Mackena Bell Ends Rookie Season in the Record Books

[Michelle Langley]

At the beginning of the 2009 race season Mackena Bell learned that she would be representing NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series at TOYOTA Speedway at Irwindale in Southern California.

As the track newcomer joined the Position One Motorsports team out of Baldwin Park, Calif., she focused on a strong freshman season in the AC Delco Super Late Model series and was determined to make her way as the only female driver in the field.

Traveling from her hometown of Carson City, Nevada to participate in the 21 scheduled events, Bell quickly became a track favorite and was labeled the "Fastest female at TOYOTA Speedway".

As the season began to play out, Bell found success at the speedway and during the final points event of the season found herself reflecting on a summer of personal achievements.

Spending the entire season undeterred by an occasional unfortunate circumstance and always able to make the best out of any situation, her final run of the season was no different. Taking the green flag start, she hustled her No. 30 Position One Motorsports entry from the seventeenth qualifying spot to a quick fifteenth spot by lap 7.

As the 31-car field made it's way around the track, Bell remained in the fifteenth spot where it looked as though she would finish, until a four-car pile up took place on the final lap of the race. Narrowly missing the incident on the front straight, when the dust and debris settled, Bell took the restart flag and would go on to finish in the eleventh spot ending her string of ten consecutive top 10s.

As she entered her last race of the season, Bell and the No. 39 of Ryan Partridge began an immediate battle. By lap 12 things got dicey and Bell found herself caught in a three-way fight between her, the No. 20 Derek Thorn and No. 90 Justin Johnson. On the back straight Thorn checked up and Johnson ran into the back of Bell causing her to get sideways at nearly 100 mph. Using her dirt driving talent, Bell recovered the loose race car and continued without hesitation. Johnson suffered damage as a result and had to retire, while Bell continued her battle for twelfth alongside Partridge and No. 25 Scott Dodd.

On lap 29 Bell radioed to her crew that her brakes were getting progressively worse. As the laps counted down, Bell made the decision to decrease her speed in order to maneuver around the racetrack safely and would eventually fall back to thirteenth where she would finish the race under red flag conditions.

Although the results of the final race weekend were not what the young Drive for Diversity driver was looking for, Bell says she couldn't be happier with her accomplishments as a rookie at TOYOTA Speedway.

“I came into the season wanting to learn as much as I could, progress each weekend and turn some heads. I did that. I was in contention for the rookie of the year award and missed that honor by only 96 points behind an experienced Super Late Model driver who had run a few races at TOYOTA Speedway last season. I'm proud of that. I made history at TOYOTA Speedway, becoming the only female in the Super Late Model division to achieve a podium, 3rd place finish. I'm honored to have my name in their history books. I had the opportunity to race with and learn from some of the most successful drivers on the West coast while representing woman in this sport. I couldn't have asked for more."

The nineteen-year old finished eighth in the point standings after 1 top five, 10 top 10s and 19 top 15s and recently cracked the Top 20 driver's roster in the NASCAR Official State Standings for California. Bell says she is optimistic as to what 2010 holds for her racing career and stated, "If you believe in yourself, anything is possible."

"It has been my honor to represent NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, Position One Motorsports, NGK Spark Plugs, Eibach Springs and Molecule this season," Bell said. "I have had the opportunity to attend several prestigious events and speak before our armed forces. I believe that no matter what your dream is in life, you have to be the one to put your dream in to motion."

Bell will continue to do just that as she heads East in October for the annual Drive for Diversity Combine presented by Sunoco. Drive for Diversity is the industry's leading development program for minority and female drivers and crew members. Since its inception in 2004, thirty-one drivers have competed under the D4D banner winning 34 races.