By Robert Haugh
Having battled handling issues during qualifying, Bakersfield’s Shannon McQueen was patiently waiting to surge forward in the 100-lap Gerhardt Classic Midget feature at the 1/3-mile Madera Speedway on Saturday, July 14, saving tires in the McQueen/Eskesen/Rescino Racing #7 Beast/Mopar.
Having discovered issues with the car, and adjusting them prior to the Feature, McQueen was turning Laps consistently within a tenth of the race leaders. However, McQueen pulled the car in during a Lap 28 caution, as the car picked up an engine misfire.
McQueen’s fastest lap, on Lap 14, was within one tenth of the fastest laps of the evening and her Feature times were consistently among the Top five all evening.
“We were just biding our time the first few laps or so and then about Lap 20 the engine picked up a miss and then after the red flag it just never was right, so we had to pull in,” said McQueen. “We are hoping to improve our pavement program going forward into the last three pavement races of the year,” added McQueen.
McQueen was tenth fastest of the 21-car field in qualifications.
McQueen has amassed three Heat race wins, five Top 5 runs and six Top 10s on the year. McQueen Racing also boasts a feature win with Michelle Decker in April at Bakersfield Speedway.
McQueen carries a 55-point USAC-Western States points lead into her next event, Saturday, August 4 at the 1/3-mile Santa Maria Speedway in Santa Maria, CA. Shannon will be piloting the always-potent McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger that she claimed third-place run at Santa Maria in May.
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: 10. 14.349
FEATURE: 16. McQueen
Visit www.shannonmcqueen.com for more information on McQueen Racing.