|
Brian Brown – Heat Wave!
(Bill W) August 5, 2008 – Muggy hot weather has not deterred Brian Brown this week at Knoxville. He stood on the podium in the two biggest 360 races in August Saturday and Sunday, while recording a "heat" wave of his own, winning all three heat races he was a part of. The SuperClean team now aims for a walk atop the biggest podium of all, the one celebrating the 48th Annual Knoxville Nationals Champion.
The 18th Annual 360 Nationals were the big enchilada last weekend and Brian qualified on Friday. You need to be on your game every time you hit the track, but the Grain Valley, Missouri driver continues to struggle in time trials. "We'll struggled again in qualifying, and I feel like we let the team and our fans down a little bit," says Brian. "When you qualify 20th and leave 40 points on the board, that's huge. We know we have a good motor with our Ostrich and a good chassis with Maxim, so it was frustrating."
After winning his heat, Brian lined up 13th in the main event and drove to ninth. The point total accumulated would land them on the front row of the B for Saturday night's 360 Nationals Championship. "The track just got heavier as the night went on," says Brian of Friday. "There wasn't much passing going on back where we were, and the fact that it went non-stop didn't help anything. I was able to talk to the (track prep crew) Dunkin's on Saturday morning, and they weren't even sure why the moisture was coming back up. They had it primed on Saturday though!"
Double duty can be taxing for anyone, but for the 2007 410 Knoxville track champion, it's double the excitement! He got that opportunity on Saturday at Knoxville. "Anytime you can bring two cars, it's double the fun," he says. "It's tougher on the crew than it is me. They did a great job. Some were kind of dejected we missed the cut for the A main, but starting in the front row of the B is not a bad spot to be in. We were able to try some things that helped us get better. If we were starting 20th in the A, we wouldn't have had that option."
After taking the B main trophy home, Brian lined up in row ten for the feature. Immediately, he surged forward using the high side of the track. The run saw him end up second and will be remembered by many for a long time. "With ten to go, we were fourth or fifth, and I thought we may have a legitimate shot at winning the thing," he says of his amazing run. "I was just hoping for another yellow there in the last ten laps, but it never came. We were able to sneak by Brooke (Tatnell) with three or four to go, and then we were able to get by Billy (Alley) for second on the last lap. It was a good performance for the whole team."
It was a long night in the 410. A 20th quick qualifying effort was followed by another heat win. The feature didn't go well, with Brian starting 20th and ending 15th. "We didn't qualify great and really floundered in the feature," he says. "That's not great going into Nationals, but you've now got the car and motor you're going to run, so we'll hope luck is on our side. It is what it is." Brian will qualify the Tim and Gina Doogs SuperClean #21 on Thursday.
Sunday, Brian represented the ASCS-Midwest series in the 10th Annual 360 BRODIX Tournament of Champions. The event used group qualifying to start things, and Brian was 29th quick out of 56 cars. "Most drivers don't like the group qualifying, but I don't mind it once in awhile to be honest," he explains. "I like it better than one lap of qualifying. It gives you four shots at turning a good lap, and everyone knows I need as many chances as possible to do that!"
Brian won his heat from outside row one, and lined up inside row six for the 30-lap main event. He surged forward eight spots to bring home another podium finish. "We had a caution with around 14 laps to go, and we got by some guys," he says. "We were really only a third place car. If we were fast enough to win, we would have. I had a shot at Billy for second with a couple laps to go, but rolled it up on the right front, and he was gone. We just didn't have the speed we did on Saturday. The humidity was tough. The altitude on Sunday was 4500 feet as compared to about 2500 on Saturday. These motors run a lot better at 2500 and I'm not sure we got the fuel right."
Brian's Appearances This Week
Brian will be competing with his fellow drivers against race officials in this morning's (Tuesday at 10 a.m.) Knoxville Raceway Charitable Organization (KRCO) softball game at Young's field one block north of the fairgrounds.
Every day, he'll be appearing from 2-3 p.m. at the SuperClean tent behind the grandstands.
Thursday and Friday from 11-1 p.m., he will be at the NAPA store at DeVore Motors. They will have a special on SuperClean bottles (buy one, get one free)!
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
Bill W asks: What is your favorite Nationals memory growing up?
Brian answers: I'd say 1998 when I was working for Danny Lasoski on the World of Outlaws tour. He was able to sneak by Sammy Swindell on the white flag lap to win it. It was pretty cool to see him win his first Nationals and be a part of that. As long as I can remember, I've been coming to the Nationals. This is my vacation. When I was young I had a chance to stay home at football camp, but the choice was easy to come to Knoxville!
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 making your first National Championship feature is the toughest, then Brian has licked that. He was able to qualify for his first one last year, and not only qualified, but was the hard-charger, marching from 23rd to 13th. His previous bests were a fifth place finish in the B in 2004, and a sixth in the B in 2006.
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:
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!
Brian last weekend at Knoxville (HeartlandMotorsports.com)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSA[email protected]
If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me!
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com
|
