By Robert Haugh
Getting in stride and showing why she’s earned the moniker “Lightning” McQueen, Bakersfield’s Shannon “Lightning” McQueen utilized veteran poise and awareness to claim her second feature win of the year aboard the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil/Simpson Race Products Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen at the fabled 1/4-mile Silver Dollar Speedway on June 27.
En route to the 30-lap win, McQueen fended off numerous contenders in the Bay Cities Racing Association event while setting the evening’s fastest lap, laying down a 13.718 mark on Lap 6. McQueen mounted her charge to the front from her fifth starting position by taking fourth on Lap 2, then taking third on Lap 3, then charging into McQueen second on Lap 9 with her sights on the race leader, who she passed on Lap 23. Despite some late-race challenges and lapped traffic on the final lap, McQueen’s experience and poise guided her to the checkers for the win, her second of the season, with the final 21 laps going caution-free.
McQueen started the evening by timing in fourth of the 16-car field then finished second in her Heat race from fifth.
“Huge thanks to my dad Duane McQueen who gave us awesome horsepower and to Rob Russell who gave me for another awesome car.” McQueen also would like to send a Special thanks to all McQueen Racing’s marketing partners: Simpson Indy, Lucas Oil, K&N Filters, Spike Chassis, Advanced Racing, Jet Hot High Performance Coatings, Eibach Springs, DMI, MPD, Schoenfeld Headers, ButlerBuilt, Rod End Supply, American Fabrication, Esslinger Racing Engines and last but not least West Evans.
Next up for McQueen will be the July 5 USAC-Western States event at the 1/3-mile Santa Maria Speedway, in which McQueen Racing will field a second McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen for Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker.
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, 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 and Esslinger Racing Engines by Duane McQueen.
Visit www.shannonmcqueen.com for more information on McQueen Racing.