McQueen Racing will be returning to a three-car, all-female team for the 29th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals held January 12 through 17, 2015 at the Tulsa Exposition Center’s QuikTrip Center in Oklahoma.
“I am very excited to announce that McQueen Racing will once again be fielding a three car team for the 2015 Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. I am also very pleased that this years team will be an all female driver team. As team owner I like to give female drivers the opportunity that I had to work so hard to achieve. When I retire as a driver I would like to think that I will still own a race team and would like to give a talented female driver the opportunity.”
McQueen Racing returns to a three-car team after fielding a two-car team in the 28th Annual Chili Bowl earlier this year. Joining the McQueen racing stable will be team owner Shannon McQueen, Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker and 22-year-old Canadian racer, Amber Balcaen.
Balcaen (www.amberbalcaenracing.com) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is a third generation racer that has been racing for over 10 years, earning several wins in Go-Karts, Lightning Sprints (Mini Sprints) and claimed a championship as well. The 2014 season marks her maiden year in the Apex SpeedSports Eagle/Mopar Winged 410 Sprint Car. She’s currently campaigning the Sprint Car in the Midwestern U.S. The Chili bowl will be her first-ever non-wing event and first career Midget start.
“Racing is in my blood. I’ve been at the track since before I was born and it will always be my greatest passion,” says Balcaen.
Decker, a veteran Sprint Car pilot from Guthrie, Oklahoma currently sits 3rd in the Powri West Midget Series points standings. Additionally, Decker was third in the ASCS Sooner Region points in 2011 and was the 2008 Sprint Car champion at Oklahoma’s State Fair Speedway. Decker was also the 2005 Super Sprint Winter Nationals champion at State Fair Speedway.
McQueen became the first woman to win a BCRA Midget championship in 2011 when she claimed the BCRA Dirt Midget crown, additionally, McQueen is the first and only female driver to earn a USAC Western State Championship when she 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 Silver Dollar Speedway and Orange Show Speedway.
McQueen is also the first female owner to boast a win with a female driver when Decker claimed 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.
For more information also visit the girls on Facebook at:
Shannon McQueen-Webster
Shannon McQueen Racing
Michelle Decker
Michelle Decker Racing 7
Amber Balcaen
Amber Balcaen Racing
