Lightning McQueen Strikes Jackpot at Tachi Invitational Night One

By Robert Haugh

Tehachapi's Shannon McQueen was triumphant in the 25-lap Bay Cities Racing Ass'n 25-lap feature at King's Speedway, Hanford, CA on Friday September 26 (M&M Racing Photos)

Showing a stellar field why she’s dubbed “Lightning McQueen,” Shannon McQueen rocketed ahead of Rob Ely on Lap 3 en route to the claiming an impressive victory in the 25-lap Bay Cities Racing Association Midget feature at King’s Speedway, Hanford, CA on Friday, September 26.

Piloting her always-potent #7 Spike/Esslinger on the very tacky, wet and wild, cowboy-up track, Tehachapi’s McQueen took home the $850-to-win Tachi Open Wheel Invitational night one paycheck, along with the monstrous Cotton Classic trophy.

Following “Lightning” McQueen to the checkers nearly a full second back was two-time National Midget driver of the year and 2006 BMARA and POWRi Midget champion Brad Kuhn of Avon, Indiana piloting Mike Sala’s always-strong #79 Spike/Bob Wirth Mopar followed by teammate, two-time Silver Crown champion Bud Kaeding aboard Sala’s #19 Spike/Bob Wirth Chevy. McQueen’s teammate, Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker claimed fourth, six seconds back aboard McQueen’s #37 Spike/Esslinger, with Henry Clark rounding out the Top five in the #20x mount just over nine seconds back --- aboard the recently-acquired ex-Mitchell Motorsports mount that Johnny Rodriguez piloted to back-to-back wins aboard at Calistoga Speedway over Labor Day weekend.

After flipping earlier in the evening, regrouped, placing fourth in the feature aboard the #37 McQueen Motorsports Spike/Esslinger.

Rounding out the Top ten were 16-year-old Shane Golobic piloting Doug Bock’s #26 Spike/Esslinger, seven-time BCRA champion “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis aboard his #18 Champion Automotive “Yellow Chicken” Stealth/Gaerte, reigning BCRA champion Justin Grant aboard Dave & Wendy Thurston’s #17 racingorthetroops.com Spike/Esslinger, points leader “Young Lion” Nick Foster, Jr. aboard Jim Fowler’s #24 Beast/Esslinger and Clovis’ Danny Parker aboard Bob Roza’s TEAM F.A.S.T. (Fighting Against Steroids Together) #20 Beast/Esslinger. Foster bounced back to ninth after slipping to the back after spinning on Lap 15.

David “The Love Cricket” Prickett flipped at the beginning on Heat 1, heavily damaging the #15 Neverlift Motorsports Stealth/Van Dyne. Multiple-time feature winner Jimmy Christian dropped out of Heat 1, suffering from mechanical gremlins aboard his #16 Stealth/Riolo Chevy. Both Prickett and Christian started the feature.

Kuhn claimed Heat 2 over Kaeding, McQueen, Golobic and Ely aboard the #91 Martens Spike/Gaerte Mopar.

Grant claimed Heat 1 over Scott Nail, Cole Peard, Parker and Christian.

Kuhn set the pace in qualifying with a 17.248 lap.

Summary
Feature 25 laps (start): 1. Shannon McQueen (4), 2. Brad Kuhn (6), 3. Bud Kaeding (5), 4. Michelle Decker (10), 5. Henry Clarke (1), 6. Shane Golobic (3), 7. Floyd Alvis (9), 8. Justin Grant (11), 9. Nick Foster, Jr. (7), 10. Danny Parker (13), 11. Cole Peard (14), 12. Austin Mero (8), 13. Rob Ely (2), 14. Scott Nail (12), 15. David Prickett (16), 16. Jimmy Christian (15), 17. Joey Fabozzi (17)
Lap leaders: 1-2 Ely, 3-25 McQueen

Heat 2: 1. Brad Kuhn, 2. Bud Kaeding, 3. Shannon McQueen, 4. Shane Golobic, 5. Rob Ely, 6. Henry Clark, 7. Nick Foster, Jr., 8. Austin Mero, 9. Floyd Alvis, 10. Michelle Decker

Heat 1: 1. Justin Grant, 2. Scott Nail, 3. Cole Peard, 4. Danny Parker, 5. Jimmy Christian, 6. David Prickett, 7. Joey Fabozzi

Qualifications: 1. Brad Kuhn, 79 Sala, 17.248; 2. Shannon McQueen, 7 McQueen, 17.298; 3. Bud Kaeding, 19 Sala, 17.308; 4. Michelle Decker, 37 McQueen, 17.360; 5. Henry Clark, 20x, 17.718; 6. Rob Ely, 91 Martens, 17.940; 7. Nick Foster, Jr., 24 Fowler, 18.091; 8. Shane Golobic, 26 Bock, 18.109; 9. Austin Mero, 12k, 18.151; 10. Floyd Alvis, 18 Alvis, 18.256; 11. Scott Nail, 8x Donaldson, 18.519; 12. Justin Grant, 17 Thurston, 18.758; 13. Danny Parker, 20 Roza, 18.773; 14. Cole Peard, 58 Peard, 18.804; 15. David Prickett, 15 Neverlift Motorsports, 18.885, 16. Joey Fabozzi, 84 Fabozzi, 19.431; 17. Jimmy Christian, 16 Christian-NT