Brenden Queen emerges victorious at Daytona Worldwide Speedway on Saturday within the Journey the ‘Dente 200. All Hail the Queen!
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The odyssey of Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen mirrors these of many legendary rivals from the quick monitor ranks.
Brenden Queen Emerges Victorious
Since his profession started at Langley Speedway in Virginia, Queen fastidiously curated the ‘Butterbean’ nickname, which stems from his resemblance to wrestler Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch at beginning. A jovial individual with unwavering resolve behind the wheel and a ardour for Waffle Home, ‘Butterbean’ has turn into a recognizable nickname throughout Queen’s rise by the ranks.
Followers at Daytona Worldwide Speedway have been launched to ‘Butterbean’ on a heat, Saturday afternoon throughout the Journey the ‘Dente 200. Queen maintained endurance by a chaotic, caution-filled outing earlier than passing Lavar Scott, who had lower than ten laps remaining to prevail in his first look with Pinnacle Racing Group.
Feelings have been aplenty for Queen as he pulled his No. 28 bestrepair.web Chevrolet into Daytona’s iconic Victory Lane. Each step in the direction of Saturday’s triumph for Queen was a battle to outlive and show he belonged on the nationwide stage.
“It’s quite a lot of by no means surrender,” Queen stated. “I’ve by no means had cash. We did what we might, grinded and grinded. Belief the method is the motto I’ve had the previous two years. My story is a type of eyeball ones of a lottery ticket. I’m preventing for my profession. I’ve nothing assured for subsequent yr, so hopefully this can be a good begin.”
Profession Historical past of Brenden Queen
Saturday was not Queen’s first try in an ARCA Menards Collection race at Daytona, however the two experiences have been incomparable.
Queen certified at Daytona in 2019 piloting the No. 35 Chevrolet for Vizion Motorsports. The day was one to overlook for Queen, whose race ended after 50 laps when he was collected in a multi-car crash whereas making an attempt to keep away from a spinning Connor Corridor.
It took Queen till Saturday for him to make one other ARCA Menards Collection begin. Throughout his six years away from the platform, Queen amassed a stellar resume in brief tracks together with three Langley monitor championships and a title within the CARS Late Mannequin Inventory Automobile Tour.
Queen’s first enterprise into the ARCA Menards Collection not unfolding the way in which he envisioned proved to be a blessing in disguise. Spending a lot time at quick tracks helped Queen uncover the identification that has garnered him a passionate fanbase colloquially often called ‘Bean Nation’.
“It was really a turning level in my Late Mannequin profession,” Queen stated. “I accepted that I had bought to the highest of what I assumed was going to occur. I hit all-time low, picked myself up and stated I needed to be a aggressive Late Mannequin Inventory man. There’s nothing incorrect with that.
“We began turning our program round again dwelling at Langley and it catapulted into these three championships.”
The Street to an ARCA Menards Collection Victory
Each accolade Queen scored bolstered his status amongst homeowners and drivers within the NASCAR trade, opening the door for an additional likelihood to succeed in the nationwide stage. Tricon Storage offered Queen that chance at North Wilkesboro Speedway final yr within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection, which he parlayed right into a fourth-place run.
Lower than a yr later, Queen discovered himself again the place his first run at NASCAR began; Daytona. This time round he had the advantage of a full ARCA Menards Collection season outlined together with the help of his teammate in four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves.
The second journey to Daytona for Queen was a check of endurance and survival. Quite a few cautions trimmed the lead pack of vehicles to lower than a dozen for the ultimate 12-lap run, which left Queen in a precarious spot as he ascertained how you can overtake Scott and chief William Sawalich.
After following Scott round Sawalich, Queen, and Castroneves stayed on the highest aspect and powered their method to the entrance. Now tasked with taking part in protection, Queen put his full belief in Castroneves and spotter Derek Kneeland to assist him get to the checkered flag because the chief.
“I used to be mad at myself over that [last] restart,” Queen stated. “I mistimed it, was capable of let [Scott] in, which was not the unique plan. I knew Helio was going to be a fantastic pusher. Our vehicles labored actually good collectively on the check. The very best case situation was having him behind me and he gave me such a fantastic run.
“My spotter Derek Kneeland was in my ear instructing me how you can work the traces and manipulate the air. Having a spotter is half the battle at this superspeedway stuff and Derek is among the finest.”
Helio Castroneves Perseveres by a Tough Day
Castroneves was concerned in three crashes together with one after the checkered flag. He loved leaning off Queen as he acclimated to a inventory automotive at Daytona. The composure Queen displayed within the draft throughout the closing dash additionally drew admiration from the open-wheel veteran.
“A very good job for the Queen!” Castroneves stated. “He was doing a tremendous job, so clearly he is aware of what’s occurring. I’m tremendous pleased for him, so in fact he deserves it. [Brenden] is an unimaginable man, and I’m so pleased I bought connected with a fantastic group and nice teammate.”
Grateful to These Offering Help
Castroneves and all the Pinnacle Racing Group group have been amongst these Queen prolonged his gratitude for taking an opportunity on him. That record contains Lee Pulliam, a four-time NASCAR Advance Auto Elements Weekly Collection champion who fielded Late Mannequin Shares for him from 2022-24.
A profitable partnership in brief tracks blossomed into an in depth friendship between the 2 rivals. Queen considers Pulliam among the best rivals of his era and desires his buddy had the chance to advance his profession into the NASCAR Cup Collection.
Regardless of this, Queen is grateful Pulliam offered an surroundings the place he might flourish as a driver and construct up the already established ‘Butterbean’ model. He is aware of different energetic short-track rivals might at some point win at Daytona in the event that they work laborious and put religion in themselves.
“It begins with ‘by no means surrender’,” Queen stated. “Have a hard-working angle, belief the method like I all the time say. You by no means know who’s watching you or whose hand you might be shaking. Preserve your composure, keep calm, and simply be your self. That’s what they need to see.”
Queen discovered his means again to the ARCA Menards Collection by unabashedly being himself. Now he departs Daytona as a championship favourite, decided to outlive and thrive.
Sawalich got here dwelling in second behind Queen, with Jason Kitzmiller, Scott, and Castroneves finishing the highest 5. The remainder of the highest ten consisted of Kole Raz, A.J. Moyer, Andy Jankowiak, Ryan Roulette, and Bryce Haugeberg.
ARCA Menards Collection rivals get a number of weeks to regroup from a wild season-opener at Daytona earlier than heading to Phoenix Raceway on March 7 for the Common Tire 150. FS1 carries dwell protection of the occasion beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
