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Phoenix then onto Indy for Olson

Brian and the FPA team headed down to Phoenix, Arizona to run the Copper World Classis on the monster mile.  The crew showed up on the early race day to prep for a day the monster would only find to prove itself.  After only 4 laps of practice an engine failure occurred making for a very short day. After the race at Phoenix,  Brian Olson headed for Indy. He had secured a position working for chassis manufacturer BEAST over the winter. Brian will be running with the USAC Regional and National Midget divisions throughout 2006 with his own car.

The FPA team wishes Brian the best!

Main event at Turkey Night Grand Prix takes equipment to its limits

Last race of the season always puts the team and drivers to the test. Brain Olson proved that the FPA team can do what it takes to race with the top midget team in the nation. Making the main event is a task every team must take the next level. After practice on the night before the race and 2 sessions on race day, the FPA team showed to be on the bubble. Making the race thru qualifying was missed by just mere hundredths of a second qualifying in at 17.533 which would be 17th out of a field of 60 cars. Finishing the semi-main in the top 8 was the new way into the main event. Olson took 7th in the semi which made for starting the main event deep in the field. After just 25 laps in to the main event  Olson found himself pulling off the track with a driveline yolk failure.

 Ups and downs at Shasta have Brian Olson walking away with another track record

The last time the FPA team was at Shasta Raceway (June of 2003) Olson drove from a 21st starting position to finish 3rd in the main event. The track had gone thru a reconfiguration in 2004, making this the first race on the new track for Olson.  On race day the team setup for a qualifying run only locals of the track would drool over. With the current record being deep in the 15 second bracket, Olson rolled out with nothing else but determination. As the car ran thru the paces it was announced that there was a new record, 15.001. With only a handful of laps on a new track, the FPA team and Olson had made it known they were a force to recon with anywhere. A nice qualifying run found its downfall to a big invert for the main event. Through the main event, passing proved to be tough. While Olson was making his way from 10th up to the top 5, there was a pile up in the middle of corners 3 and 4.  This would be the end of the race for the FPA team and Olson, as the car was hauled off the track on a flatbed with heavy front end damage. Next and last race of the year the FPA Team will be attending will be at Irwindale Speedway on Thanksgiving night for the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

Fred Gerhardt Open Wheel Classic shows stiff competition.

Once again at Stockton 99, the FPA team and driver Brian Olson show up as a favorite to win.  Competition rolled in for the big race as names like Michael Lewis and Bobby Santos III racing for the Western Speed Team gear up for the night. Through practice Olson sets a pace just like 2 weeks prior. Qualifying was the most important feat of the night as the main event would start 3 wide and being in the first 2 rows would benefit to a good finish. Olson pushed off for qualifying and made a lap at 13.52 which put him middle second row for the start (5th) which was straight up from qualifying.  The main event was nothing to shake a stick at. Eventful and caution fled from aggressive drivers making every pass they could. As the main event got closer to the checker, fuel started to be an issue for many teams. Olson's 5th starting position proved to be the highest place of the night. Fighting a slightly mishandling car proved for a 9th place finish for the night. The next race for the FPA team will be at Shasta Raceway with the WMRA and BCRA as a cosactioned event.

FPA Team travels south and gets 3-peat win at Stockton 99 with the USAC Western States Midgets

The FPA team headed south to compete with the Western States USAC division at Stockton 99. The weather made itself known with temperatures climbing well into the 100's. Brian Olson drove the #71 midget thru two practice sessions tuning the car to its optimum setup. Being nearly last to qualify the pressure was on, but Brian let it all out and qualified 2nd only 8/100's off fast time.  One last practice was allowed before the main. The FPA team used this to their advantage and made some last minute changes to better the car for the main event. At the start of the main event Olson started 3rd row inside next to fast time setter Tony Hunt. By lap seven Olson had made his way to 2nd, and on a lap 8 made the final pass of the night to the lead. Once in the lead Brian drove the FPA Midget to a whole straight-a-way lead at the checker flag.

“We are on roll right now”. “This makes three straight for our team. Tonight was just supposed to be a tune-up for us for the September 11th race here.”

The FPA team will head back to Stockton 99 to compete in the annual Fred Gerhardt Open Wheel Classic on Sunday September 11th. The race will include 100 laps of racing and a 3 wide start.

Brian Olson  takes the FPA team to its second win in a row

The FPA team showed up to Stateline Speedway with the momentum from the win at Meridian.  Determined and focused to show that the FPA team and driver Brian Olson have what it takes to be on top. After qualifying 3rd, Olson started the main event in the 10th position due to a 12 car invert. While pushing off the midgets for the main event a car oiled down the backstretch, making for approximately 30 caution laps before the drop the green flag. After 4 yellow flags and 1 red flag, which allowed for refueling, Brian Olson made the pass for the lead. A few laps later another caution came out, this time with it was the checker flag on lap 22. The show was shortened from its original 35 laps due to time constraints. At the checker, was main event winner Brian Olson. Please keep an eye out for a link on www.wmraracing.com to watch the entire race and also an after race interview with Brian. Over 6 completed races, Olson's average finish is 2nd, all being 4th or better.

FPA Midget driver Brian Olson takes the overall race weekend at Meridian Speedway with 1-2 punch

On the track photo by Floyd Busby

After the win on Saturday night

The fans show their appreciation. Nothing like a good show.

Visit www.bcraracing.com for the full story by Floyd Busby

FPA Team catches 2-3 finish at the Wenatchee Valley Super Oval

The FPA team made a push for a win at the WVSO. A clean nights race turned out to be a 2nd for the #71 driver Brian Olson and a 3rd for team member and car owner #17 Skeeter Flake. Skeeter Flake in his Ford powered #17 gets his best main event finish of his career.

Brian Olson sets new track record for the Midgets at the fast 1/2 mile in Yakima Washington

After a couple practice sessions and the weather threatening to put a stop to the race night, the FPA race team setup for qualifying. At the green flag for qualifying the car slid off the track in turn 2 and out into the tires. The car was pushed back into the pits and checked out. The nose was destroyed and needed pieced back together and a new set of rear brake pads installed. With only 1 lap left for the #71 FPA Ford to qualify, they pushed out just in time to catch the last spot for qualifying. In one lap driver Brian Olson drove the FPA midget to a new track record of 18.302, smashing the old record. With fast time and an invert of 11, driver Brian Olson drove the FPA Midget to a 4th place finish.

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