BAKERSFIELD, California — Showcasing reliability and resilience, Bakersfield’s Shannon “Lightning” McQueen brought home her 17th consecutive Top 10 finish in the USAC-Western States/VRA race at the 1/5-mile Ventura Raceway in Ventura, CA on Saturday, September 17.
Masterfully piloting the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger, McQueen started in 14th due to a poor pill draw. With a racier than usual track that has been redone and locked down fast for everyone, McQueen’s veteran poise allowed her to guide the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger to a seventh-place finish on the difficult-to-pass bullring oval, advancing more positions than any other driver in the feature.
"The Motor ran great, the car was real good, just on a track like that it is very hard to pass,” said Shannon McQueen of the race at Ventura that saw the track surface much-improved from earlier in the year when McQueen last competed there.
Having started at the tail of Heat 2, McQueen valiantly tried making moves, but with no brakes on the bottom-feeding track, she was only able to advance on position in the Heat to finish fifth.
After 18 races, including one feature victory, six seconds, 11 Top 5s and 17 Top 10s, McQueen has already clinched the Bay Cities Racing Association Dirt points championship with one Dirt race still remaining.
Next up for McQueen Racing is the Bay Cities Racing Association race on Saturday, October 15 at the ¼-mile Lakeport Speedway as Shannon competes in her second pavement race of the year in Paul Eskesen’s #10c Beast/Mopar in which she placed second in July.
McQueen Racing would like to thank all of our wonderful sponsors Lucas Oil Products, K&N Filters, Simpson Race Products, JE Piston Company, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Eibach Springs, Ruth Engineering, American Fabrication and Esslinger Racing Engines by Duane McQueen.
September 14, 2011 – Ventura, California – Ventura Raceway
FEATURE: (30 laps) 7. Shannon McQueen
HEAT 2 (8 laps): 5. Shannon McQueen
