“Lightning” McQueen Hoping for Strong Showing at 5th Annual Louie Vermeil Classic

Bakersfield, CA – August 29, 2012

By Robert Haugh

Currently leading the USAC-Western States Midget points by 88 points, Bakersfield’s Shannon “Lightning” McQueen will be gunning for her first win of the 2012 season this weekend, chauffeuring the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger in the Fifth Annual Louie Vermeil Classic at the fabled ½-mile Calistoga Speedway.

McQueen, who holds the Calistoga Speedway Midget track record (20.470) set in 2009, will be vying for her first victory of the year while also hoping to grind away at David Prickett’s 29-point Western-States Dirt Midget lead.

“We would love to pick up a win at this legendary race facility and we have a car that is capable of doing so, though there will be tough competition. Maintaining our overall points lead and gaining on David’s Dirt lead are goals we need to accomplish this weekend,” states McQueen.

The two-day Labor Day weekend event, held September 1 and 2 will feature a full racing program each day, with several non-racing events throughout the weekend. The USAC-WS Midgets share the bill with the USAC/CRA and USAC Western Classic Sprint Cars in what has become one of the most anticipated races of the year on the West Coast.

Calistoga Speedway is one of the oldest, continuously operated racetracks in the nation is referred to as the fastest dirt track in the western United States – the only ½-mile Dirt track in Northern California, and the only ½-mile track on the Western States Midget schedule besides Perris Auto Speedway, which hosts the 72^nd Annual Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix on Thanksgiving Day.

In addition to holding Calistoga’s track record, McQueen also owns track records at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Petaluma Speedway and Orange Show Speedway.

McQueen has amassed three Heat race wins, seven Top 5 runs and nine Top 10s on the year. McQueen Racing also boasts a feature win with Michelle Decker in April at Bakersfield Speedway. McQueen was the 2011 BCRA Dirt Midget champion.

McQueen Racing would like to thank all of our wonderful sponsors: Lucas Oil Products, K&N Filters, Simpson Race Products, JE Piston Company, Rod End Supply, Advanced Racing Suspensions, Eibach Springs, 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.