Brenden Queen Bio
Brenden Michael Queen (born November 21, 1997), nicknamed “Butterbean,” is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 12 Ram 1500 for Kaulig Racing, and is recognized as the 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion. A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, Queen has built his reputation through short-track success before climbing into NASCAR’s national ranks. He is also the 2024 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour champion, making him one of the most accomplished late model racers of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Brenden Michael Queen was born on November 21, 1997, in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he still resides and frequently races at his home track, Langley Speedway. Queen got his nickname “Butterbean” from boxer Eric Esch, who shares the same ring name, because Queen resembled him as a baby and in his early years. His father, Mike, was also a racing driver, which helped shape Brenden’s early interest in the sport.
Queen began racing at the age of six in the Legend division at Langley Speedway, a short track that has long served as a proving ground for Virginia racers. He later studied at Old Dominion University, where he is working toward a degree in mechanical engineering. He is also known for stopping at Waffle House after winning races, a tradition that has become a small but recognizable part of his public persona.
Path to NASCAR
Queen progressed steadily through Virginia’s short-track ranks, capturing three consecutive Langley Speedway track championships in 2020, 2021, and 2022. He was mentored by Phil Warren, a seven-time Langley track champion who served as his crew chief beginning in the mid-2010s. In 2016, Queen won the late model stock track championship at East Carolina Motor Speedway, and in 2022 he added the dirt late model track championship at Dixieland Speedway.
His national profile grew in 2022 when he won the 30th Annual Charlie Powell Memorial 400 at Florence Motor Speedway, one of the Late Model racing calendar’s most prestigious post-season events. The following year, he won the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro held the Wednesday before the track’s NASCAR races, an event that also featured driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. These results caught the attention of national-series teams and opened the door to ARCA and NASCAR opportunities.
Brenden Queen Career
Early Career (2016–2022)
Queen’s early career centered on Late Model stock car racing across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. He captured multiple track titles, including championships at East Carolina Motor Speedway in 2016 and Langley Speedway in each year from 2020 through 2022. In 2022, he also won the dirt late model championship at Dixieland Speedway and scored a major victory in the South Carolina 400, signaling his arrival as a serious short-track talent.
That same year, he aligned with Lee Pulliam Performance to run full-time on the CARS Tour beginning in 2023. His aggressive style and consistency on short tracks earned him a reputation as a driver to watch, and the wins at Florence Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway reinforced that standing.
CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Queen joined Lee Pulliam Performance full-time on the CARS Tour in 2023 and immediately produced results, including his victory at North Wilkesboro. He built on that momentum across the 2024 season, winning the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour championship. The title cemented his status as one of the top Late Model competitors in the country and provided the springboard for his move into NASCAR’s national touring series.
ARCA Menards Series (2019, 2025)
Queen made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the 2019 season opener at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 35 car for Vizion Motorsports. Despite limited starts that season due to the team’s financial difficulties, the debut planted the seeds for a full-time return years later.
In December 2024, it was announced Queen would return to ARCA on a full-time basis in 2025, driving the No. 28 Chevrolet for Pinnacle Racing Group. He opened the season with a win at Daytona in the Ride the ‘Dente 200, his first career ARCA victory, and went on to win at Kansas in May, Michigan, Dover, Iowa, DuQuoin, Salem, and Kansas in September. The eight-win campaign delivered the 2025 ARCA Menards Series championship. Across his ARCA career, he has recorded 8 wins, 17 top-ten finishes, and 4 poles.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2024–2026)
Queen made his Truck Series debut at the 2024 Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, driving the No. 1 truck for Tricon Garage. He posted six top-ten finishes that season, establishing a best career result of 38th in the series standings. On July 15, 2025, he was announced for a one-off Truck start at IRP with Spire Motorsports in the No. 07 truck.
On October 16, 2025, Queen was announced as a full-time Truck Series driver for 2026, competing for Kaulig Racing in the No. 12 Ram 1500. The move represents a significant step forward, pairing him with one of NASCAR’s most established multi-series organizations as he transitions fully into national-series competition.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (Xfinity) (2025)
Queen made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at the 2025 Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, driving the No. 11 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing. He finished twentieth in his first start, then earned a ninth-place result at Kansas that included his first career Xfinity laps led. He was later announced to run the remainder of the 2025 Xfinity schedule with Kaulig beginning at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing the year 41st in series points with one top-ten finish.
Kaulig Racing Era (2025–Present)
Queen’s partnership with Kaulig Racing has grown rapidly across 2025 and into 2026. After his Xfinity debut at Bristol, the team expanded his role to include additional Xfinity starts and a full-time Truck Series ride for the 2026 season. Driving the No. 12 Ram 1500, Queen is positioned to build momentum in the Craftsman Truck Series while continuing to gain experience at the Xfinity level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Queen has built his reputation as a strong short-track racer with a smooth, consistent style that suits high-banked ovals and tight corner entries. His background in Late Model racing has given him strong race craft, tire management skills, and the patience required in long runs. Working alongside veteran crew chief Phil Warren during his developmental years helped him build a technical foundation that he now brings to national-series competition.
Notable Races and Milestones
Queen’s signature wins include the 2022 South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway, the 2024 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour championship, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series title, and his first ARCA victory at Daytona in 2025. Other notable results include the Hampton Heat wins in 2020, 2023, and 2024, the 2023 Thanksgiving All-Star Classic, and the 2023 Battle of the Stars, all of which highlight his short-track pedigree.
Brenden Queen Career Wins
Brenden Queen has compiled victories across Late Model stock car competition and the ARCA Menards Series. His breakthrough national win came in the 2025 ARCA Menards Series, where he captured eight races and the series championship. He is also a former CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour champion and a multiple-time Late Model track champion in Virginia.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Queen’s 2025 ARCA Menards Series campaign stands as the defining season of his career to date. He opened with a win at Daytona and added victories at Kansas (May), Michigan, Dover, Iowa, DuQuoin, Salem, and Kansas (September) to lock down the championship. In total, his ARCA résumé includes 8 wins, 17 top-ten finishes, and 4 poles across combined East, West, and national series starts.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond ARCA, Queen has been a dominant force in Late Model racing. He captured the 2024 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour championship, three consecutive Langley Speedway track titles from 2020 to 2022, the 2016 East Carolina Motor Speedway late model track title, the 2022 Dixieland Speedway dirt late model track championship, and the 2022 South Carolina 400. He has also won the Hampton Heat in 2020, 2023, and 2024, plus the 2023 Thanksgiving All-Star Classic and 2023 Battle of the Stars.
Brenden Queen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Queen comes from a racing family rooted in Chesapeake, Virginia. His father, Mike Queen, is also a racing driver, which gave Brenden early access to the garage area and a direct path into the sport. He continues to be closely associated with his home track of Langley Speedway, where he first climbed into a race car at age six.
Personal Life
Queen is from Chesapeake, Virginia, and continues to make Langley Speedway a central part of his racing identity. He is currently attending Old Dominion University, where he is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. Off the track, he is known for his post-race ritual of eating at Waffle House following victories, a habit that has become a small but endearing trademark.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been the most successful of Brenden Queen’s career. He returned to the ARCA Menards Series on a full-time basis with Pinnacle Racing Group and won the series championship with eight victories, including the season opener at Daytona. The title positioned him as one of the top up-and-coming stock car drivers in the country.
Queen also expanded into NASCAR’s national touring series in 2025. He made his Xfinity Series debut with Kaulig Racing at Bristol, later led laps at Kansas, and was added for the remainder of the Xfinity schedule beginning at Talladega. He made additional Truck Series starts, including an appearance at IRP with Spire Motorsports, while continuing to log top-ten finishes in his limited Truck schedule.
Looking ahead, Queen is set to compete full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026 with Kaulig Racing, driving the No. 12 Ram 1500. With an ARCA championship, a CARS Late Model title, and a multi-series NASCAR deal secured, his 2025 results have set the stage for a sustained run at the top levels of stock car racing.
