By Robert Haugh
Bakersfield, CA – October 31, 2011
Concluding the Bay Cities Racing Association Midget season on a high note, Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen and 16-year-old Oklahoman Harli White showed immense poise and patience, finishing third and fourth in the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Cup at the 1/3-mile Chowchilla Speedway on Saturday, October 29.
Fighting an incident-marred feature, McQueen and White were shuffled throughout the field throughout the opening laps, with an array of yellow flags being unfurled for multiple spins and one flip on the dry slick track, however, both remained patient, with McQueen taking over third on lap 10 and White moving into fifth on Lap 11.
With McQueen showing veteran poise and White avoiding incidents and running as smooth as many veterans, the McQueen Racing duo chauffeured their ways to third and fourth place finishes in the curfew-shortened 15-lap feature that was scheduled for 30 laps.
McQueen’s third-place run was her ninth Top 3, 12th Top 5 and 19th Top 10 finish of the season.
Showing no signs of being her first time in a Midget, Oklahoma’s Harli White paced Heat 2 form the pole in the McQueen Racing #7s Spike/Esslinger, stretching to a straightaway lead, winning the 8-lap heat over three-time BCRA champion Nick Foster, Jr., Chris Ennis and former BCRA Rookie-of-the-Year Kevin Morris. White was recently announced as McQueen racing’s third 2012 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals driver.
Masterfully piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger, McQueen started last in heat 3, methodically passing several strong, fast cars, to finesse her way to win in dominating fashion over Connor Kassik, multiple-time feature winner Scott Pierovich and Nick Chivello.
With their respective Heat race wins, McQueen and White made history, becoming the first female duo to win Heat races in BCRA competition in the same race.
Fellow Chili Bowl teammate Michelle Decker of Oklahoma was also on-hand, assisting Harli in her Midget debut. Harli made the A-Main in two different classes at the Tulsa Shootout, has multiple feature wins in ASCS2 Micro competition plus countless Top 5 and Top 10 runs.
After 20 races, including one feature victory, six seconds, 12 Top 5s and 19 Top 10s, McQueen clinched the Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt championship prior to the final Dirt race, becoming the first female to win a major Midget championship. McQueen also boasts six Heat race wins, two Dash wins and two fast time awards, including a track record at Silver Dollar Speedway. In addition to McQueen’s finishes, McQueen Racing also has a pair of Top 5 runs by Decker and White.
Next up for McQueen Racing is the USAC-Western States/VRA Midget series race on Saturday, November 19 at the 1/5-mile Ventura Raceway.
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.
Additional 2012 Chili Bowl Sponsors include: American Waste Control, MurfDogg Motorworks, RC 4 Less, Waurika Truck and Tire, Starrship Trucking, Carter Custom Finishes, Quantum Consulting, LLC, Hoosier Tires and Mud-X.
Visit www.shannonmcqueen.com for more information on McQueen Racing.
SUMMARY:
October 29, 2011 – Chowchilla, California – Chowchilla Speedway
FEATURE: (15 laps, shortened due to curfew) 3. Shannon McQueen 4. Harli White
HEAT 2 (8 laps): 1. Harli White
HEAT 3 (8 laps): 1. Shannon McQueen