (Conrad Nelson Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSA[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
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