By Robert Haugh
Still battling engine issues in the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil/Simpson Race Products Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen, Bakersfield’s Shannon “Lightning” McQueen settled for a disappointing DNF in the final ARP Battle at The Beach USAC-Western States/VRA Midget feature at the 1/5-mile Ventura Raceway on September 28.
The evening was not without highlights though, as Oklahoma young gun Trey Marcham battled forward in the McQueen Racing #37 Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen to claim a Top 5, finishing fifth in the 30-lap feature after starting 11th. Marcham, who claimed a feature win earlier this year at Petaluma is gaining experience and building confidence each time in the cockpit – still with limited Midget appearances.
After fighting an engine that was running on three cylinders at her home track of Bakersfield the previous week, veteran motor builder found a broken spark plug wire after Bakersfield thinking the problem was fixed. However, the team traveled to Ventura on Saturday and the issues continued for McQueen. The motor would not rev, with McQueen charging from fifth to third in the heat, only to lose third on the final lap battling for second and resulting in a fourth place finish in the heat. Starting outside front row in the feature, McQueen was maintaining a solid third place when the motor quit – after getting the car home, the issue was discovered to be a broken rocker arm.
“It is very disappointing to fight a motor issue for two weeks in a row. The set up on the car has been great the last two weeks but we have not been able to capitalize on it due to a sick motor. We sure have had our fair share of bad luck this year. I am certainly ready for 2013 to be over as it has not been a kind year for us. I definitely think this has been my worst year of racing in the 28 years I have raced,” stated disappointed team owner McQueen.
McQueen hopes for a strong showing at Petaluma Speedway this Saturday, October 5 in the second annual 101-lap Johnny Soares Classic. McQueen holds the track record at Petaluma and has claimed second three times and fourth in her past four starts at the 3/8-mile track.
Thus far in 2013, McQueen has three fast time awards and seven top-10 finishes and sits fourth in the USAC-Western States Midget overall and Dirt standings.
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 five track records at the 99 Dirt Track in Stockton, Calistoga Speedway, Petaluma Speedway, Silver Dollar Speedway and Orange Show Speedway.
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.
McQueen Racing has dedicated the entire 2013 season to Kenny Speck, a McQueen Racing team member who lost his life earlier this year.
Visit www.shannonmcqueen.com for more information on McQueen Racing.
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, has shown amazing poise and talent in limited Midget starts in the McQueen Racing entry earlier this year. Marcham has been seen passing drivers with thousands more laps and experience than he in a Midget. Marcham has amassed six Championships at I-44 Riverside Speedway in Newcastle, Oklahoma, as well as having claimed both the A-Class and Non-wing A-Mains at the Inaugural Donnie Ray Crawford Memorial/Race4Life in Tulsa in 2012. Marcham has compiled several wins and podium finishes thus far in 2013.
Select Coatings, RD Marcham Energy, Inc., Simpson Racing Products, Pinnacle Energy Services, Best Western Tulsa Airport, Metals Supermarket Oklahoma City, J & B Digital Graphics and Mud-X support Marcham.
Visit http://marchamracing.com/ for more information on Trey Marcham.