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Brian Brown – Busy Weekend Ahead!
(Bill W) October 4, 2007 – Things didn't go as planned for sprint car driver, Brian Brown, last weekend at West Plains Motor Speedway, but as he said, "I guess your year has been alright, when you're frustrated with fifth." A fifth place finish after starting on the pole can be a disappointment, but a full weekend of racing ahead holds a new promise of opportunity.
Located near West Plains, Missouri, the 3/8 mile oval played host to the American Sprint Cars on Tour, with the best in the 360 business on hand. After a bad draw, Brian felt lucky to be in a later heat after the track was heavy early. "We were fortunate to be in the third heat," he says. "We were able to watch the first couple, and that helped us get the right setup for our heat. We put on a bigger tire than most guys in that heat. That helped us move up through there."
After starting seventh, Brian surged to a third place finish in the qualifying event. Then, car owner, Gina Doogs, drew the pole for the dash. The Grain Valley, Missouri native was able to wire the field, setting himself on the pole for the main event. "We were a bit tight in the dash, so we didn't do too much to the car for the feature. That kind of came back to bite us," he relates.
He spoke of his decisions in preparing for the feature. "We were ahead of the curve a bit after that (dash), but we were a little bit tight. When you're a little tight, you don't want to reinvent the wheel. When you start on the front row…sometimes that kind of hurts you, because you don't want to do something that causes you not to win the race. You don't want to dial yourself out. But I did what I thought was right."
Not making much of a change in setup hurt Brian from the get-go. Despite leading the first four laps and dueling with fellow front row starter, Marshall Skinner, he faded as the track slicked off more and more. "It was kind of frustrating, because we had the fastest car the majority of the night," he says. "I don't feel I did my job in keeping up with the track and keeping up with the car in making decisions for the feature."
In the end, he was overcome by eventual winner, Gary Wright, Tim Crawley and impressive young Derek Hagar, relegating the driver of the Doogs #21 to fifth. "If you're off a little bit with guys like Gary Wright, they'll jump on you," says Brian. "But when you start on the front row, you should win, no questions asked. It's frustrating and I put 100% of the blame on my shoulders."
Busy Weekend Coming Up
A busy weekend is in store for Brian with opportunities in both the 360 and 410. On Friday and Saturday, the team will attend the two-night finale for the ASCS-Sooner series at Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma. The race on the Kansas-Oklahoma border should attract a quality field of cars, with Saturday's finale paying $3,000 to the winner!
If everything goes well in South Coffeyville, Brian and the Doogs team plan on running the open 410 show at Tri-City Speedway near Granite City, Illinois on Sunday. That race also pays $3,000 to win!
"Win It Or Wear It"
"Win It Or Wear It", hosted by Brian and Tony Bokhoven, airs LIVE every Monday night in the Racinboys studios from 7-8 p.m. CST.
To hear the latest stories and news from the drivers who make them, log on to www.Racinboys.com! All of our shows are archived, so check back by clicking on the "Videos" link at the top of the homepage. Last Monday's show featured Williams Grove announcer Bruce Ellis, World of Outlaws driver, Paul McMahan, and Williams Grove track champion, Todd Shaffer.
Website
For up to date information on Brian Brown, visit www.BrianBrownRacing.com!
T-shirts
T-shirts can now be ordered at www.Racingthreads.com, or catch us at the races!
Brian's Q&A
Al in Ottumwa, IA asks: There was a lot of talk going into the season about Knoxville's new tire rules on the right and left rear. What is your take on how it went in 2007?
Brian answers: I think the right rear tire rule we've had the last couple years has saved us a bit of money. I think the left rear rule this year actually cost us more. The left rear is a little bit harder compound, and when they start to wear, they blister because they are so hard. When they blister, you can't even give them away. In the past we had SC10's or softer tires that we could qualify or run our heat after they had been through a feature. We could sell them, or we could run them on our 360 somewhere else. We just don't have that benefit any longer. I think that's actually ended up costing us more money. I don't notice a whole lot of difference in the passing. The times we came from back in the pack to win (17th and 14th), it's been due to the way our car was setup and things going our way. If there is a spec tire rule…if they're going that way, they should pick a compound that we can run two or three nights on. Some series have had some 360 spec right rears that we've run two and three nights on.
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
In 2005, Brian raced the October show at Tri-City for Ed Gifford. Driving the #17G, he finished second to Jerrod Hull. A new track configuration awaits him. This weekend will mark his first action at Mid-America Speedway.
Brian's Weekly Updates
Brian's Weekly Releases are an up close look at the past, present and future of 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 Big Ox, Ditzfield Transfer, Boss Hogg Food Products, Maxim Racing, American Compressed Steel, Michael Ross Memorial Foundation, Champion Brands, Chad Franklin's Suzuki, Housby Trucks, K & N Filters, Hostiowa.net, Yeager's Harley Davidson, Wolfe Eye Clinic, Shock Doctor, Weld Wheels, VK 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!
(Dave Hill Photo)
Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSA[email protected]
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