By Robert Haugh
Methodically and patiently hitting her marks, Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker took advantage of her pole position, finessing the McQueen Racing #7x Spike/Esslinger to the win in the stellar 24-car USAC-Western States field at the 1/3-mile Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday, April 7, leading all 30 laps.
Decker’s teammate and car owner Shannon McQueen was contending for the win, running in third and charging to the front. While attempting to pass the second-place car on Lap 22 in the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger, McQueen was shoved down the track by another competitor into a tractor tire while entering Turn One, ending her evening, settling for a 16th place feature finish.
McQueen claimed third in Heat 2, while Decker claimed third in heat 3.
Decker becomes the second female driver to win in the USAC Western States Midget Series, the first being McQueen, who scored a 2007 victory at Madera Speedway.
Next up for McQueen Racing is the May 5 event at the recently revamped 1/3-mile Madera Speedway. Shannon will be chauffeuring Paul Eskesen’s #10c Beast/Mopar. McQueen was one of the fastest cars in Friday’s Gerhardt Classic practice at Madera prior to Mother Nature raining the 100-lap event scheduled for March 31.
McQueen Racing would like to thank all of our wonderful sponsors: Lucas Oil Products, K&N Filters, Simpson Race Products, JE Piston Company, Rod End Supply, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Eibach Springs, Ruth Engineering, Jet-Hot Performance Coatings, Butler Built Seating Systems, Schoenfeld Headers, American Fabrication, West Evans Motorsports and Esslinger Racing Engines by Duane McQueen.
SUMMARY:
QUALIFICATIONS: 8. McQueen, 13.355; 12. Decker, 13.407
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 3. McQueen
THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 3. Decker
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Decker; 16. McQueen
Visit www.shannonmcqueen.com for more information on McQueen Racing.