Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and Mini Tyrrell, newcomers to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Kaulig Racing and RAM, share a history that extends far beyond their current team. Both drivers grew up competing in Virginia’s grassroots racing circuits, despite being nearly 200 miles apart and a generation apart in age. Queen, 28, from Chesapeake, and Tyrrell, 21, from Manassas, first crossed paths through local racing scenes and mutual awareness of each other’s talent.
Queen reflected on their early connection, saying,
“Honestly, when he was young [is when I first heard of Tyrrell]. We’re all from Virginia, and I remember him arena racing and racing late models way before I was because of the age requirement and then he was racing at a track that allowed it because it wasn’t NASCAR.”
Early Careers in Virginia’s Short Track Racing
Tyrrell made headlines early, becoming the youngest Late Model Stock Car winner ever at age 10 at Shenandoah Speedway, going on to earn two track championships. Queen’s racing development followed a more gradual arc, beginning at Langley Speedway in Hampton as a teenager. He broke through with wins in 2016 at Southern National Motorsports Park and later established a strong fan base at Langley, collecting three consecutive track championships from 2020 to 2022 and winning several Hampton Heat events.
Tyrrell recalls hearing about Queen from his father:
“My father had gone to Langley Speedway one weekend and went to watch, and I can’t remember what I was doing, I didn’t go. It was one of the local shows, and Butterbean was winning a bunch of races there. He was a fan favorite, and that was his home track.”
He added,
“Dad calls me, because we’d seen Butterbean on social media and whatnot. And he’s like, ‘Hey, Butterbean knows who you are. He’s seen you out there running.’ I think I was racing in Shenandoah Speedway at the time in late models, and I was really young and had got a little bit of social media press from being young and doing the late models at 10 years old. So yeah, [my dad] called me, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s kind of cool. I got a big guy out there in the late model world who knows who I am.’”
Competitors Turned Teammates in CARS Tour and Virginia Triple Crown
Starting at age 14, Tyrrell raced full-time in the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car (LMSC) division, capturing his first series win in 2021. Queen was simultaneously gaining traction locally while working as a longshoreman at The Port of Virginia to support his racing career. Their paths converged more in 2022 when Queen competed in several CARS Tour events, including a victory at Langley Speedway and going head-to-head with Tyrrell during the Virginia Triple Crown series.
In subsequent seasons, Queen joined Lee Pulliam Performance to compete full-time in the CARS Tour alongside Tyrrell, who raced for his family’s team. Queen’s 2023 season yielded four wins and a second-place series finish, while Tyrrell struggled through a winless year yet finished in the top five by 2024, when Queen was champion.
Reflecting on their rivalry and friendship, Tyrrell said,
“We raced super hard, door to door all season long and had our battles, but me and Butterbean have always remained friends. Just two guys that want to do the best they can and are very talented. He’s such a talented racecar driver, and he’s a great personality too. There’s a reason he’s got the fans and the following that he does because he’s a great personality.”
Their competitive spirit sometimes led to friction, such as a heated moment during the 2024 race at Wake County Speedway. Tyrrell remarked on their dynamic,
“Friends gotta punch each other a few times before they become besties, right?”
Transitioning to National Series and Team Formation
The 2025 season marked divergent routes for both drivers. Queen moved full-time into the ARCA Menards Series, capturing eight wins and clinching the championship. Tyrrell rebounded in the CARS Tour with three wins and a fifth-place finish. Queen’s impressive performance attracted the attention of Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice, leading to opportunities in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and eventually a full-time seat in Kaulig’s No. 12 truck this season.
Queen shared,
“Honestly, when I won Dover [Motor Speedway], Chris Rice reached out. And I had actually met with Chris Rice before, but honestly, after I won Dover, I was at the Waffle House on the way back to the Hampton Heat, and Chris reached out wanting to chat.”
He continued,
“And so part of the deal when I signed for this RAM deal was they threw me in the [No.] 11 car last year, which was awesome, dream come true and had speed. I mean, they threw me to the wolves. … I think it just helped prepare me for this year, working with my crew chief Eddie [Pardue]. So there was a lot of good things, but that’s kind of how the relationship started with Chris and RAM and everybody at Kaulig and Matt [Kaulig].”
The connections ran deep: Rice’s racing foundation began at South Boston Speedway, Virginia, and Pardue raced at Langley Speedway prior to Queen’s ascent, tying back to their shared Virginia roots.
Mini Tyrrell’s Breakthrough with Reality Series and Truck Opportunity
Meanwhile, Tyrrell’s trajectory changed when he earned a spot on RAM: Race for the Seat, a reality TV competition where 15 grassroots drivers vied for a full-time ride in Kaulig’s No. 14 truck. Tyrrell described receiving the invitation:
“So I was at South Boston racing in September. It was one of the last CARS Tour races, and Chris had given me a phone call and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to do this show for RAM and we want you to be a part of it. Is it something that you’re interested in doing? You have an opportunity to drive a Craftsman truck next year for a full season.’ And I said, ‘Mr. Rice, that’s all you had to say. Whatever I got to do, I’m in.’”
He ultimately won the competition at South Boston and earned the coveted full-time Truck Series seat, joining Queen as teammates at Kaulig Racing.
Tyrrell expressed his gratitude, stating,
“I’m so grateful and so thankful to them that I came out on top and won the seat. And for what they’ve done for me so far, little Mini would have never thought that he would be at this level and be getting such a phenomenal treatment that I’m getting. … I didn’t see myself at this age being here yet. I thought it was going to take a little longer.”
Shared Mission and Mutual Support on the Same Team
Intriguingly, Queen played a role behind the scenes in the reality show by preparing the cars used in later episodes, bridging their individual paths once again. Queen noted,
“Obviously, I’ve known Mini a long time, and then we CARS Tour raced for a couple of years there. So I think the coolest part about it is just two short track guys making it. When you’re a short track guy, you pull for all the short track guys to get a shot, because you know how important it is and how hard it is.”
He added,
“So obviously, there was a lot of talent on the show, and there’s a lot of people that gave him a run for his money, but it is cool to have somebody on the team that you know already and you’ve been around. So I think that makes it easier for me, at least.”
Now reunited in the 2026 Craftsman Truck Series, both drivers confront the challenge of translating their grassroots success into strong national-level results. Tyrrell acknowledges the benefit of Queen’s experience, saying,
“It’s just really cool to have him as a teammate and us growing up racing against each other and being friends and now actually working for the same race team. So it’s really cool because now me and him talk all the time, and he helps me out and gives me advice because he’s got more experience than I do in this. So I try to lean on him a little bit when I can.”
Early Results and Upcoming Challenges in 2026
After two races in the current Truck season, Queen ranks sixth in points and has earned one top-10 finish. Tyrrell, meanwhile, stands fifteenth after two 19th-place finishes. Building on their longstanding rivalry and friendship, the duo now face a significant test on an unfamiliar racing surface: the Streets of St. Petersburg.
Their journey together from Virginia’s local circuits to NASCAR’s national stage highlights the importance of perseverance, support, and shared history in motorsports. As both Queen and Tyrrell continue to adjust and compete at a higher level, their experiences and mutual encouragement may prove critical to their success this season and beyond.
