Brandon Brown proved to have impeccable timing and a great sense of humor, which played a crucial role in his victory as a first-time NASCAR winner.
In his tenacious career as a professional race car driver, the native of Virginia proudly secured a NASCAR checkered flag for the very first time on Saturday.
On Saturday, Brown, a Woodbridge native, emerged victorious in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Sparks 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. His team is based in Fredericksburg.
Following a remarkable year filled with numerous personal achievements, the driver sponsored by play-virginia.com can now proudly claim the title of “NASCAR winner.” However, Brown also garnered attention for circumstances completely beyond his influence.
Brandon Brown won with 40-1 odds
Before winning Saturday’s race, Brandon Brown had already achieved career Xfinity Series highs in both top 10s and top 5s. This victory came in his 114th career start in NASCAR’s second-tier series, which was cut short due to darkness.
Additionally, just a few weeks after play-virginia.com became an associate sponsor for Brown’s Brandonbilt Motorsports team, an exciting event unfolded. During the Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway, we collaborated to promote a Caesars Sportsbook Odds Boost for Brown. In a thrilling turn of events, Brown managed to overtake around 10 cars in the last couple of laps and secured an impressive eighth-place finish. As a result, those who supported Brown were rewarded with a +900 payout for his exceptional top-10 performance.
However, his winnings over the weekend were even more substantial. Prior to the race on October 2 in Talladega, Alabama, Brown’s odds of winning were listed at +4000.
Brown was competing against his fellow drivers and the setting sun, determined to secure victory. However, with only six laps remaining, race officials were compelled to prematurely conclude the race. Despite this, Brown managed to outperform Justin Allgaier, Daniel Hemric, and Jordan Anderson, clinching the first-place position.
“After the race,” Brown stated
“Dad, can you believe it? We’ve accomplished our wildest dreams! All I ever wanted was to bring the trophy home to Mom and Dad.”
Brown’s win garnered attention for various other factors. While Brown was conducting post-fight interviews, a group of spectators began chanting “F Joe Biden.” In an attempt to divert attention from the explicit language and political stance, an interviewer from NBCSN proposed that they were actually chanting “Let’s go, Brandon,” potentially as a means to deceive any potential censors.
Brown couldn’t help but notice the dubious claim and found the situation quite amusing, prompting him to poke fun at it.
VA’s Denny Hamlin among ’21 championship favorites
Despite winning in the Xfinity Series last weekend, Brandon Brown unfortunately fell just short of making it to the postseason. Nevertheless, there is another prominent figure from Virginia who is still competing in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
Denny Hamlin is currently one of the top contenders to win the NASCAR season championship at the highest level. According to FanDuel, he has odds of +420 to secure the 2021 title with only five races left. At the Virginia sportsbook, Hamlin is second in line, trailing behind Kyle Larson, who has odds of +220.
After hailing from Chesterfield, Hamlin endured a winless streak of 27 races at the start of the 2021 season. Nevertheless, his fortunes took a turn as he secured victory twice in just four races, catapulting him to the leading position in the Cup Series standings.
Larson continues to chase closely, with Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., and Ryan Blaney in immediate pursuit.
Hamlin’s racing career is nothing short of extraordinary, marked by numerous notable accomplishments. These include an impressive tally of 46 career wins, three triumphant finishes at the Daytona 500, and the prestigious recognition of Rookie of the Year.
Despite his numerous accomplishments, Hamlin has yet to secure a NASCAR Cup Series season championship. He came closest in 2010, when he finished as the runner-up to Jimmie Johnson.
NASCAR returns to Virginia in 2022
In 2022, local NASCAR enthusiasts will once again be able to catch races nearby.
The 2022 Cup Series schedule has been recently unveiled by officials, featuring a lineup of 39 races. Among them, three dates have been allocated for Virginia, alongside various neighboring locations.
The 2021 Cup Series season officially commences on Feb. 20 with the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Florida, following the Clash at L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6 and the Duel at Daytona on Feb. 17.
The race schedule for Virginia includes two events at Richmond Raceway, taking place on April 3rd and August 14th. In addition, Martinsville Raceway will be hosting races on April 9th and October 30th, with the latter being a significant playoff race and the second-to-last race of the year.
In 2022, Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, located near the Virginia border, will once again organize a dirt race. The highly anticipated Food City Dirt Race is scheduled for the evening of Easter night, April 17. Additionally, the renowned racing venue will also hold the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, a crucial event in the playoffs, on the traditional track on September 17.
The races at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina take place on May 29 and Oct. 9, specifically on the Charlotte Roval infield road course.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series’ schedule for 2022 includes races at Richmond on April 2 and October 29, which is also a playoff race.
In addition, the Xfinity Series will also make stops at Martinsville on April 8th, Charlotte on May 28th, and Bristol on September 16th.
In 2022, the NASCAR Truck Series will make appearances at various racetracks. These include Martinsville on April 7, Richmond on August 13 for a playoff race, Bristol on April 16 for a dirt race, Bristol again on September 15 for another playoff race, and Charlotte on May 27.
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