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. Queen is the 2025 ARCA Menards Series champion and the 2024 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour champion. Over the past several years, he has built a reputation as one of the most consistent short-track and stock car talents in the country.
Early Life and Background
Brenden Michael Queen was born on November 21, 1997, in Chesapeake, Virginia. He grew up in a racing household, with his father, Mike, also a racing driver, and the family frequented nearby short tracks. Queen got his famous “Butterbean” nickname from boxer Eric Esch, who shares the same moniker, because Queen resembled him as a baby and in his early years.
Queen began his driving career at the age of six in the legend division at Langley Speedway, his home track in Hampton, Virginia. He was mentored by Phil Warren, a seven-time Langley track champion, who served as his crew chief starting in the mid-2010s. In 2016, Queen won the late model stock track championship at East Carolina Motor Speedway, signaling his rise through the regional ranks. He also captured the 2022 dirt late model track championship at Dixieland Speedway, showing his versatility on dirt.
Path to NASCAR
Queen became a dominant force at Langley Speedway, winning three consecutive track championships in 2020, 2021, and 2022. He soon graduated to bigger regional events, including the prestigious 30th Annual Charlie Powell Memorial 400 at Florence Motor Speedway in November 2022, a major post-season Late Model event previously known as the Myrtle Beach 400.
In 2022, Queen joined Lee Pulliam Performance to run full-time in the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour beginning in 2023. The following year, on March 8, 2024, it was announced that he would make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at North Wilkesboro Speedway. That opportunity marked his official entry into NASCAR’s national series ladder.
Brenden Queen Career
Early Career (2016–2022)
Queen’s early career was defined by short-track dominance. After winning the 2016 late model stock track championship at East Carolina Motor Speedway, he continued to develop his skills at Langley Speedway and on the regional touring circuit. His three consecutive Langley track titles from 2020 through 2022 established him as one of Virginia’s top Late Model talents.
In 2022, he added the South Carolina 400 victory to his resume and captured the dirt late model track championship at Dixieland Speedway, showing that he could win on both asphalt and dirt. These accomplishments caught the attention of larger teams, paving the way for his move to the CARS Tour with Lee Pulliam Performance and eventually to NASCAR.
CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Queen moved up to the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour full-time in 2023, running with Lee Pulliam Performance. He made an immediate impact by winning the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, held on the Wednesday before the track’s Truck Series and Cup Series races, an event that also featured NASCAR stars like Dale Earnhardt Jr. Queen added Thanksgiving All-Star Classic and Battle of the Stars victories in 2023, plus Hampton Heat wins in 2020, 2023, and 2024.
In 2024, Queen capped his Late Model Stock Car career by winning the CARS Tour championship. His consistency and victory lane celebrations, often followed by a stop at Waffle House, made him a fan favorite in the Late Model community.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2019, 2025)
Queen made his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2019 at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 35 car for Vizion Motorsports. Despite a promising start, financial problems at Vizion limited his schedule that season, and he did not return to full-time ARCA competition for several years.
On December 4, 2024, it was announced that Queen would return to the ARCA Menards Series full-time, driving the No. 28 Chevrolet for Pinnacle Racing Group. He won the season opener at Daytona, the Ride the ‘Dente 200, marking his first career ARCA victory. He added wins at Kansas in May, Michigan, Dover, Iowa, DuQuoin, Salem, and Kansas in September to lock down the 2025 ARCA Menards Series championship. He also competed in the ARCA Menards Series East, winning twice at Dover and Iowa, and made a single ARCA Menards Series West start at Phoenix.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2024–2025)
Queen made his Truck Series debut in 2024 at the Wright Brand 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, driving the No. 1 truck for Tricon Garage. He posted a best Truck Series finish of 38th in 2024 while gaining valuable experience at NASCAR’s national level.
On July 15, 2025, it was announced that Queen would compete at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with Spire Motorsports in their No. 07 truck. Then, on October 16, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced that Queen would run full-time in the Truck Series in 2026, driving the No. 12 Ram 1500. Through his Truck Series tenure, Queen has recorded six top-ten finishes.
NASCAR Xfinity Series (2025)
On September 5, 2025, Kaulig Racing announced that Queen would make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in the No. 11 Chevrolet. He finished 20th in that first race and later led laps at Kansas before finishing ninth. Queen was then announced to run the remainder of the 2025 Xfinity Series season with the team, starting at Talladega Superspeedway.
Kaulig Racing Era (2025–Present)
Queen’s partnership with Kaulig Racing expanded rapidly during 2025. After his Xfinity Series debut with the organization at Bristol, he ran additional Xfinity events, including Kansas and Talladega. The relationship culminated in the announcement that Queen would drive the No. 12 Ram 1500 for Kaulig Racing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2026.
His move to Kaulig places him with one of NASCAR’s most aggressive team operations and gives him a clear path to compete for race wins and a playoff berth at the national level. The pairing signals Kaulig’s commitment to building its Truck Series program around young, proven talent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Queen is widely regarded as a smooth, calculated short-track racer with excellent race craft. His background on tight asphalt ovals like Langley Speedway has made him particularly strong in traffic, where patience and tire management are critical. Mentorship from Phil Warren helped him develop the consistency that has been the hallmark of his championship-caliber seasons.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature wins include the 30th Annual Charlie Powell Memorial 400 at Florence Motor Speedway, the 2022 South Carolina 400, the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro, and his ARCA victories at Daytona, Kansas, and Michigan. His 2025 ARCA championship and 2024 CARS Tour title stand as his two most prestigious achievements to date.
Brenden Queen Career Wins
Across regional Late Model events, the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour, and the ARCA Menards Series, Queen has built an impressive and diverse resume of victories. His championship titles in 2024 (CARS Tour) and 2025 (ARCA Menards Series) mark him as a rare driver who has succeeded at multiple levels of American stock car racing.
ARCA Menards Series Highlights
Queen won the 2025 ARCA Menards Series championship with eight race wins, including the season-opening Ride the ‘Dente 200 at Daytona and the Reese’s 150 at Kansas. He also scored 17 top-ten finishes and four pole positions in ARCA national series competition. In the ARCA Menards Series East, he added two wins (Dover and Iowa) in 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Queen won the 2024 CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour championship, along with the 2022 South Carolina 400, the 2020, 2023, and 2024 Hampton Heat races, the 2023 Thanksgiving All-Star Classic, and the 2023 Battle of the Stars. He also won track championships at Langley Speedway in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and at East Carolina Motor Speedway in 2016.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Menards Series | 8 | 17 | 4 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Brenden Queen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Queen comes from a racing family. His father, Mike Queen, is also a racing driver, and the family has long been involved in the regional short-track scene around Hampton Roads, Virginia. Growing up around cars and race shops helped shape Brenden’s path to becoming a professional stock car racer.
Personal Life
Queen is from Chesapeake, Virginia, and he frequently competes at his home track of Langley Speedway. He is currently attending Old Dominion University, where he is earning a degree in mechanical engineering. Queen is well known for celebrating his wins with a post-race meal at Waffle House, a tradition that has become a fan favorite.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a breakthrough year for Brenden Queen. He returned to full-time ARCA Menards Series competition with Pinnacle Racing Group and won the series championship with eight victories, including the prestigious season opener at Daytona International Speedway. His performance earned him ARCA Menards Series East wins at Dover and Iowa as well.
On the national NASCAR stage, Queen made his Xfinity Series debut with Kaulig Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway in September 2025, finishing 20th, and then led laps at Kansas en route to a ninth-place finish. He also ran a Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park with Spire Motorsports. His consistent results across ARCA, the Xfinity Series, and the Truck Series drew the attention of Kaulig Racing, which announced on October 16, 2025, that Queen would drive the No. 12 Ram 1500 full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series beginning in 2026.
Looking ahead, Queen’s momentum heading into 2026 is strong. With a championship in ARCA, expanded Xfinity Series experience, and a full-time Truck Series ride at Kaulig Racing, he is positioned to be one of the most-watched young drivers in NASCAR’s development pipeline.
