Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
Local girl, Sydni Bean grew up watching her dad at the racetrack. Her dad, Marty Bean, known for his country home cooking in Millbrook at Front Porch Grill, is a former Montgomery Motor Speedway track champion in the Pro Stock division.
He ran national series, big trucks and all over the southeast with his crew racing three different cars between them, as well as being a distinguished racer of over 20 years. Now Sydni is racing against him.
“It’s just it’s all I knew for so long. When dad got out of it I was still always asking, can we go to the racetrack? Can we go to the racetrack? I was still out there. One of dad’s buddies, named Buddy Pitts, got a car and dad was helping him with it. So I got to be on the other side of the track again. It just relit the fire in me to want to do it because I just enjoyed being around the cars,” Sydni said.
Together, they race in the crown stock class, bringing it right back to where Marty is a former track champion, and where Sydni had her first race last January where she’s now learning to spin the gears.
“We have this ongoing joke, ‘get used to seeing my bumper,’ we have a lot of banter,” Sydni said.
In the crown stock class there’s specifications for a car to be eligible, such as racing a Ford Crown Victoria, Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, a Mercury Grand Marquis or a Lincoln Town Car. However, rules can vary from division and by track.
“I’m racing a Ford Crown Victoria, which is an everyday street car, they’re getting a little slimmer, but it’s just a division started for people to go out and just have fun. It’s budget friendly to get started. I’ve always wanted to race, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to get out there,” Sydni said.
She started her racing journey last August, when her dad texted her while she was at freshman orientation at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. The text read, “Hey there’s this car do you want it?”
“Of course I wanted it, so we loaded up and picked it up from Pensacola,” Sydni said.
Sydni raced her first race on January 8th, 2024 at Montgomery Motor Speedway, where she placed 12th, and just narrowly gave her dad the lead where he finished 10th.
Being new to being on this side of the track, the father-daughter duo take some precautions while Sydni is still learning the ins and outs of how to race. For instance, they wear a bluetooth headset to be able to talk and check in on one another throughout the race.
“She’s got it, she’ll be okay. She’s a good learner and she’ll take it up quickly. I know the cars are built and I know they’re safe. I know the speeds that they’re running, I know anything can happen but everything I’ve done is to try to make her safe. The radios are as much for her safety as it is teaching her to stay out of what these other guys have been doing for as long as 20 years, they’re out there to win. It’s for her safety and out of respect for them, to keep her out of their way and let her learn. As long as we do things smart, I’m not worried,” Marty said.
Marty went on to state right now it’s not about winning. This year is about getting better each week,Gaining more confidence on the track and learning more, as each track runs completely different.
“I did not think she had the moxy and she proved me wrong the first race. I’m excited for her, She’s earned it. She works for it. It’s what she loves and It’s not just given to her. She’s bought her car. This isn’t just something handed to her. She’s ust happy being greasy and dirty, setting valves, and just learning,” Marty said with a proud smile on his face.
When the two bought their cars, the cars were ready to go. However, Sydni’s boyfriend and dad are the mechanically inclined ones helping her behind the scenes, while she learns all she can about the sport she grew up loving.
“The adrenaline rush, it’s an outlet for me, it’s an escape. Anything that’s going on in my head that I might be worrying about I can let it go. I’m focused on what’s in front of me. In my first race, I was saying ‘what did I get myself into? I can’t do this,’ but then it hit me and I said ‘well you have to now,’ then the adrenaline hit and it was just fun. I love it,”Sydni said.
Sydni runs a replica of her dads car, with the same purple and yellow colors while also paying tribute to the three numbered cars Marty used to race, 15, 51 and 150. Sydni races 151.
“I did the purple and yellow, because it’s the replica of Dad’s, and that’s what he ran,” Sydni said.
Both Marty and Sydni have numerous local sponsorships including Montgomery Skywatch, Main Street Vintage, Memories, Kona Ice, Las Casitas in Prattville, TDW graphics who wrapped both cars, Autauga Glass and Mirror, who donated the windshields, 82 Auto Parts in Prattville, and of course Front Porch Grill is a sponsor of both vehicles and drivers. Marty also has additional sponsors through Grocery Advantage in Pensacola.
Being back on the track, Marty still runs the number 15 out of respect and honor to former crew members.
“I’ve lost four crew members since 2020, and one thing that’s exciting for me this year is being able to honor them on the side of the car,” Marty said.
Being new to the sport, Sydni hasn’t let being a female deter her from doing exactly what she loves to do, or sway her determination. Her tires have kept rolling, and will continue to roll on as she learns.
“I’m looking forward to being able to go out there, and just learn more, and hopefully finish on the lead lap this time. If I can hang with the boys, and hang up there with them, I’ll be happy,” Sydni said.
“It’s cool to be the person that that kid can look at and go, there’s other things I can do with my time, instead of go and do something that maybe they shouldn’t do. It’s cool to be able to show that there’s so much more out there than just what you see all the time. I feel like racing is one of those sports, where if you don’t grow up around it, you don’t really hear about it, and then you don’t really know about it,” Sydni said.
Sydni and Marty are making sure that’s changing here in Millbrook, in Prattville and surrounding areas. Getting more young girls and women to follow in Sydni’s tracks.
