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Brian Brown – Sedalia Slidin'!
(Bill W) May 7, 2008 – Brian Brown's success at Sedalia's State Fair Speedway continued Sunday night when he won his third career Bob Ramey Memorial. With several heavy hitters in town, he thrilled the fans assembled at the Missouri ½ mile oval with a last lap pass of Jason Johnson for the popular victory. Saturday's run with the World of Outlaws ended prematurely, but the Grain Valley, Missouri driver did what few regulars were able to do…qualify for the main event.
Sedalia's Memorial to Bob Ramey was under the Winged Outlaw Warrior sanction and saluted a longtime caretaker of the speedway. Brian started outside row two in his heat race and followed front row starter Jack Dover to the checkers. The finish put him outside row three for the 20-lap main event. "We started sixth and were up to second early on," Brian says of his winning run. "We were within four or five car lengths of (leader) Jason (Johnson) the first eight or ten laps. He was getting through traffic better, and he got out there where I couldn't even see him."
A worn middle groove helped Brian at the midway point. "Lap ten or twelve, I started finding some rubber in the middle of the track," says the 32-time WOW winner. "It was in the center, but not all the way through the turn, so I couldn't get off the corner as well."
Riding in third place, Brian was still chasing Dover, and being pursued by Tony Bruce Jr. when lap 16 provided a needed caution. "There was a caution with about four to go, and I got back by Jack (Dover) on the restart, but then Tony Bruce drove by me. We were able to get back by Tony with two to go, and pass Jason down in the rubber on the white flag lap. To win against guys like Jason Johnson, Tony Bruce and Danny Lasoski, it's always fun!"
Brian knows his exciting finish was due in part, to the slowdown on lap 16. "I didn't think the car was good enough to win, and without the yellow, we wouldn't have gotten there," he says. "I've won some that way, and lost some, that's the way it goes sometimes."
Saturday at Knoxville Raceway provided the first opportunity for the Tim and Gina Doogs SuperClean #21 to compete in 410 competition. It just so happened the best in the business, the World of Outlaws, were in town for the occasion. "I guess it's hard to expect a whole lot better your first night out in the 410," says the 2007 Knoxville track champion of his 21st quick run in time trials. "If we would have picked up a half a tenth or a tenth, that could have put us around 10th or 12th in qualifying. I don't know how we'd take off three tenths like (Donny) Schatz (quick timer) did. We'll keep plugging away at it, and hopefully, have that figured out by August."
The heat was a good one, and Brian would hold on to the fifth and final transfer to the feature after starting sixth. "We did really well in the heat," he says. "The guys had the car working great. At the beginning, we were running so well, we got by (WoO points leader Craig) Dollansky, and I thought we may run down Lucas Wolfe for third. He kind of squeezed me into turn three a bit and I lost momentum and Dollansky got back by. It was good to get a transfer into the feature at least; there weren't many locals who did on Saturday."
The feature run ended before it really launched. "In the feature, on the start, someone got up towards me, and I could have gone over his right rear with my left front or take evasive action by getting on the brakes and rolling off the throttle a little bit," says Brian. "That's what I did, and I got over the cushion and into the fence. It could have been worse, as you saw with Tim Shaffer (who got upside down on the next attempt at green flag racing)."
At first, the team thought they could make repairs during the Shaffer red, but thought better of it after further inspection. "There was more damage than we initially thought," says Brian. "We thought it was just the front axle, but it ended up being a lot more. The last thing you want to do is go back out there, half-fixed and half-not-fixed at 140 mph with the Outlaws! The way they do the points on Outlaw shows, it wasn't worth it getting back out there anyway."
Brian and the team will try to take the 1st Annual Jackson Spring Nationals on Friday night with the 360. The race at the Jackson Speedway in Jackson, Minnesota will pay $2500 to win. The team will then come back south to Knoxville Raceway to take on the always tough Interstate Racing Association (IRA).
Brian is Adopted…
…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 will be calling in on Monday mornings during the race season to keep them apprised of their adopted driver (him). 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 soon be ordered at Brian's website (www.BrianBrownRacing.com), www.Racingthreads.com, or catch us at the races!
Brian's Q&A
Al in Knoxville, IA asks: When you are racing against the Outlaws, it seems they try to intimidate the locals on the track a lot. What do you do to prepare yourself and deal with that?
Brian answers: I don't know how much you can really prepare for it, but experience helps. One thing the Outlaws are really good at, is putting their cars in position to take the air off of your car. Everyone thinks it's just two wings, four tires and a couple pedals, but in NASCAR they talk about a "push". That happens with the sprint cars too in the corners. If they take the air away in the corners, your car is not going to want to turn. When they pass you like that, sometimes you lose a couple spots instead of just one. You just have to make more calculated moves racing with them, they are smart.
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's win at Sedalia gives him 11 in 33 feature starts (33%) at the State Fair Speedway. He has won six of his last nine 360 starts there. According to www.openwheeltimes.com, he has 21 top five finishes (66%) and 26 top ten finishes (81%) in his career in Sedalia. In addition to winning three Bob Ramey Memorials, he has also won the Tom Wilson Memorial and the Michael Ross Memorial there.
SuperClean
SuperClean is the "super product" for your home, auto, outdoor and marine cleaning jobs. Whether it be 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.
Marketing Partner of the Week – Housby Trucking
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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 sprntcar@iowatelecom.net with "Brian" in the subject line.
Brian would like to thank SuperClean, Big Ox, 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 and crew in Victory Lane at Sedalia (Highfly-n Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSAsprntcar@iowatelecom.net
www.hoseheads.com/billw.html
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