Carson City driver Bell named to NASCAR diversity team

Nevada Appeal Staff Report

Carson City's Mackena Bell was selected Friday as a candidate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program and will join Position One Motorsports, owned by Luis Martinez of Baldwin Park, Calif., for the 2009 NASCAR Whelen Series at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA.

Bell will drive No.11 AC Delco Super Late Model for the newly formed NASCAR diversity team. Bell will run a minimum of 18 races and is under contract with Position One Motorsports from March 1 through Sept. 30.

In her first attempt to apply as a Late Model driver, Bell was selected as a finalist from over 200 applicants in the 2009 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program. After an impressive test session in front of NASCAR team owners at South Boston Speedway in Virginia last October, Bell accepted Position One's proposal and the opportunity to participate in the driver development program.

"Surprisingly I wasn't nervous about testing in front of the team owners, but excited to show them what I could do," Bell said. "Everyone within the Drive for Diversity program was very encouraging and I'm honored to have been in such great company. I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Martinez and the Position One Motorsports team and I have no doubt that together we are capable of great things at Irwindale this summer."

The 2008 prom queen brings to Position One Motorsports six years of racing experience, which includes championship titles on both asphalt and dirt and four rookie-of-the-year titles. She began her racing career in a dirt Super Outlaw Kart at the age of 12 and quickly progressed to the INEX Legends Division where she was the youngest female competitor on the West Coast to win a championship at age 14.

Debuting early 2008 in the NASCAR Whelen Late Model Division at All-American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., Bell finished her rookie season within the Top 10 and was recognized No. 234 out of thousands of drivers who competed at NASCAR sanctioned short tracks across North America.

Today, Bell will take her first ride around the iconic speedway during the Toyota All-Star Showdown when she is introduced to the 6,000 spectators as the 2009 Drive for Diversity recipient for Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

"What an honor," Bell said. "I feel very lucky to have this opportunity with such a great team at such an awesome race track. I'm looking forward to calling Toyota Speedway home for the summer."

With her Irwindale debut scheduled for March 21, Bell will be busy with test sessions and media appearances in the weeks to come. Looking to bring sponsorship monies to her program in an effort to extend her number of races from 18 to 22, Bell is developing a sponsorship packet and plans to host a NASCAR-themed golf tournament in Carson City in the spring.

Visit mackenabell.com and click on the Sponsors icon for more information.