Review the original item:
Tracy always knows the right answer in English class but is too shy to
volunteer whenever Professor Simmons asks a
question, Tracy's hand feels as if it weighs 1,000 pounds.
You wanted to fix it this way:
Tracy always knows the right answer in English class but is too shy to
volunteer,
whenever Professor Simmons asks a question, Tracy's hand feels
as if it weighs 1,000 pounds.
To add a comma between volunteer and whenever would create an equally bad problem, a comma splice. A comma splice occurs when you have two complete sentences joined with a comma alone. Tracy always knows the right answer in English class but is too shy to volunteer is the first complete sentence. Whenever Professor Simmons asks a question, Tracy's hand feels ... begins the second complete sentence.
The spot between volunteer and whenever needs a stronger break than a wimpy comma.
You might want to consult the rules for fixing comma splices and fused sentences.