Jessica
Bean

LATEST SNIPPET

On September 28th, Jessica had a violent flip at Gas City I-69 Speedway. Jessica was kept over night at a near by hospital for observation for a concussion and some short term memory loss. She is doing much better now and most of her memory has come back. As an effect of the crash, Jessica's car suffered severe damage. So severe that the team is in need of a new chassis and parts in order to get Jessica back out on the track in 2013. We at Jessica Bean Racing are asking for donations to make this happen. Every little bit helps and we thank you for your support! Go here.

Profile
News
Results
Schedule

Snippets
Related Issue: Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women
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Profile

Age: 21
Birthdate: February 21, 1990
Hometown: Farmland, IN
Residence: Farmland, IN
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 130
Marital Status: Single

Jessica began racing Quarter Midgets at the age of 12, after spending a year of sitting on the sidelines and watching her younger brother race. She quickly showed that she had what it took to be a champion by winning her first seven races in the Novice division. In her six years in Quarter Midgets (2002-2023), Jessica claimed six track championships, racked up more than 60 feature wins, and posted three track records.

After Quarter Midgets, Jessica did not have the funds to move up the ranks and decided to focus on starting college at Trine University in the fall of 2008. Despite not having a ride, Jessica did not stay away from the track. She and her father fixed their racing addiction by helping out a friend who was participating in Midget racing. Although sidelined at the time, Jessica still took every chance she had to learn more about the cars, tracks, and racing in general. Thanks to several friends, Jessica had the opportunity to test Winged and Non-Winged 600cc Micro Sprints, a Kenyon Midget, and a Ford Focus Midget.

Almost two years after her last Quarter Midget race, Jessica got the call to get behind the wheel again. Thanks to her boss at the time, Jessica was able to find a Ford Focus Midget car owner who was looking for a driver. After an afternoon test session at Mt. Lawn Speedway, Jessica was asked to drive the Ford Focus Midget for Jim Stigall in the remaining five races of the 2009 USAC Midwest Ford Focus season.

In 2010, Jessica ran the entire USAC Midwest Ford Focus schedule placing 4th in the Dirt Championship points and 5th in the Overall Championship points. She was also asked to drive two USSA Kenyon Midget races for Don and Mel Kenyon, and finished in the top five in both events.

Also in 2010, Jessica was inducted into the Central Indiana Quarter Midget Hall of Fame for her accomplishments in Quarter Midget racing.

Jessica went double duty in 2011, participating in both the USSA Kenyon Midget Series and the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Series. Driving the USSA Kenyon Midget for Don and Mel Kenyon, Jessica became the first female to win a Kenyon Midget Championship. She also received Rookie of the Year honors and collected her first professional career feature win at Anderson Speedway. Jessica also placed 7th in the USAC Midwest Ford Focus Overall Championship points after being plagued with engine problems for most of the season.

Jessica is looking to continue her open-wheel racing endeavors in 2012. She plans to compete in the USSA Mel Kenyon Midget Series and the USAC Ford Focus Series once again.

Snippets

Jessica joins Race4Girls for 2012

 

News

Jessica joins Race4Girls for 2012


Jessica is excited to announce that she will be a part of Race4Girls for the 2012 racing season.

"I have been following Race4Girls since the beginning and have always wanted to be a part of the group," stated Jessica. "I finally have that chance and I couldn't be happy. I can't thank Tracey and everyone at Race4Girls for this opportunity."

Race4Girls raises money to provide higher quality equipment for the primary race car of female racers in the US who are competing professionally.

Contributions made by fans who want to support women in racing will fuel the fund. 100% of fan donations (minus the PayPal processing fee) go to the drivers.

The contribution level starts at only $5 so any fan can help support registered Race4Girls drivers! Click here.

Young Gun prospect Jessica Bean, America's next great open wheel star


It's no secret that Americans have not made much noise in the world of open wheel racing in recent years. Save for the likes of Sam Hornish Jr. and Danica Patrick, who've had their share of success in the IZOD IndyCar Series, it's been a game for racers across the globe, who've racked up titles and victories by the handful.

While there's hope in the likes of Marco Andretti as well as J.R. Hildebrand, if motorsport fans are waiting for their next big talent from the United States to dominate the Indianapolis 500, they may want to keep an eye on 21-year-old Jessica Bean.

The Farmland, IN racing sensation has been exceptional in the open wheel ranks, cracking the top-10 points standings twice in the USAC Ford Midget Series as well as winning the ultimate "hat trick" in the USSA Kenyon Midget Series this past season.

Bean captured her first race win, rookie-of-the-year honors, and the driver's title in the Kenyon Midget Series this year, which certainly immortalized her not only as a great in that division, but as a true young gun who's always ambitious at opportunities she earns along the way.

Upon reflecting on her sensational 2011 season, Bean was humble and grateful at her immediate success.

"Winning the championship, receiving rookie honors, and getting my first win has definitely helped to boost my career," Bean said. "Making all of this happen has been a whirlwind of a ride, and it only keeps getting better. I look forward to see what is in the next chapter of my career."

Having been an open-wheel racer all her career, Bean recognizes the fact that there could be seats in other series that'd help her climb the racing ladder.

"I would like to stay the course with open-wheel, with the ultimate goal of making it to IndyCar," Bean said. "But I would be open to any good opportunities that I earn along the way. You can never pass up an opportunity that is good enough."

For the time being, she's a racer who epitomizes that "never say die" attitude that her contemporaries in A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and the Unser clan embraced in their illustrious legacies in open wheel cars.

"Racing is one of those things where when it gets in your blood, you can’t stay away from it. I have developed a strong passion for racing," she said. "I’ve been involved in racing for almost 10 years now; I don’t know what life would be like without it.

"I enjoy every bit of it, the adrenaline rush, the competition, just the whole experience. Those are my driving forces."

Even when she got injured earlier this year, she didn't slow down at all, even if it meant risking the chance of getting hurt again at the track. Like most racers, she played with the pain, even when it came at a high risk - a sign of that true driver mentality where success will be found, no matter what.

"The day after the wreck, with a concussion and only three hours of sleep, I was back out at the track working the USAC .25 Midget events at Eldora Speedway," Bean said. "Some would say that’s stupidity, but I’d call it dedication. I love being at the track and enjoyed working for USAC over the summer so I wanted to be there."

And being there is what Bean's been doing since age twelve, as she's been merely more than just a fan in the stands. Instead, she's been there, making history, and most of all, making all the right moves to be a winning racer.

Don't be surprised to find her on the starting grid of a future Indianapolis 500, doing more than just making the field.

If history's any indication, she might just become the first American since Sam Hornish, Jr. to take a swig at that glass of milk in Victory Lane.

Results

2011
FORD FOCUS MIDGET
7th - USAC Midwest Ford Focus Overall Points
9 Top 10 USAC Finishes
3 Top 5 USAC Finishes
1 USAC Heat Race WIN

Recipient of the USAC Kara Hendrick Spirit Award, in conjunction with Lyn St. James' Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation

KENYON MIDGET POINTS CHAMPION

First Female in History to Win a Kenyon Midget Championship

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
6 Top 10 USSA Finishes
3 Top 5 USSA Finishes
1 USSA Feature WIN
Finished 7th at US 24 Speedway Midget Clash (1st Kenyon Dirt Race, Started 19th)

2010

FORD FOCUS MIDGET
4th - USAC Midwest Ford Focus Dirt Points
5th - USAC Midwest Ford Focus Overall Points
11 Top 10 USAC Finishes
4 Top 5 USAC Finishes
4 Podium UMARA Finishes
2 UMARA Sportsman Feature WINS

KENYON MIDGET
2 USSA Kenyon Midget Starts
2 USSA Finishes

Inducted into the Central Indiana Quarter Midget Hall of Fame.

2009

FORD FOCUS MIDGET
5 USAC Midwest Ford Focus Starts

2008

Rich Vogler Memorial Scholarship Recipient

2002-2023

QUARTER MIDGETS
6 Track Championships
3 Time KQMC Heavy Honda Champion
CIQMA Heavy 160 Champion
CIQMA Jr. Half Champion
KQMC Jr. Half Champion
60+ Feature WINS
3 Track Records

Jessica has had seat time in a Wing and Non-Wing 600 Micro-Sprint, but never competed.

She graduated with Academic Honors from Monroe Central Jr.-Sr. High School in 2008 and is currently in her final year at Trine University, where she is studying mathematics and business.

Schedule

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