“Lightning” McQueen Heads into BCRA Doubleheader With Dirt Points Lead

By Robert Haugh
Bakersfield, CA – August 1, 2011

Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen is heading into this weekend’s Bay Cities Racing Association/USAC Western States co-sanctioned doubleheader as one of the frontrunners, setting her sight on victory lane behind the wheel of the McQueen racing #7 Spike/Esslinger.

The double header included races on Friday, August 5 at the ¼-mile Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA and Saturday, August 6 at Placerville Speedway in Placerville, CA.

Shannon is coming off a very impressive second-place run at the paved Lakeport Speedway – her only pavement start of the year in Paul Eskesen’s Beast/Mopar.

After 12 races, including one feature victory, three seconds, seven Top 5s and 11 Top 10s, McQueen continues leading the Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt points, leading two-time BCRA champion Nick Foster, Jr. by 45 points heading into the doubleheader.

McQueen scored a fourth-place run at the John Padjen Classic at Silver Dollar Speedway in March, as well as scoring fourth and fifth place runs in two races at Placerville earlier this year.

The doubleheader race weekend will feature some of the best Midget racers from throughout California, as well as possible entries from Oregon and Washington. Expected competitors include USAC-WS points leader and 2009 BCRA champion David Prickett, BCRA points leader Foster, multiple-time race winners Scott Pierovich and Cory Kruseman, 1999 BCRA champion Matt Streeter plus several young guns such as Jake Swanson, 2008 BCRA rookie-of-the year Nick Chivello, recent race winner Kevin Morris and a plethora of other top Midget racers.

BCRA’s annual Jack London Bash Picnic and Hall of Fame, which celebrates the fabled history of the Bay Cities Racing Association, will precede Saturday’s race at Placerville.

McQueen Racing would like to thank all our wonderful sponsors: Lucas Oil Products, K&N Filters, Simpson Race Products, JE Piston Company, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Eibach Springs, Ruth Engineering, American Fabrication and Esslinger Racing Engines by Duane McQueen.