Brenden Queen Grateful to Lee Pulliam for Opportunities That Led to Daytona ARCA Win

Many people have supported Brenden “Butterbean” Queen’s journey to victory lane at Daytona International Speedway. However, one of his biggest supporters was a fellow Late Model Stock champion, Lee Pulliam.

Queen, who claimed the zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock championship in 2024 driving for Lee Pulliam Performance, won last Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series Ride the ‘Dente 200 at Daytona.

It was an incredible moment for the 27-year-old from Chesapeake, Virginia.

“I don’t know how you soak this in besides just take a moment," said Queen following his win on Saturday. "It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. I feel like my whole opportunity is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

It’s also a moment that seemed impossible two years ago, before Pulliam and Queen joined forces.

At that point, Queen was an established local racer, but the partnership between Pulliam and Queen put Butterbean on the map. In their first start together, Queen won the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway in 2022.

The pairing also won six CARS Tour races, back-to-back runnings of the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway, and the 2023 Thanksgiving Classic at Southern National Motorsports Park.

“A couple of years ago, I was working at the port of Virginia and racing my own Late Models. It was looking like we were going to work there and race part-time.

“I just had a really good opportunity and was able to get with Lee Pulliam the last two years, win some CARS Tour stuff and win the CARS Tour championship. That led me to the opportunity in the Truck last year where we had some good runs, a really good run at Wilkesboro.”

Before Queen even made it to victory lane on Saturday, he was on the phone with Pulliam celebrating the win.

“He sent me a long text [Saturday] morning, just telling me how much I meant to him and how I changed his life,” said Queen. “I think it’s the other way around, he changed my life. Not even racing, just having a brother for life.

“That’s always a memory I’m going to have, driving into victory lane talking to him on the phone with the car running. He just told me how proud he was. I asked him how much popcorn did he spill, because the text was, ‘When you win this afternoon, I’m going to spill popcorn all over the floor.’”

There were plenty of supporters along the way, including family and sponsors during Queen’s formative racing years, racing for track championships at Langley and East Carolina Motor Speedway.

“There are so many people that have been a part of my career. I started in go-karts. My Legend car crew chief is here to help me. My family did awesome with our own Late Model. The Staton family with Best Repair, I mean, it’s not just one.”

However, there is a special bond between Pulliam and Queen, and the latter firmly believes Pulliam could have easily lived out the dream he is chasing right now.

Among other accomplishments in his driving career, Pulliam earned four NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National Championships between 2012 and 2017. Pulliam also won the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway twice, in 2011 and 2014.

“The Lee Pulliam deal is obviously really big because of the last two years that have put me on this national spotlight," said Queen. "Lee Pulliam should be here. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be a full-time driver in one of these series.

“I told him on the phone I feel like God put you in your spot to help me and Corey Heim and people like us. Lee did a great job. I want him to be able to live through me also.

“He’s a person, like I said, that should be here, had the talent, it just didn’t work out. I think his bigger purpose in life was helping people like me get this opportunity. I already owe him a steak on Monday or Tuesday. That was the best last night.”

Now, the focus turns to the next ARCA Menards Series event. The General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway takes place on March 7 at 8 p.m. ET.

“For everybody that knows me, it’s awesome and I’m going to enjoy it, but I’m focused on Phoenix now. I want more. Winning is contagious. I’m not going to go winless this year, that’s a plus. I was nervous about that, so got that out of the way early.”

-Photo credit: Tyson Gifford, TobyChristie.com