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Brian Brown – I Hear Little Rock Callin'!
(Bill W) October 18, 2007 – Ferlin Husky sang the famous tune, "I Hear Little Rock Callin'". With the weather and the racing season cooling off, all eyes are on Little Rock. For Brian Brown, one of the crown jewels in 360 sprint car racing remains. The Short Track Nationals are in his sights, as he will team with Tim and Gina Doogs and their potent #21 machine, aiming at the $20,000 to win top prize. The 20th edition of the STN will run at I-30 Speedway next Thursday through Saturday, October 25-27.
It will be the fourth shot that the team has taken at the top prize, and last year they ended up just one spot shy. "We've been horrible on the preliminary nights down there for the most part," says Brian. "We were able to turn that around to a fourth on Saturday night three years ago (2004), and we had a second last year. We're obviously going in there looking to win! Anything less would be a disappointment. We have to be a little bit realistic, too though. There will be 100 quality cars on hand, but we're confident!"
The little things are amplified in an event of this proportion on a tricky ¼ mile bullring, with some of the best in the 360 and 410 sprint car ranks in the pits. Several drivers from the World of Outlaws will be on hand, as well. "You have to have a little luck go your way to win it," says Brian. "We were rolling around there pretty well last year, so hopefully we can look at our notes and figure something out from there."
Usually in three nights, you'll see three different tracks at I-30. From tacky all night, to dry-slick, to rubber-down, usually a fan sees it all over the course of the weekend. "Friday and Saturday usually get slick, which makes for some good racing," says the Grain Valley, Missouri native. "That's what we're hoping for, because it fits my driving style a little better. I prefer the dry-slick joints, but if it's hooked up and heavy, we'll deal with that too.
The format will be altered this year, as an American Sprint Cars on Tour (ASCoT) sanction will prevail over the festivities. Gone will be all the cars vying on each of the preliminary nights. Instead, the field will be split on Thursday and Friday. "For a car owner, the past few years' format was probably the most difficult in racing," remembers Brian. "You basically raced for a top three spot and a transfer, or nothing. Everyone else had to start over the next day. You put everything on the line and had a big chance of tearing your stuff up before Saturday night."
Brian believes there's a benefit in not battling with everyone on hand in two single night preliminaries. "With this format, you've got half the field in both prelims and that gives you a chance to really set yourself up for Saturday night," he says. "We'd like to go in there and end our year on a good note!"
The 2007 410 Knoxville Raceway track champion believes the real winner next weekend will be the fans. "This show is really a 'can't miss' event for a fan. You get a big bang for your buck with those three days of racing!"
Messing With Texas!
Brian and the team struggled at the Devil's Bowl Winternationals last weekend in Mesquite, Texas. "We had big expectations going down there to maybe win the motor and win the weekend," says Brian. "Obviously, racing has a lot of ups and downs, and that was just one of those down weekends. We just never really got to show our potential, and it was pretty frustrating, to be honest. We're looking forward to turning things around in Little Rock."
The team was not able to qualify for Friday's main event, and Saturday's 25th place finish put a damper on things. One glimmer of hope came in the Wesmar Challenge. "Actually in the Wesmar Challenge we started ninth and ran sixth in the first segment," says Brian. "In the second one, we had moved up to seventh (from 13th) and were spun out after contact with Travis Rilat. We came from the back to recover for 13th. That was one time during the weekend when we weren't totally out of the ballgame. And then Saturday we started ninth and finished eighth, which was frustrating, because we felt like we let that slip through our hands." An overall finish of eighth in the Wesmar Challenge did earn the team a set of Brodix Cylinder Heads, so all was not lost in Texas.
"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 ASCoT point leader and legend, Gary Wright and sprint car announcer, Bobby Gerould.
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
Dan in Cape Girardeau, MO asks: With the off-season coming up, what do you do to keep you busy? Do you work outside of racing?
Brian answers: It depends on the year I've had, on how much I work! (laughs) The last couple of years, I've had the opportunity to travel to Australia and New Zealand to race there. I don't currently have anything lined up down there, so I don't know what the winter will bring for that. Right now, we're working really hard to secure sponsorship for next year, to make sure that we can go racing. The Winter does kind of stink. Just when you're getting burnt out in the Summer, you get a rainout, you take a week off, and you can't wait to get back out there. I have A.D.D., so it's tough to go three months without racing. My grandpa George (Lasoski) taught me a long time ago that preparation in the Winter is as important as the racing in the Summer. So we'll be working hard to be prepared for 2008.
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
It's no small chore to make Saturday night's field at the Short Track Nationals, but Brian has done it three years in a row. That's particularly impressive in that he only sees the place once a year. In 2004, he was fourth behind Gary Wright, Jerrod Hull and Danny Wood. In 2005, he finished 13th. Last year he chased an unstoppable Jason Johnson to the finish line. The second place run was all the more impressive considering Brian started 10th and didn't make either preliminary feature.
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!
(highfly-n Photo) Bill W MediaMonroe, IAUSA[email protected]
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