| There are many people that work in professional | | | | we do a really good job. Reutimann just sat on |
| motorsports, and all have their own viewpoint. | | | | the pole at Texas, Ambrose is doing phenomenal, |
| Some see the auto racing world behind the view | | | | and Michael is doing well too. There is no reason |
| of a wrench set. Some get to see it through a | | | | we shouldn't have a car in the Chase this year |
| crash helmet visor and a racecar windshield. Tim | | | | with the performance we're building out of that |
| Brown is one of few that have both angles | | | | shop. Everybody at MWR is doing a great job. We |
| covered. | | | | are on the verge of winning races and being |
| Michael Waltrip Racing began as a self-owned | | | | competitive week-in and week-out." |
| team for the driver. Waltrip's efforts in NASCAR's | | | | The Winston-Salem native describes his team |
| then titled Busch Series were first fielded from a | | | | owner, "With Michael it is pretty simple, what you |
| shop behind his residence in the North Carolina | | | | see is what you get. He is always cheerful and |
| countryside. It has grown to the multi-car Sprint | | | | happy. Always fun to be around. Very serious |
| Cup and Nationwide Series operation. Brown | | | | when it comes to his company doing well in the |
| oversees the suspension department that works | | | | Cup Series. Gives us everything we need to |
| with all of MWR's teams and chassis. | | | | prepare great racecars and it is starting to show. |
| But that does not finish the description of his | | | | I love my job and will do whatever it takes to |
| racing involvement. He is also a dedicated | | | | keep MWR running as good as possible." |
| owner-driver of a NASCAR modified team | | | | The seven-time Bowman Gray Stadium Champion |
| competing in the Southern Tour and at the | | | | has a hard time narrowing down just one favorite |
| historic Bowman Gray Stadium. | | | | accomplishment. "I enjoy it all. Any time we are in |
| Our talk begins, of all places, at a racetrack. I am | | | | victory lane I'm not sure it wasn't sweeter than |
| able to find some time to talk with Tim inside his | | | | the last time just because it is so hard to get |
| large, white hauler that transports his modified. | | | | there." The victory resume can boast the annual |
| The weather forecast for the day's scheduled | | | | 200-lap Stadium season opener and numerous |
| race is not good. Clouds are gathering on the | | | | touring checkered flags. "If I had to pick one, the |
| horizon and the Brown Motorsports' bright blue | | | | first time I won Caraway (Asheboro, N.C.). As |
| car sits in the pit area, waiting the day's first | | | | long as I have raced there, I finally won last year. |
| practice session, which is a few hours away. Still in | | | | That was one of my biggest wins for my team |
| his street clothes, the Virginia resident speaks to | | | | because we have struggled there in the past. We |
| me in Ace Speedway's infield. | | | | ran second there six times and wondered 'Are |
| "My grandfather owned racecars," he answers | | | | we ever going to win here?" |
| my first question about how he first caught the | | | | His team is filled with talented people like many |
| racing bug and also answers my modified division | | | | grassroots level operations. His wife Laura, Ben |
| question before it was asked. "(He) owned | | | | Brown, Mark and his daughter Nicole Ruhmann, |
| modifieds while I was growing up and had as | | | | Tony Widner, Dennis and Travis Jarrett, Johnny |
| many as five cars running at one time. I grew up | | | | Ireland, Denis Pruchnik, Brandon Smith, and Marty |
| playing in them and playing on them and grew up | | | | Mitchen provide the help Tim needs. |
| going to the racetrack and I knew from that time | | | | Circle K Convenience Stores occupy some prime |
| that's what I wanted to do." | | | | sponsorship space on the Troyer chassis. "Since I |
| Roger Hill, Johnny Johnson and Jerry Cook are | | | | am going to drive for them in the Nationwide deal |
| some of the big modified names that have filled | | | | this gives them extra publicity." |
| the seat of the Ed Clifton-owned racecars that | | | | His off-track racing activity is something Tim |
| caught the eye of a young Tim Brown. | | | | devotes time to but does not get the publicity |
| I continued questioning him about his childhood | | | | that his on-track actions result in. |
| goals and asked him if he wanted to be a | | | | "Her Mom and Dad tried to keep it a secret," the |
| professional Cup driver. "Still do," he bottom-lined. | | | | story of a birthday surprise for a young fan |
| "There are so many people that could be there | | | | starts. "They told her 'we are going to go out for |
| that (are not) there. It's all about money. I spend | | | | your birthday' and they were going to a little |
| more money doing this (racing modifieds) than I | | | | Mexican restaurant that's on my way home." The |
| can afford. This is it. I can't go any higher." | | | | young fan's parents told him, "If you could just |
| But the pilot of the Hayes Jewelers-sponsored | | | | stop by and say hello it would mean the world to |
| machine points out he is getting a chance to | | | | her." On his way home from work Brown |
| make his Nationwide Series debut later this | | | | described her Dad as "waiting outside for me." |
| season. "We are going to run a few races with | | | | "I gave her a poster from our championship |
| Rick Ware Racing. The schedule is not really set | | | | banquet, and the trophy from the last race we |
| but we'll get some races in. If I've got a shot at | | | | won at the Stadium for her birthday present." |
| winning the (NASCAR Southern Modified) Tour | | | | Brown went on about the twelve-year-old's party. |
| here I wouldn't miss a race to go run that | | | | "It was pretty sweet, to see the joy that it gave |
| (Nationwide Series). | | | | to her and her family. Her grandma and some |
| "If I am leading the points at the (Bowman Gray) | | | | aunts were with her and they were all super nice |
| Stadium or have a shot at it I definitely wouldn't | | | | and appreciative. |
| jeopardize the championship just to go run a few | | | | "I try to do as much of that as I can. Whether it |
| races. That may be the wrong way to look at it, | | | | does or does not make me a better person I feel |
| but it's a deal where after our season is over | | | | better about myself. As long as I can do things |
| there are still some (Nationwide) races left to run." | | | | like that, I will." |
| Brown made his racing start not in a beginner | | | | As the day grew later and practice time neared |
| class, but right in the high horsepower modifieds, | | | | Tim and his team had to continue their race |
| the fastest car NASCAR has under their sanction. | | | | preparation. Track competition meetings were |
| "Concord (N.C.) was my first race," he referenced. | | | | scheduled and some car work still needed |
| Another long time southern modified division | | | | completion. I thanked him for his time and left the |
| driver draws high praise from Tim, Al Hill. "He has | | | | car hauler confines. Unfortunately the event fell |
| been like a second dad to me. He has taught me | | | | victim to rain later that evening. Before our |
| so much about racing and life. He is one of my | | | | conversation ended Brown left me with an |
| best friends and a great competitor." | | | | impression of a true racer who understands the |
| But during the week he is out of the cockpit and | | | | value of race fans. |
| making a living helping other drivers be successful. | | | | "I have a pretty hectic schedule but I find it |
| David Reutimann and Marcos Ambrose, in addition | | | | pretty easy to take thirty minutes out of my |
| to Waltrip, are at the controls of the cars running | | | | day. If it wasn't for the fans we wouldn't be here |
| on the suspensions built from the department in | | | | racing. If we run a race and nobody came up |
| which Brown leads. | | | | there," as he gestures towards Ace's |
| "That's my career. As my job goes, I give 120% | | | | grandstands, "regardless if they pull for me or you |
| there, to make sure my department gives 120%, | | | | or whoever, we wouldn't have a race. |
| so when we (MWR) show up at the racetrack | | | | |