By Robert Haugh
Chowchilla, CA – June 18, 2011
After making an early mistake, Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen wowed Chowchilla Speedway fans, masterfully wheeling her McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger to a hard-fought second place finish in the Bay Cities racing Association sanctioned event at the 1/3-mile Chowchilla Speedway on Saturday, June 18, her ninth consecutive Top 10 run and seventh Top 5 of the year.
After starting third in the feature, McQueen dodged an early bullet when outside pole sitter Danny Parker got sideways and was turned around by another competitor. On the second re-start, McQueen fell in line to third behind 1999 BCRA champion Matt Streeter and two-time and reigning BCRA champion Nick Foster, Jr. Going into Turn 3, McQueen got a great entry approaching Foster for a pass, spinning the car. “I had two choices, to spin Foster, which would not have been very fair, or to spin myself. I chose to spin myself,” stated McQueen.
After restarting 15th, McQueen shifted to the high side, wowing the crowd by rallying back to third by Lap 12. After racing hard with Foster for several laps, McQueen surged by Foster to overtake second on Lap 20, setting sail on Streeter. After closing in on Streeter with four laps remaining, McQueen lost a rear end on the final lap, limping home with a hard-fought second-place finish.
“I made a mistake early but really had to rally to show what we could do from the back. I think we put on a show,” states McQueen.
McQueen started Heat 2 fifth and moved into third by Turn 1. After following a battle between 2010 BCRA rookie-of-the-year Dillon Silverman and Nick Chivello for five laps, Silverman passed Chivello and McQueen followed to place second in her Heat having run out of time to get by Silverman.
After nine strong runs, all top tens to open the season, including one feature victory, McQueen leads both the BCRA Dirt points and USAC-Western States points. McQueen stretched her BCRA Dirt lead over two-time BCRA champion Nick Foster, Jr. Next up for McQueen Racing is the Saturday, June 25 VRA series race at the 1/5-mile Ventura Raceway in Ventura, CA.
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.
June 11, 2011 – Chowchilla, California – Chowchilla Speedway
Summary:
FEATURE: (30 laps) 2. Shannon McQueen
HEAT 2: (8 laps) 2. Shannon McQueen