By Robert Haugh
Hoping to put one of the McQueen Racing entries in victory lane the their home track of Bakersfield Speedway, it was not destined to happen on Saturday, March 30.
“Well, it was not the weekend we were looking for. However, we did learn some stuff that will make our program better going forward,” stated team owner Shannon McQueen, who after missing hot laps due to unknown gremlins in her primary car set quick time by nearly three tenths in her initial laps aboard her #7 Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen.
McQueen started sixth in Heat 1 and battled to finish third on a very rough, tricky track, which caused damage to McQueen’s motor mount. Lining up sixth in the A-Main, McQueen was shuffled around for several laps, eventually finessing her way to a solid Top 10 run, finishing tenth.
Struggling early, 21-year-old Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City qualified 16th of 26 entries and finished fourth in Heat 1 after starting on the pole. Marcham started the feature toward the rear, methodically working into the Top 10 before halting when another car spun ahead of him early in the feature. Starting in the rear on the ensuing restart, Marcham edged former USAC-Western States champion Alex Schutte for 11th at the line.
“Trey did well, he is definitely learning and improving every week,” stated McQueen.
Marcham, a senior Engineering student at Oklahoma University, with experience in Micro Sprints, Ford Focus Midgets, 360 Non-Wing Sprint Cars and asphalt Late Models, was making only his fourth career Midget start in the McQueen Racing #37 Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen.
McQueen became the first woman to win a BCRA Midget championship in 2011 when she claimed the BCRA Dirt Midget crown, then claimed the 2012 USAC-Western States Midget championship, amassing four Heat race wins, nine Top 5 runs, three fast time awards and 13 Top 10s in 2012. McQueen also holds track records at Calistoga Speedway, Petaluma Speedway, Silver Dollar Speedway and Orange Show Speedway.
McQueen also recently accepted the prestigious Kara Hendrick Spirit award, one of the top awards for women in Motorsports. McQueen is also the first female owner to boast a win with a female driver when Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker won a USAC Western States Midget Feature in April 2012 at McQueen’s home track of Bakersfield Speedway at the helm of one of McQueen’s potent Spike/Esslinger entries.
McQueen Racing would like to thank all of our wonderful sponsors: Lucas Oil Products, Simpson Race Products, Eibach Springs, DMI, Rod End Supply, K&N Filters, Advanced Racing Suspensions, MPD, Ruth Engineering, Jet-Hot Performance Coatings, Butler Built Seating Systems, Schoenfeld Headers, American Fabrication, West Evans Motorsports, Western Open Wheel Racing News and Esslinger Racing Engines by Duane McQueen. Visit www.shannonmcqueen.com for more information on McQueen Racing.
Marcham is supported by RD Marcham Energy, Inc., Simpson Racing Products, Pinnacle Energy Services, Best Western Tulsa Airport, Metals Supermarket Oklahoma City, J & B Digital Graphics, 2B Recording, and Mud-X. For up to date information on all of Marcham’s race activities, “like” him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
SUMMARY:
QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Shannon McQueen, 13.393; 16. Trey Marcham, 13.943
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 3. McQueen, 4. Marcham
FEATURE: (30 laps) 10. Shannon McQueen, 11. Trey Marcham