LABELLE – A 12-year-old LaBelle resident won prestigious drag racing awards and the title of 2023 Sportsman Rookie of the Year for all classes in the Professional Drag 2nd Racing Association (PDRA).

Victoria Beaner, who has been featured in Caloosa Belle Independent in years past for her racing wins, earned the prestigious honor in the Junior Dragster category by winning one championship at the PDRA Northern Nationals, reaching the final round of races at the PDRA North-South Shootout and PDRA Carolina Nationals and finishing second for the overall championship. She also notched several top qualifying efforts, hitting speeds of more than 85 mph.

“The thing that I am most proud of in my first year in PDRA is finishing runner-up for the championship,” Victoria said. “We set goals at the beginning of the year and one of those goals was to finish in the top five.”

This year she said she learned there are always challenges.

“We had so many failures, but we were able to overcome them,” she said.

Although she has been racing only five years, she continues to pile up the experience with over 1,200 passes down various U.S. drag ways.

 And 2024 is building to be her most challenging – and rewarding - year yet. Not only will she continue her career in the Junior Dragster category, but Victoria is also venturing into car racing, testing a Legends Car, including one she calls “Renegade,” as well as racing Late Model cars on oval tracks throughout the Southeast.

Victoria had no clue about winning the Rookie of the Year Award until she was called to the stage to receive it.

“It was quite a surprise,” she said.

Victoria said she is both excited and nervous at the same time about next year’s races.

“It is something new, and a new chapter.”

To learn more about Victoria’s racing career, visit her website at www.victoriabeaner.com and follow her on Facebook at Victoria Beaner Racing at https://www.facebook.com/VRB456X.