Sounds odd, however of all of the NASCAR drivers competing within the season-opening Conflict at Bowman Grey Stadium, none ought to really feel as comfy as a 53-year-old driver making his debut.
Huh?
We’ll clarify as we get to know just a little about Tim Brown and his upcoming dive of racing’s expertise pool.
Who’s Tim Brown?
For starters, he’s not Tim Brown the Heisman winner and Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer.
Since he was a youngster, this Tim Brown has labored as a mechanic for a wide range of NASCAR groups — one of many proverbial “boys within the store.” He at the moment helps construct automobiles for Rick Ware Racing.
RACQUET TO PADDLE:
However for greater than 30 years, he’s additionally spent weekends short-track racing, most notably — and conveniently — at Bowman Grey in Winston-Salem, N.C.
And never simply racing, however profitable.
Rather a lot.
Whereas dominating Bowman Grey’s weekly Modified Division, Brown has piled up the observe’s most all-time wins (101), poles (146) and championships (12) on the quarter-mile asphalt oval.
What automotive will he race within the Conflict?
Brown will drive the No. 15 Ford for Rick Ware Racing. It’s a automotive he’ll know fairly properly.
“I don’t know that you just’ll discover a Cup driver who really will get to construct his personal Cup automotive from the bottom up, chassis-dyno it, after which go race it,” Brown stated by way of a group press launch. “I really get to place the nuts and bolts on it, and mount a seat, put the motor in it, and go drive it on the chassis dyno earlier than I run it within the Conflict. That’s fairly cool.”
A house-field benefit at Bowman Grey Stadium?
Sure, for apparent causes, however not as a lot as you would possibly assume.
In the event that they have been racing modifieds in Winston-Salem, Brown is likely to be the person to beat on a Bowman Grey observe nicknamed “The Madhouse.” However not solely will the Conflict automobiles be a special breed, the observe itself received’t be the identical ol’ identical ol’ for Brown.
Upfront of the Conflict, NASCAR has added soft-wall expertise — the SAFER Barrier — to the within of the observe’s exterior wall, which narrows the racing floor by a number of toes. These few toes are vital, by the best way.
“The road that we typically run, you received’t be capable of run as a result of they run proper out towards the wall,” Brown stated. “If the delicate partitions take up 2½ or three toes, now that’s three toes that you may’t let the automotive drift out to the wall.”
When is the NASCAR Conflict?
The Conflict will likely be run Sunday, Feb. 2, two weeks earlier than the common season opens with the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, Bowman Grey will host a novel (for NASCAR) undercard, the Madhouse Conflict, a 125-lap race that includes modified automobiles. And sure, Tim Brown can be coming into that race.
What they’re saying
Workforce proprietor Rick Ware: “Tim was with Roush Racing for many years earlier than he was with us. He’s an excellent mechanic. He’s constructed all his personal race automobiles and he understands racing. I believe he’s bought an inside observe simply because he has touched each single a part of these automobiles. He’s a racer, and notably at this observe, he’s bought numerous expertise.”
Tim Brown: “I’ve labored my complete life to attempt to be a Cup driver. I’m good with engaged on race automobiles for a residing as a result of it’s nonetheless a reasonably cool gig, however I all the time wished to drive for a residing. For Rick Ware and everyone concerned right here at RWR to offer me the prospect to go run a Cup race is so humbling and so heartwarming. It’s actually cool.”
Now, what concerning the Tim Brown of Notre Dame and NFL fame?
The Tim Brown you have heard of is the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame who went onto a 17-year NFL profession (16 as a Raider) that landed him within the Corridor of Fame.
However the soccer nice is not fully unfamiliar with NASCAR.
In 2021, Brown was co-Grand Marshal for the 500-mile race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Value.
