HAMPTON, VA :: It all began at the young age of seven years old but the dream occurred well before then. Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, like most kids at that age, started racing karts and learning the fundamentals needed in order to advance.
With a rich history and influence from his father Mike Queen, the time spent together has turned a student of the game into quite the champion before making his first Late Model debut. With several karting championships to his credit along with a track championship at Southside Speedway in the INEX Legends division, Queen has continually progressed in his young career with a recent 2013 Rookie of the Year title at Langley Speedway in a Late Model.
Last year, Brenden Queen made the field in his first ever appearance at Martinsville Speedway against Late Model racing’s very best and caught the attention with his seventh place finish. The 2014 race season for Brenden Queen has been one of plenty lessons learned both on and off the track. With the new addition of crew chief and legendary Langley Speedway Late Model champion Phil Warren on board, and a committed race team calling themselves the Flying Monkeys. The 2014 race season was poised for success with several races on the schedule including dates at South Boston Speedway, Southern National Speedway and Queen’s home track of Langley Speedway.
But on the calendar of the shop wall circled were the October dates of the 4th and 5th which marks the Martinsville Speedway MCDU 300 and the return of what Brenden Queen describes this race as everything.
“It’s a pretty big race, everybody talks about it, means a lot to me to be up there with some of those names that has been so vital to the NASCAR series and the Late Models,” Queen explained. “To run with it and make the field last year going down there as a rookie, we learned a lot of info, taking a lot of knowledge from last year, man it would mean the world to me to make the field again and have a good competitive run.”
But for Brenden Queen who is just sixteen years old, we talked about what gives him an edge or if there’s an element, giving him a chance to win this grand event.
“Every time I step in that race car I have an edge, doesn’t matter what the purse is or what the track is, as a racer, I just want to win,” Queen stated.
After last year’s seventh place finish and his 220 laps around the half mile oval, we talked about the key to winning, Late Model racing’s biggest event, The MCDU 300.
“I think the key really is to make the field, have a smart race and basically ride to the end till they do the 10 lap shootout,” Queen said. “The main thing is just ride and keep the fenders on it, I mean, if you just keep the fenders on it at the halfway, you get to work on it. So yeah basically just riding and missing the wrecks.”
Last we discussed the influences and what makes Brenden Queens racing program come to life.
“Phil Warren is the main guy, the one who keeps me confident and ready to go. He works on the car week in, week out and making it how I want it every week,” Queen remarked. “Freeland Electric, Adkins Motorsports. Bryant Motorsport Parts Barn, Gene Nichols, C&R Hughes Farms, After Hours Fabrication and of course my family and Larry Nelson for letting me drive his race car and my whole race team, there’s Mike, Nate, Justin, Colby, it’s a team effort”. Brenden Queen could be a name to watch in this year’s Martinsville MCDU 300 as the young race talent carries a bit of momentum heading into this big race.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Queen qualified on the outside pole in a nineteen car field boosting his confidence and finishing a solid fifth in the points standings at Langley Speedway. Earning the respect from many of his fellow racers, Queen has also been unafraid and thrilled race fans in racing door to door against some of Late Models best. He plans on doing more come Martinsville as I’m sure there a corner somewhere in his bedroom where a prized grandfather clock can go. He’s got a plan, he’s got a good car, he’s got a good crew chief and he’s coming to Martinsville Speedway for the MCDU 300.
