"Race, race, race!" When you ask Mackena Bell what she wants to do with her future, this is the response
you'll get, without hesitation and with complete certainty. But this wise young lady admits that with all her
dedication and effort, it is a bigger dream than most and she realizes that she had better have a back-up plan,
and she does.
When asking Mackena if she feels the pressure of being one of the only female drivers on the track, she
quickly answers, "Not at all! Maybe when I first started racing I felt some pressure, but not any more. If
anything, I think the guys feel the pressure. My Dad has always told me and my sister, that no boy wants to be
beat by a girl and sometimes they end up taking themselves out trying to beat me," she says shaking her head.
"They should see me as just another driver and know that if they race me hard, I'm gonna race them hard
back."
With Mackena's determination and her strong desire to be competitive in any race car, she attended the Wally
Pankratz Midget driving school in San Bernardino, California. The longtime competitor and class Champion in
the Midget Division, was impressed by Mackena's talent and told her he expected to hear about her in the
years to come. Mackena has been quoted as saying, "Wally got me hooked on asphalt! He was really patient
and taught me how to get the car around the track. He taught me how to be fast without over driving it or being
too aggressive. I think about what he taught me all the time when I'm on asphalt and I often wonder what he
might think if he saw me drive today."
Mackena is making her own statement as a young female driver on the West coast. In her rookie year as an
asphalt driver, Mackena became the youngest season Champion in the track's 42 year history and the only
female to win a Championship Title in the Legends Division.
Bell had captured her first-ever asphalt feature win early in her career at the age of 14. With her primary
competitors being men who averaged their mid 30's and several being past track Champions, Mackena never
allowed them to intimidate her. In fact, just weeks after winning her first asphalt race, she won her second. With
5 fast qualifying nights, 4 trophy dash wins and 11 out of 16 Top 5 finishes, she focused on the title and never
looked back.
Bell ended her 2005 season at Champion Speedway with some impressive stats, bragging rights, the
"Promoters Choice" award, the Rookie of the Year title and the Legends Division Championship. "That
season is one I will never forget," says Bell. "From the beginning, Les Kynett, [the tracks promoter] made me
feel welcome and was always so encouraging. The hometown fans I got to know and the friendships I developed
are great memories. I wish things would have worked out differently for that property. I have driven out to the
track several times since they locked the gates and I find myself looking back and smiling at all the exciting
times I had out there. I definitely miss it."
Before her success in an asphalt car, Mackena was already a veteran dirt kart racer by age 14. Since the age
of 12, she has compiled a list of accomplishments behind the wheel of a Super Outlaw Kart. In her rookie year,
she was the Nevada Outlaw Kart Champion in 2002, received her first Rookie of the Year title and finished
third in the QRC All-Star Tour 125cc class in both 2003 and 2004.
During the 2005-2006 Red Bluff, California indoor winter series, she claimed the runner-up points position in an
Open Intermediate 500cc class, was awarded her second Rookie of the Year title and was the only female
driver to win the Prestigious 6ft Perpetual Trophy. "Red Bluff is without-a-doubt, my favorite dirt track. I have
learned a lot about myself, my driving and my intensity at that track. Bob Carrel [track promoter] once told me
that once you take the fun out of what you love to do, you ruin it for yourself. I'm thankful to him for that
advice and I try to remember it each time I'm disappointed in my performance on the track. I'm not gonna win
'em all, but I'm gonna drive hard trying!" There is much, much more about Mackena on her web site.
you'll get, without hesitation and with complete certainty. But this wise young lady admits that with all her
dedication and effort, it is a bigger dream than most and she realizes that she had better have a back-up plan,
and she does.
When asking Mackena if she feels the pressure of being one of the only female drivers on the track, she
quickly answers, "Not at all! Maybe when I first started racing I felt some pressure, but not any more. If
anything, I think the guys feel the pressure. My Dad has always told me and my sister, that no boy wants to be
beat by a girl and sometimes they end up taking themselves out trying to beat me," she says shaking her head.
"They should see me as just another driver and know that if they race me hard, I'm gonna race them hard
back."
With Mackena's determination and her strong desire to be competitive in any race car, she attended the Wally
Pankratz Midget driving school in San Bernardino, California. The longtime competitor and class Champion in
the Midget Division, was impressed by Mackena's talent and told her he expected to hear about her in the
years to come. Mackena has been quoted as saying, "Wally got me hooked on asphalt! He was really patient
and taught me how to get the car around the track. He taught me how to be fast without over driving it or being
too aggressive. I think about what he taught me all the time when I'm on asphalt and I often wonder what he
might think if he saw me drive today."
Mackena is making her own statement as a young female driver on the West coast. In her rookie year as an
asphalt driver, Mackena became the youngest season Champion in the track's 42 year history and the only
female to win a Championship Title in the Legends Division.
Bell had captured her first-ever asphalt feature win early in her career at the age of 14. With her primary
competitors being men who averaged their mid 30's and several being past track Champions, Mackena never
allowed them to intimidate her. In fact, just weeks after winning her first asphalt race, she won her second. With
5 fast qualifying nights, 4 trophy dash wins and 11 out of 16 Top 5 finishes, she focused on the title and never
looked back.
Bell ended her 2005 season at Champion Speedway with some impressive stats, bragging rights, the
"Promoters Choice" award, the Rookie of the Year title and the Legends Division Championship. "That
season is one I will never forget," says Bell. "From the beginning, Les Kynett, [the tracks promoter] made me
feel welcome and was always so encouraging. The hometown fans I got to know and the friendships I developed
are great memories. I wish things would have worked out differently for that property. I have driven out to the
track several times since they locked the gates and I find myself looking back and smiling at all the exciting
times I had out there. I definitely miss it."
Before her success in an asphalt car, Mackena was already a veteran dirt kart racer by age 14. Since the age
of 12, she has compiled a list of accomplishments behind the wheel of a Super Outlaw Kart. In her rookie year,
she was the Nevada Outlaw Kart Champion in 2002, received her first Rookie of the Year title and finished
third in the QRC All-Star Tour 125cc class in both 2003 and 2004.
During the 2005-2006 Red Bluff, California indoor winter series, she claimed the runner-up points position in an
Open Intermediate 500cc class, was awarded her second Rookie of the Year title and was the only female
driver to win the Prestigious 6ft Perpetual Trophy. "Red Bluff is without-a-doubt, my favorite dirt track. I have
learned a lot about myself, my driving and my intensity at that track. Bob Carrel [track promoter] once told me
that once you take the fun out of what you love to do, you ruin it for yourself. I'm thankful to him for that
advice and I try to remember it each time I'm disappointed in my performance on the track. I'm not gonna win
'em all, but I'm gonna drive hard trying!" There is much, much more about Mackena on her web site.
| Driving Schools: March 2005 Wally Pankratz Driving School - Asphalt Midget San Bernardino, CA. November 2005 Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Phoenix, AZ. April 2007 Jimmy Sills School of Open Wheel Racing Dirt Midget & Winged Sprint Car, Marysville, CA Driving Education: 2005 Graduate - Lyn St. James Driver Development Program Phoenix, AZ. RACE CAREER 2006-2007 Super Outlaw Dirt Kart - 500cc Open Division Rookie Season - 18th Final Standings (Unable to Participate in a Complete Points Season) 12 Starts - 9 Main Events - 6 Top 10's Red Bluff, CA - Winter Series 2006 4th Place Points Finish - Rookie Season 1250cc Asphalt Legends Car Shasta Raceway Park, Anderson CA. "Most Inspirational Driver" Award 13 Races - 10 Starts, 9 Top 5's & 10 Top 10's 2005-06 CHAMPION - 1250cc Asphalt Legend Champion Speedway, Carson City NV Only Female to win a Legend Championship Youngest Driver to win a Championship in track history (42 years) "Rookie of the Year" Title "Promoters Choice" Award Super Outlaw Dirt Kart - 500cc Division 2nd Place Points Finish Voted "Rookie of the Year" Only Female to Win Prestigious Perpetual Trophy 2004-05 Super Outlaw Dirt Kart - 125cc Division 3rd Place Points Finish QRC All-Star Tour, West Coast 2003-04 Super Outlaw Dirt Kart - 125cc Division 3rd Place Points Finish QRC All-Star Tour, West Coast 2002 CHAMPION - Super Outlaw Dirt Kart - Box Division "Rookie of the Year" Title Thunder Bowl Speedway, Carson City NV. Future Goals: 07' & 08' Complete Carson High School Education Continue Education in the field of Nursing Obtain sponsorships to assist with racing dream Asphalt Legend Racing - Shasta Raceway Park - Top 5 Finish in Points - Qualify for "Rookie of the Year" Award Apply for "Drive for Diversity" Program - Receive Acceptance Attend Jimmy Sills School of Open Wheel Racing Run Open Division 500cc Super Outlaw Kart series - Finish Top 5 - Contender for "Rookie of the Year" award Travel to North Carolina to race at Lowe's Motor Speedway |
| Photo Credit: Lance Menke |
| Photo Credit: Janet Larson |
| Photo Credit: Janet Larson |
| Photo Credit: www.Legendsofthepacificpics.com |
| Melo Motorsports Marty & Dana Melo, Owners |
| Melo Motorsports Marty & Dana Melo, Owners |
