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Brenden “Butterbean” Queen Wins ARCA Menards Series Season Opener At Daytona International Speedway

by Hunter Thomas February 15, 2025 1 comment

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, who is a three-time Langley Speedway track champion and the most recent zMAX CARS Tour champion, is now a winner at Daytona International Speedway after holding off the field to win the ARCA Menards Series Ride the ‘Dente 200 on Saturday.

Queen qualified fifth in the Pinnacle Group Racing No. 28 bestrepair.net Chevrolet, and throughout the day, he kept his car clean and put himself in position to compete for a win at the “World Center of Racing”. With just 10 laps to go, Queen pulled out of line, and with the help from NTT INDYCAR SERIES star, Helio Castroneves, he catapulted past Lavar Scott and into the lead. Queen then pulled down the track and held off a hard-charging William Sawalich on the final lap to earn his first-ever ARCA Menards Series win.

“Oh my Lord, Bean Nation baby,” Queen said. “We brought the mullet to the ARCA Series, baby. We’re going to the Waffle House tonight, but all glory to God – thank You for keeping us safe. I’m just a Late Model guy, and worked hard to get this shot, and I didn’t think this is where the first win came, but we’re going to take it.”

Entering the day, Queen had one prior start at Daytona in the ARCA Menards Series in 2019; however, he was caught up in a crash. But this year, the Chesapeake, Virginia native survived the caution-filled race to win the season-opener as he sets his sights on competing for the series championship.

“This group right here, they deserve this, baby,” Queen said. “I had some tough shoes to fill taking over (Connor) Zilisch, but I hope this makes them happy that they signed me, and I hope that this is the first of many…we’re going to Waffle House, and we’re going to party it up with some chocolate milk.”

Queen is known for his enormous success on the Late Model level. In addition to his championships at Langley Speedway and in the zMAX Cars Tour, Queen is also one of two drivers to ever win the Hampton Heat 200 three times, and he’s also won the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway, the Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park, Battle of the Stars at New River All American Speedway, among others.

Sawalich came up one position short to finish second, but he had a strong afternoon starting from the pole position. Jason Kitzmiller finished third after starting the race deep in the pack in 24^th. Scott and Castroneves rounded out the top-five. Completing the top-10 was Kole Raz, A.J. Moyer who started 38^th, Andy Jankowiak, Ryan Roulette and Bryce Haugeberg.

The race started off with a bang as a 15-car crash took place on Lap 4. Cody Dennison lost control exiting Turn 2, and a chain reaction sent cars spinning everywhere. Notable drivers involved included Castroneves, Amber Balcaen, Katherine Legge, Willie Mullins, Corey Day, Thad Moffitt and others.

Throughout the afternoon, the caution flew often, but the finish was clean.

The ARCA Menards Series will visit Phoenix Raceway on Friday, March 7 for the General Tire 150. The race will broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.

Photo Credit: Mitchell White/TheFourthTurn.com