The engine hummed loudly and the smell of diesel fuel coated the air.
Her body forcefully pushed against the seat as she pressed the gas pedal, and her vision blurred. As she gripped the steering wheel, freshman Sydnie Turner felt euphoric.
But looking past the racetrack, she saw her biggest supporter cheering her on.
Her grandpa, Jody Beach, has been an influential figure throughout her racing career, and their close relationship helps strengthen Turner on the track.
“My papaw is the person I look up to,” Turner said. “Whenever he was (racing), I just wanted to. I’ve always enjoyed the mechanics of cars.”
Turner’s passion for racing has always been evident even from a young age. With her grandpa racing since before she was born, it was only a matter of time before she started driving.
By 2 years old, she had her hands on the steering wheel.
“She’s been into vehicles with me for as long as I can remember,” Beach said.
As a young girl, she practiced driving with her grandpa in his backyard. At first, it started with her grandpa teaching her how to steer and brake. By 8 years old, Turner was driving by herself.
Over the next few years, she continued to practice driving and learn the basic knowledge of cars. As time progressed, she looked into participating in racing organizations.
At 13, she enrolled in Junior Street, a program that allows teenagers to race with adult supervision. From there, she started building her racing career.
Turner says the organization helped her understand that there’s more to racing than just driving the car. While she enjoyed the speeding aspect, she learned practical benefits as well. She learned how to turn a broken car into something functional and usable.
She applies this skill and knowledge to similar projects with her grandpa. She says they tear apart different parts of cars to create a whole new section in the vehicle. The projects bring them closer toget
her, and she has gained a new outlook from the experience.
“I was able to view different perspectives on things,” Turner said. “I was able to realize that even when something is bad, you have to look at the positive of it … This just means we can make the car better.”
Not only did it teach her the fundamentals of drag racing, but it opened her to new opportunities in the racing industry, including meeting professional racers like Leah Pruett and Matt Hagan.
“I have gotten to meet many people that can allow kids to have many more experiences than what normal kids would,” Turner said. “I have met people that are really famous.”
She became inspired after meeting with the famous racers in the industry. Seeing that it took hard work and effort to stay in racing, she was determined to keep going.
In August of 2024, she decided she wanted to take the next step in her racing career.
Turner chose to compete in the National Hot Rod Association divisionals, which is a competition sponsored by one of the largest auto racing organizations.
She
had to go through a certified process of getting qualified for the competition. At Wagler Motorsports Park, Turner competed in three races in a single day. She wasn’t worried about competing in her
races because she was self-assured in her skill.
And with that self-assurance and her 1998 pickup truck, Turner won all of her rounds.
As a result, she went to Norwalk, Ohio and prepared for division finals. Getting ready, she checked to make sure her truck was running and put on a fireproof suit.
As she was in the front seat, she cleared her mind in preparation for the race. She only focused on what she needed to do, which was to win.
“It’s just such a powerful feeling and it’s exciting … ,” Turner said. “The feeling of just going down that track is amazing.”
When she passed the finish line, she knew she won the division finals. As always, her grandpa was waiting for her on the sidelines.
In that moment, he was overcome with pride as he hugged her.
“He was so excited. He cried for me, and he couldn’t control his emotions … ,” Turner said. “He gave me the biggest hug, and I felt like I accomplished anyone’s dream.”
She began crying alongside her grandpa because of his reaction. From training with her grandpa to winning with him, she was
beaming with
excitement. Turner saw how far both of them have come, and she was thrilled.
“It was huge, (and) I was extremely proud of her to hit that accomplishment,” Beach said. “It was like hitting the lottery.”
For Turner, this was a monumental point of her career. Not only was it an exciting racing experience, but it also was an emotional moment shared between her and her grandpa.
From that moment forward, she knew she could accomplish anything she put her mind to, including going to college for drag racing.
Turner is incredibly excited for her future, and she wants to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio for their racing teams.
“They’re a really amazing school that has what I’m looking for,” Turner said. “I’ve already talked to their racing team, and
they just seem to be a perfect fit for me. I don’t think I could even put it into words. I’m so excited.”
Turner knows she can always count on her grandpa, and he’s always been someone she can lean on. With that support, Beach says he’s both excited and nervous to see what the future holds for her.
“He’s my biggest supporter, (and) he’s my number-one biggest fan,” Turner said. “He’s always the first person there for me.”
