By Robert Haugh
Bakersfield, CA – September 8, 2011
Showcasing consistency and fortitude, Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen brought home her 16th consecutive Top 10 finish while clinching the Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt points championship at the fabled 1/4-mile Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA on Thursday, September 8 at the 58th Annual Gold Cup Race of Champions.
Masterfully piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger, McQueen was shuffled back as far as tenth from her outside second row staring spot after experiencing electrical gremlins from the onset of the Feature. Despite struggling with the gremlins, McQueen’s veteran poise guided her to seventh as the checkers flew in the incident-marred, curfew-shortened 25-lap BCRA/USAC Western States Midget race.
Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker methodically rallied the #7m McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger, from her 7th starting position to claim a Top 5 coming home fifth in her first Midget start since the 2011 Chili Bowl after getting shuffled back as far as 17th.
Quickly maneuvering from fourth to second on the opening lap of Heat 1, McQueen dominated the Heat by nearly 1.5 seconds over feature winner and former BCRA champion David Prickett. McQueen clocked the fastest lap of all competitors, all evening in the Heat with a 14.221 lap, over one tenth quicker than her own SDS track record.
Decker masterfully chauffeured her way from an outside fourth row (eighth) starting spot in Heat 1 to finish third in the behind Cody Swanson and Cory Kruseman.
After 17 races, including one feature victory, six seconds, 11 Top 5s and 16 Top 10s, McQueen clinched the Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt points championship with one Dirt race still remaining!
Next up for McQueen Racing is the USAC-Western States race at the 1/3-mile Bakersfield Speedway in Bakersfield, CA on Saturday, September 10, as McQueen Racing returns to their home town and home track!
McQueen Racing would like to thank all of 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.
September 8, 2011 – Chico, California – Silver Dollar Speedway
FEATURE: (25 laps) 5. Michelle Decker, 7. Shannon McQueen
HEAT 3 (8 laps): 1. Shannon McQueen HEAT 1: (8 laps) 3. Michelle Decker