CARSON CITY, Nv — It was a scorcher this past weekend for nineteen year old, NASCAR Drive for Diversity/Position One Motorsports driver Mackena Bell as she watched temperatures creep above the 100 degree mark during the Super Late Model event at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.
After a successful two-day practice event on Thursday and Friday, Bell headed into qualifying Saturday afternoon, optimistic and determined on posting her best time thus far. With a warm-up lap that had her sitting 4th on the board, Bell and her team made a decision to run the low-line, a decision that they would later regret.
Putting herself 10th on the board, Bell and her team wasted no time dwelling on their decision, but rather regrouped and began the task of preparing the car for the feature event. With the sun setting and temperatures finally beginning to cool down, the field of twenty cars roared across the green flag to start the race.
Still the only female in the field, Bell took the green behind her teammate Luis Martinez, Jr., in the tenth spot and the pair of Position One drivers attacked towards the front. By Lap #20, Bell found herself battling for the eighth spot behind #06 Dave Beat. Her battle with Beat would continue throughout the race and would be a preview of things to come for Race #2.
With no forward bite, Bell would ultimately fall back and battle #57 David Ross for ninth. She and Ross raced each other hard, with each showing the other respect and providing the crowd with heart-pounding side by side action for several laps.
At the finish line, Bell would take the checkered in the tenth spot, achieving her third Top-10 finish in a row at the highly competitive 1/2 mile.
As Race #2 rolled to a start, conditions were even cooler and Bell took to the track in 13th position after the invert.
This time around the Carson City, Nevada resident wasted no time showcasing her talent and was on the gas pedal overtaking positions by Lap # 3. Sliding into the eighth place spot after an intense, door-to-door 4 lap battle with #06 Dave Beat, Bell's #30 entry showed the intense battling in the form of Beat’s tire rubber on the side of the car.
Nevertheless, Bell stayed focus and her battle soon moved on to her teammate, Martinez Jr., who had a two-car length advantage. Continuing to make ground as the laps counted down, Bell caught Martinez Jr., and on Lap #38 passed him down low in Turn 4, taking over seventh place where she would finish the race and bring home yet another dual-Top 10 finish for two consecutive race events.
“My guys worked very hard all weekend," Bell said. With the recent changes to the team, I wasn't sure what to expect this weekend, but I'm happy to say that the weekend was a great success. We fought the car a bit during the first race but we were able to go back, make some changes and inch our way closer to that Top 5. With continued hard work and communication, I am confident we will be running for a Top 5 position in no time."
With a three week break before the next AC Delco Super Late Model event, Bell will head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to attend the prestigious Lyn St. James, Women in the Winner's Circle luncheon on Thursday, July 23rd. The luncheon will celebrate the diversity and the successes of women in motorsports during the Centennial Anniversary of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (www.lynstjames.com).
Bell will return to Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on Saturday, August 1st for Miller Lite Night at the races. Visit the Toyota Speedway website at www.toyotaspeedwayatirwindale.com or www.MackenaBell.com for more racing details.
