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2008 Figure 8 Champion Brian Beckner is excited about the upcoming season at Spartan Speedway. The 29 year-old believes there will be more cars, better crowds, and better racing this season.  In spite of presently being laid off from his job Brian still finds a few dollars in his pocket to go racing.

“I am trying to build a pure stock but, that's on hold for right now,” Beckner said.  So he dusted off the No. 47 pony stock, his brother's back up car, and drove the season opener at Spartan Speedway April 24, 2009.   This is a family tradition for Brian whose grandfather Walt Beckner raced before Brian was born. His father Wayne Beckner Sr. and Uncle Gary Parr were also racers. Brian and his brother Wayne Jr. were pretty much raised at the track. Brian remembers being at Spartan Speedway as young as 3 or 4. Wayne Beckner Jr. started racing before Brian. But, it didn't take long before Brian was behind the wheel in 1999.

Brian began racing in the sportsmen division (formally street stocks). He remembers watching the Motor City Madmen race the figure 8's years ago, looking up to Bob Stout and Porkchop Harvey, never thinking he would run a figure 8 on his own.  "It was too crazy out there," he said.  But as fate would have it, he ended up racing figure 8 in the street stock division and when he moved to the pony stock division where he won some races, kept his nose clean, and won the Championship in 2008.

Brian has raced the figure 8 race about 10 times in his career - five coming with the street stock and five with the pony stock. He says “I keep my eyes to the right when coming to the intersection, then either speed up or slow down to avoid any traffic that might be coming through.  Gotta save the equipment,” he adds. "You either do that or you won't win races and championships”.

Brian is married to Sylvia and has two children a five year old daughter and a three year old son, says “family is so important." Brian and his brother Wayne Jr. may compete with each other on the track but work closely together off the track. “Once Wayne was racing I had to do it” said Brian.

Just south of the tower at Spartan Speedway in the heart of the turn four rowdies, you will see the fan section for the Beckner’s.  It is there you are likely to find Jack Oakley - a good friend to Brian. Jack video tapes all the races that Brian is running. Beckner then watches the videos at least three times a week to learn everyone's driving style so the next week he comes out he feels he'll have an advantage over his competitors.

“I am building a new pony stock and it should be out sometime in May," Beckner adds.  But until he finishes the new car he will be borrowing his brother’s car. “I was thinking about changing to Pure Stock this year and may try to run a few races in the Pure Stock."

Brian would like to thank his sponsors: Beacon Sales, Tasty Twist, Jack Oakley Videos, Mike Childress and Son Excavating as well as Rick, Laura, John, Ray-Ray, and Elaiana.