Mackena Bell of Carson City, Nevada made her NASCAR Whelen series debut on Saturday August 25, 2007 at All American Speedway in Roseville, California. Mackena who is all of seventeen years old and a senior at Carson High School in Carson City, Nevada drove the No. 58 Dan Gamel RV Late Model owned by Marty Melo of Melo Motorsports based in Redding, California.

 

Bell has two championships under her belt in the five short years she has been racing. In 2002 she was champion in the Super Outlaw Dirt Kart, Box Division at Thunder Bowl Speedway in Carson City, Nevada and in the 2005/2006 season Bell was champion in the 1250cc Asphalt Legend class at Champion Speedway in Carson City, Nevada. Currently, Bell is ranked second in Pro and third overall on the West coast in her 1250cc Asphalt Legend car.

 

I had the opportunity to talk with Bell after her big weekend in Roseville, California.

 

Chris Corter: So you just made your NASCAR Whelen debut, tell me what got you here?

 

Mackena Bell: I started going to the race track when I was just nine months old. My Grandpa and my Dad both raced Super Outlaw karts at our local dirt track and my Mom tells me we were out there every Saturday night until I was five years old. At that time my parents actually tried to get me in a beginner Box Kart, but I was not ready. Then seven years later my Dad took me out to our local asphalt track and there was a dirt kart race in the infield. I recognized a lot of the boys I went to school with and it did not look that hard to me, and they (the boys) were not doing very good. My Dad asked me if it was something I thought I might want to try and I said yes. That night, my Dad bought me a used kart at the track and the very next weekend I was at the races! I remember how excited I was and how I was up very early the morning of the race. All of my family came out to watch me in that first race and I finished second out of twelve karts. I guess the rest is history.

 

Just to fill you all in on that history, young Bell has quite the racing resume including being a 2005 Graduate of the Lyn St. James Driver Development Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Also in 2005 Bell is the only female to win the prestigious Perpetual Trophy on Dirt.  Three “Rookie of the Year” titles in four years, and the youngest and only female to win a Legends Championship Title in the forty two year history of Champion Speedway, Carson City, Nevada.

 

CC: What were you doing when you got the call from Marty Melo? What was your reaction?

 

MB: Actually, it didn't happen like that for me. It was a long process that took some time to come together. This is how it began; Marty Melo and Melo Motorsports were running their Grand National car at Altamont Motorsports Park in Tracy California. I was there for the first time running my Legends car in a two-day event and had heard of Marty, but never had the opportunity to talk to him. One of their score keepers was a lady I had become friends with through Shasta Raceway Park and I went over to say hello to her and chat a bit. I've been told that my funny personality and passion I showed for the sport caught his attention. Marty had heard about me and my sister from the dirt track since we both had Championships. At that time I did not know that they (Melo Motorsports) had already been asking some questions about me, and had been watching me on dirt and were considering me for their Late Model program.   Luckily I did well that weekend in the Legends car and he (Marty Melo) sent me an email shortly after that asking what my future racing goals were? He told me about his Late Model program and I was really excited, but did not show it.  I did not want him (Melo) to think that I was desperate for a ride, but that I was deserving (of one). I did not want him to have any second thoughts, so I continued to be myself and race hard. I've always known that even though my parents work hard to keep us racing they were going to need some help to get to the next step.   Plus I haven't always been sure what I wanted that next step to be. Dirt or asphalt, I really am passionate about them both and when I am on dirt I love it and when I an on asphalt I love it. My Dad says I'm a true woman; I can't ever make up my mind. 

 

CC: Are you still pinching yourself to make sure you are not dreaming?

 

MB: I did feel a little of that while driving to the track on Saturday. We have had so many scheduling problems with the Legends point chase and other issues that have altered the racing schedule, so the big race has been talked about since early February.   That is a long time to wait for a girl who wants to get in the car! In fact, the night before the debut Marty called my Dad and told him to tell me it had been rained out! Even though temperatures had been in the 90's for months, I started to panic! Of course it was just a joke and boy was I glad to hear that!

 

CC: What was going through your mind during the driver introductions while you were sitting on the starting grid? Did you have any goose bumps or small birds in your stomach? I figured this was way beyond just butterflies…

 

MB: Oh I think I had swarms and swarms of the largest birds alive! So many emotions were going through my mind and my stomach! I was nervous, anxious, then nervous, then anxious, then I started feeling really excited, then I started feeling sick, then nervous and finally during the introductions I took a big, deep breath and reminded myself that this moment was what I had been waiting for. I heard them introducing me as the youngest driver in the field, they talked about my Legends career and current pro standing and then I heard my family, friends, sponsors and racing teammates start cheering. Surprisingly it was a very calming moment, certainly the calmest of the day. It was great and one of those racing moments that I will always remember.  I'm so glad I took the time to clear my head and enjoy it!

 

CC: Any fans in the stands who came out to see you run?

 

MB: Oh I had about forty people who came out to support me and they let themselves be heard. Scott with Dan Gamel RV, his wife and son drove over. All of my family from Carson City made the drive, long time family friends from Lodi and their great kids came over. In fact their little one gave up a sleep over with friends so that she could come watch me race, she is only seven. Things like that are what I will remember forever. The parents of some of my Legends competitors and oddly enough, some of my Legends competitors themselves came out.  Now that was a surprise and such a different sound to hear them cheering me on! One of them painted ‘Go Mackena 58’ on his chest and ran down to the straight-away fence during the yellows. It was great and he got the crowd going crazy! I guess I had never realized how many friends you make in this sport when you are neck and neck with them each weekend, but it meant a whole lot to me to have that fan base there and it is one more thing that made that day so special to me. My Mom told me that it made her heart smile to see those we didn't even know stand up and cheer for me during the introduction. She said that she had several people come over and talk to her before the race who had told her that I was their favorite Legends driver and that they hoped to see more of me in Roseville. 

 

CC: Once the green flag dropped, were you able to get focused quickly, or was it still overwhelming?

 

MB: It was a little overwhelming at the start. I could feel the tension in my neck and lower back and kept telling myself to relax, relax! About ten laps into the race I remember radioing my crew chief and telling him that the butterflies were gone and I was ready to get on the gas. They wanted me to be patient and I have tell you, it was much harder than I thought it would be to have the spotter tell me to move over for the approaching cars. That is not my nature and all I wanted to do was get on the gas and see what the car and I could do together. I knew that we needed to stay out of the way as many at the track are involved in the points chase. But week after week when I see that green flag drop, I'm on the gas, running the high line, diving for the low line and making my own path to the front of field. It was difficult to hold back that feeling of wanting to do the same in Late Model. In time I know we will work ourselves up to that, and I can't wait until we do!

 

CC: Did you feel the other drivers showed you any respect, since you had that big yellow stripe on your rear bumper?

 

MB: In my opinion there is nothing more important than respect on the track. There is a lot of money tied up in a racecar, a lot of time and a lot of sacrifice. The sooner you earn the respect of your fellow drivers the better the race is for everyone. Once that respect is gone it is just a matter of laps before the field crashes up. From the response of the drivers and the track officials, I did earn their respect and the invitation to run with them again and the praise from the tracks director proved that for me. It was a good feeling. But since I had to let everyone pass me, they better have respected that. (laughing)

 

Oh yeah, that big yellow stripe! So obvious to everyone and something I have not been called in a long time; a rookie! It is kind of funny. I obviously know what the stripe represents and in a way I felt like it was a good thing and a bad thing. I went there to race, I wanted to race, but I also understand how it feels to be involved in the points chase and see that 'rookie' show up at the track. You automatically burn that number into your brain and prepare yourself for what they might or might not do. I have done it a million times in the Legends car and I knew they were doing that with me. It was weird to think that I was the "caution" on the track this weekend; the one to watch!

 

CC: Do you think you earned your right to be at this level now that your first race is under your belt?

 

MB:  I do and I'll tell you why. I know I can drive a racecar. I know that I can take the information they (the crew) give me and I can put it all together and make it work. When it doesn’t, I can tell them that too and get across to them what needs to be changed; what will work for me. I am confident that I have climbed the right ladders and that I am not driving something that is out of my league. I know when to lift and I know when to pedal down.  Am I going to make mistakes? Of course, but when I do then I'll have to correct them and in that will come learning more about the car, the track and the dream. There is so much more to driving a racecar than any one person might think. If it was an easy no brainier, it would not be any fun!  

 

I'll share a quick story with you. After my accident in Eureka that totaled the car I had never experienced such a blow to my confidence, never. I had great difficulty knowing that I had crashed and would ultimately cost the car owner money and time. It was the first time in five years that I had doubted myself, my ability to do what I love. It took me weeks and possibly months to overcome that feeling of letting someone down. I know that I am my hardest critic, but there is something different about crashing our family owned racecars and that of somebody else.

 

Getting back in the racecar was what I needed. I was so nervous at my first test after the crash, but I couldn't believe how comfortable, how at home I felt so quickly. Yes I had crashed the car because I made a mistake and did not do what I knew I needed to do. I lifted when I should have stayed in the gas and drove out of it, but out of that crash I learned so much, not just about the car but about myself. Since the crash, I have had the car in the same situation several times and I have driven out of the situation. Last test I chased that car for about 60 feet in a sideways drift coming out of turn 2 at SRP. The entire time I was telling myself that it wasn't going to happen again, that I was in control and I could drive that car! It was impressive and it felt so great to know that I could handle that car whether I was going straight or drifting!  Now Marty and the crew, my Dad and the others, they just about had a heart attack.  Thank goodness my Mom wasn't there. Sorry, my quick story got a little long but I thought it was worth sharing. Everything can be overcome when your passion is as big as mine! 

 

CC: When is your next NASCAR Whelen race?

 

MB: Next race will be Saturday, September 29th in Roseville again. I can’t wait! I'm really, really looking forward to bettering my finishing position, getting a little more leash (Laughing) to race a little harder and learning something new.

 

CC: Finally, will this change the way you look at the current series you run full time, in your Legend car and your Sprint car?

 

MB: Well, I have applied for the 2008 NASCAR Drive for Diversity (www.drivefordiversity.com) program. This program supports the NASCAR Whelen series from coast-to-coast and if I should be lucky enough to be selected I will head back to North Carolina to drive a Grand National car at the combine. Then if I make the cut back there, then I would be eligible for a full time ride in 2008 in the Late Model with an established team. I know it’s a big goal, but I’m up for it and I’m hopeful. As far as the Legends car or the Winter Series on dirt, the winter series should not be affected, but I’m not positive on the combine dates. Then with the Legends car, I would run that as much as possible on the off weekends. Racing, racing, racing; sounds great to me!

 

CC: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me Mackena.

 

One more thing to touch on, here is the quick version of the race. Bell started the race at the back of the pack because of her “Rookie” status, but by the time the checkers waved she had moved herself up to the twelfth spot. Not bad for a “Rookie”.  Keep your eyes on this young driver, as she is going places.