Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / BRIAN BROWN RACING – GRAIN VALLEY, MO – As Brian Brown has mentioned on numerous occasions, Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, is one of his favorite places to compete, and that statement certainly proved true yet again during the recent week, as the Higginsville, Missouri, native took to the highbanks of The Big E and ultimately qualified for the biggest event in sprint car racing history: the Eldora Million.
Brown, ace of his own Casey’s, FVP, Andy’s Frozen Custard, Impact Signs Awnings and Wraps, Mt. Dew Overdrive, HAWK Hunting, Ditzfeld Transfer, No. 21 sprint car, finished sixth in the $1,002,023-to-win Eldora Million main event on Thursday, July 13, advancing two spots total after starting eighth on the 50-lap grid. A runner-up performance during heat race competition led to Brown’s eventual Million qualification.
“Blackjack” kicked the week off with a top-five result during Eldora Million preliminary competition on Wednesday, July 12, finishing fourth at the final checkers after leading a large portion of the program. Rico Abreu, the eventual preliminary feature winner, took command over Brown with 15 laps remaining. An incredible run from fifth to second during preliminary heat race competition set the tone for Brown’s entire week at The Big E.
Unfortunately, Brown was unable to repeat success in Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal later that weekend, missing Saturday’s 40th Kings Royal main event program and the chance to compete for another $175,000-to-win. Despite the eventual frustration, Brown was able to activate the Kings Royal portion of the week-long program with a 12th-place score during The Knight Before the Kings Royal on Friday, July 14.
“A great week for us, really. It all started on Wednesday when we were able to lead some laps before finishing within the top five. Then at the Million, started eighth and really got going. Actually pressured Sweet for third at one point before fading some to sixth,” Brown, a four-time Knoxville Raceway winner in 2023, said. “I wish our outcome at the Kings Royal would have been a little better. We qualified the best that we could, but ultimately got behind all night. But, it is what it is. I felt like we had one of the better cars there all weekend long. Just an awesome event and glad to be a part of it.”
Brian Brown and Brian Brown Racing will continue their 2023 campaign with a return to the Sprint Car Capital of the World, Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa, on Saturday, July 22.