The Starting Lineup welcomes a true Ozarks racing icon as Brian Brown, newly inducted into the Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Hall of Fame, joins the show for a wide-open conversation about where racing has been, and where it’s headed. Brown’s 32-year journey began in 1992 in the most grassroots way possible, painting a friend’s car just to be part of the scene. From there, the stories only get wilder, including the now-legendary tale of dragging his first race car out of a field, complete with a tree growing through the roof.

Listen to the full conversation here.

That no-frills beginning set the tone for a career built on grit, timing, and opportunity. Brown touches on how racing’s “claiming” rule can accelerate a driver’s path, or end it just as fast, offering a glimpse into the strategic side of the sport where instincts, rules, and adaptability matter as much as what happens on the track. The conversation then shifts into an honest look at the state of racing today. From the national spotlight to local short tracks, Brown weighs in on what’s changed, what’s been lost, and why I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri’s lone asphalt track ,still represents the heart of real racing talent in the region.

The episode also spotlights the Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Hall of Fame Banquet, happening this Saturday at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds E-Plex, where Brown will be honored alongside the 2024 class of Legends and Pioneers. From the logistical challenge of moving the Hall of Fame exhibit to Brown’s plans to climb back into a late model again, this episode is packed with racing history, hard truths, and plenty of laughs.

Ozarks Area Racers Foundation Hall of Fame Banquet

• Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
• Location: Ozark Empire Fairgrounds – E-Plex
• Advance Tickets: $15 (available at area O’Reilly Auto Parts locations beginning in early January)
• At the Door: $20
• Ages 12 & Under: Free
• Doors Open: 2:30 p.m.