By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer
Continuing a run at Virginia short tracks, Brandon Brown has another returning partner on board at his home track.
Coming off of a top-10 finish at Richmond Raceway, the driver of the No. 68 Chevrolet Camaro SS will use the same car that he drove to an eighth-place finish. Although Brown’s Chevrolet will have a different look in the Call 811 Before You Dig 250. Solid Rock Carriers will adorn the Brandonbilt Motorsports machine at Martinsville Speedway. The company last sponsored Brown in the Martinsville playoff race in 2020.
“We’re going back to another Virginia short track, and it feels pretty good to continue a swing at short tracks,” explained Brown. “The team felt good enough about the car that they decided to take the Richmond car to Martinsville. It’s a good feeling knowing that you’re getting in the same car that just ran really well. We have an optimistic outlook on Martinsville.
“It’s a boost from another past partner that still believes in us, in our program and in what we’re doing. It always feels good as a team member to be validated by the partners that believe in you and your performance. That’s a great thing to have.”
As a short track racer at heart, Brown’s ultimate goal at Martinsville is to capture the trophy, a Grandfather Clock. Though the challenge of other short track competitors could prove to make a top-10 finish and Stage points more valuable. Consistency in the regular season of the NASCAR Xfinity Series is key to making the playoffs.
Brown enters Martinsville tied for 12th in points. However, fellow Chevy Racing driver Sheldon Creed currently holds the tiebreaker for the final spot in the Xfinity Series playoffs.
“The ultimate goal would be to take the Grandfather Clock trophy home, but our realistic goal is that we want a top-10 and Stage points,” admitted Brown. “Now that’ll make for a great weekend, because our whole game plan is to capitalize on Stage points to work towards the playoffs. It would be great to get a race win and would be great to get a Stage win.”
The race at Martinsville also marks a rare on-track appearance by Dale Earnhardt Jr. In five races together, Brown has finished ahead of the two-time Xfinity Series champion once.
Earnhardt’s return also means that Brown’s eyes in the sky, spotter TJ Majors, moves for the one-off race to make the call for his former NASCAR Cup Series driver.
“It’s awesome to race against the legend in the sport and somebody that’s still very humble about it,” Brown stated. “He’s very easy to talk to. There’s no added pressure (talking to Earnhardt), but you do want to beat him, that’s for sure.”
The Call 811 Before You Dig 250 is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8, on FS1.
Featured Photo Credit: Photo by Brandonbilt Motorsports.
