Victoria Beaner, one of the rising stars of the PDRA’s Top Jr. Dragster division, is in the middle of a potential world championship season. The 2023 championship runner-up and Sportsman Rookie of the Year is the current points leader with a win and a runner-up finish, plus a non-points-earning win at the recent Summit Racing Equipment PDRA ProStars specialty race. Now, a spinal fusion surgery to address Idiopathic scoliosis will take her out of her VRB Motorsports Jr. Dragster named “Deuce” for the second half of the 2024 Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series season, including this weekend’s Northern Nationals presented by Talbert Manufacturing at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.
When Beaner won the PDRA ProStars race during Virginia Motorsports Park’s PBR Night of Fire on July 13th, the final round was likely the last time she’ll be in her car until January. She started treatment not long after returning home in preparation for the spinal fusion procedure scheduled for mid-August.
“She had a rapidly progressing curve/rotation of the spine,” explained Beaner’s father and crew chief, Darin. “The hospital stay will be 3-6 weeks, with a recovery time of 4-6 months. The surgical team assured her she would be back in her car by January. She is having traction placed on her back to lessen the curve/rotation, prior to surgery. Within 24 hours post-fusion, the goal is to be up and walking, six weeks with nothing strenuous, then on to physical therapy.”
Aside from the physical challenges that lie ahead, the decision to step away from a promising championship pursuit was difficult for Beaner and her family, but it was one that needed to happen now.
“When you are 12, having the great results that she has had on track this last year it was difficult to stop mid-season, but we know 2025 has a lot of open doors for her and are already setting the schedule,” Darin said. “She will start driving several different cars to help her get more experience and seat time, with the end goal to be driving Pro Stock in a few years. That made this decision a little easier.”
Beaner, who has built an impressive fan base with an active presence on all social media platforms, has similarly earned the support of numerous major partners. Those supporters have pledged their continued backing as Victoria steps away from the track for a short time and recovers.
Victoria and her family are hoping that they can raise Scoliosis awareness within her reach, and knowing that if it’s caught early enough, the result of having surgery is minimalized. With no surprise to many, Victoria has pictures and videos along this journey and will share at a later date in hopes that if she can help just one family catch scoliosis early enough in their child, then this journey of hers will not be in vain.
