From Robert Haugh
Bakersfield, CA – August 6, 2011
Showcasing her talent and poise, Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen brought home two second place finishes, a new track record and an increased Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt points lead after two incredible runs at Silver Dollar Speedway and Placerville Speedway on August 5 and 6.
Masterfully chauffeuring the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger, McQueen started the weekend in splendor, blistering the fabled ¼-mile Silver Dollar Speedway oval, setting a new track record on Friday, August 5 in the BCRA/USAC-Western States co-sanctioned event, with a new bullet built by Duane McQueen. breaking the previous track record set by National Midget champion Bryan Clauson in March. Her 14.328 will be the mark to beat on Thursday, September 8 when the Midgets return to Chico.
McQueen masterfully maneuvered her way up in the 21-car field, advancing to second at the mid-way point on Lap 14 of the feature. Even with a tire going flat with ten laps remaining, McQueen limped home to finish second, 1.5 seconds ahead of third place Cody Swanson.
McQueen darted from sixth to second in Heat 1, rallying to second by Lap 4, then cutting race winner David Prickett’s lead by half in the final four laps, posting the fastest time of all competitors during Heat race competition.
McQueen now holds four track records: Orange Show Speedway (2005), Petaluma (2009), Calistoga (2009) and Silver Dollar Speedway (2011).
Hoping to score a victory on the second night of the exciting doubleheader weekend, McQueen came out strong once again on Saturday, August 6 at the ¼-mile red clay Placerville Speedway, setting the second fastest qualifying time and dominating her Heat race.
After being shuffled as far back as tenth in the incident-marred feature, McQueen steadily worked her way back to the front of the field, methodically advancing to sixth on Lap 6, fifth on lap 8, fourth on Lap 11, then third on Lap 13, even though losing her brakes by lap 10. For the next 17 laps, McQueen diced for second through fifth with eventual race winner Shane Golobic, Scott Pierovich and Matt Streeter before finally chasing down Golobic to finish second in the action-packed main event.
McQueen dominated Heat 2, coming from sixth to third on Lap 1, then taking over the lead on lap 2, checking out to score the decisive 8-lapper by nearly three seconds over Scott Pierovich, once again clocking the fastest time of all competitors in Heat race action.
The doubleheader race weekend featured some of the best Midget racers from throughout California, including USAC-WS points leader Cory Kruseman, 2009 BCRA champion Prickett, two-time BCRA champion and current overall (dirt/pavement combined) BCRA points leader Nick Foster, Jr., multiple-time race winners Scott Pierovich, 1999 BCRA champion Streeter and a plethora of other top Midget racers.
After 14 races, including one feature victory, five seconds, nine Top 5s and 13 Top 10s, McQueen continues leading the Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt points, leading two-time BCRA champion Nick Foster, Jr. by 85 points unofficially, with four Dirt races remaining.
Next up for McQueen Racing the BCRA race at the 3/8-mile Petaluma Speedway in Petaluma on Saturday, August 13.
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.
August 5, 2011 – Chico, California – Silver Dollar Speedway
FEATURE: (30 laps) 2. Shannon McQueen
HEAT 2: (8 laps) 3. Shannon McQueen
QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Shannon McQueen, 14.328 (NTR)
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AUGUST 6, 2011 – Placerville, CA – Placerville Speedway
FEATURE (30 laps): 2. McQueen
HEAT 2 (8 laps): 1. McQueen
QUALIFICATIONS: 2. McQueen, 12.354