Many have said that eleven-year-old Kellcy Bell has followed her big sisters tire tracks into the world of dirt kart racing.   But as her racing resume reflects, she has created her own set of tire tracks and her statistics prove that she is able to race right-along-side her sister, dirt and asphalt Champion, Mackena Bell.

 

Debuting at the age of 7,  the tiny blonde has made a splash on the West coast that no other little girl has been able to accomplish in the Beginner and Box Stock dirt karting series.   Kellcy has not one, but two Championship titles from the highly competitive indoor Winter Series at the Tehama Fairgrounds in Red Bluff,  California.    Kellcy is the only female to have accomplished this goal in the tracks 26 years of competition.

 

In her first year, Kellcy raced the Beginner Box Stock Division at her hometown track in Carson City, Nevada.   Barely able to see over the steering wheel and needing padding and wooden blocks to reach the gas pedal,  it was a surprise when she began setting fast times and capturing wins.    Throughout the series she continued week after week to add trophies to her ever-growing race shelf and by seasons end, she had captured a second place points finish, her first Rookie of the Year title and extra-small racing jacket.

 

As the summer season ended, Kellcy's mom and dad learned about an indoor dirt-track in Red Bluff, California, where the best kids on the West coast were racing throughout the winter months.   Together they decided that their girls could only be the best,  by learning from the best.   In October they began traveling 4.5 hours one way, where both Mackena and Kellcy began participating in the winter series points chase.  This series runs from October through March and they quickly learned that running the points was a huge commitment, not only for the girls, but for the entire family.

 

As they pulled into the fairgrounds for the first time, Kellcy's dad told her and her sister, that all he wanted from his girls was to make a statement.   That statement being,  that people noticed them and respected them as female drivers.  "No boy likes to get beat by a girl,"  their dad told them.  "You need to let them know you are here to win." 

 

Kelly & Shannon Bell have taught their girls that it doesn't matter who is in the kart next to them, race them clean and with respect and they'll do the same for you.   "It works with some of them," Kellcy says, "but with others you're like a target."   "They will crash you up before they'll let you pass them, so you remember who they are, you put the pressure on them and hope they make a mistake.  When they do, you get around them as quick as you can and hope they can't catch you.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't," she says with a giggle.

 

Kellcy's first experience on the Red Bluff track is one she will never forget.   "I remember thinking, what am I doing out here!   I can remember how loud the karts sounded and how big everyone else looked to me.   I remember I was crying and waving at everyone to pass me," she says laughing.   "Without finishing a lap, I came off  the track.   My Mom came running over and asked me what was wrong.  I told her I was scared and she told me,  to get back out there!    My dad turned my kart around and pushed me back on the track, I got a thumbs-up from Mackena and I guess the rest is history," she says with a big smile.

 

It didn't take long for Kellcy to realize that if she was going to make that 'statement' her dad had talked about, she had better step on the gas and give the boys a race to the checkered flag.   Within weeks she was finishing in the front of the pack and quickly realizing that when these boys leaned on her, she could lean back, and she did.   Soon she was setting fast time, working her way up the points ladder and winning heat races, dashes and main events.   She quickly became a track favorite in the division and earned the title of "Teacher" by track announcer, Rick Carrel. 

 

By seasons end,  Kellcy had created quite a set of statistics in the Beginner Box Stock Division.   She earned herself the "Hard Charger Award",  was the only female driver to win the Prestigious Perpetual Trophy plaque and was fast qualifier 12 of the 14 races.   She further captured four trophy dash wins, scored seven main event victories and earned herself her second Rookie of the Year Award.   Most importantly, Kellcy had raced her way to her first Championship title, her second jacket and was crowned the 2004 Beginner Box Stock Champion.   By securing this title, Kellcy became the only  female to do so in the tracks 24 year history.  "I remember how great it felt to be standing up there with all those boys and walking away with the biggest trophy.  It was pretty cool!"

 

In 2005,  Kellcy graduated from the Beginner Box kart and began racing the Box Stock Division.    This kart is powered by a four-stroke Briggs & Stratton engine that can achieve speeds of 40+ miles per hour on the straight-aways in Red Bluff.    After setting a fast qualifier track record in Knoxville, Iowa in early August,  Kellcy was ready for the Winter Series to begin.    Having seen the incredible competition in this Division during the previous year as a spectator, Kellcy admits she was a little nervous to run the class.  "My mom and dad had told me that it was a learning year and a year to grow and have fun.  I was just excited to get back to Red Bluff and figured I would give it my best try and hope for a Top 10 finish."   

 

As this little go-getter had proven in the previous divisions, she quickly adjusted to the new kart and was setting fast time and winning races only weeks into the season.    It didn't appear that she was going to need all that time to learn and grow after all.     Within weeks she was 6th in the points and by late November had taken over the points lead.  As each week passed, Kellcy continued to keep herself  within the Top 5.     In fact, as the only female in the Top 17, Kellcy finished the season 4th place overall, only 29 points out of 1st place and only 7 points from a Top 3 finish.   This final point standing brought Kellcy her third dirt kart jacket and her third Rookie of the Year award.   It also brought Kellcy the strong desire for another Championship title.

 

As the 2006 Red Bluff season began, Kellcy was focused on winning!  On opening night, her determination was evident when she ended the evening with the points lead.  Over the weeks to come she fell as far back as 6th place,  but rebounded and regained her points lead with only 5 races left in the season.    While consistency and patience,  together with fast times and trophy and heat race  wins had earned her the points lead,  she had yet to capture a main event victory.    With the Top 5 positions very close in points and her male competitors focused on the same Championship title she was focused on, Kellcy stayed consistent,  she stay focused and week after week continued to add to her points lead.  

 

On the night of the 6ft. Perpetual Trophy race, Kellcy was determined to add her name to yet another trophy as she had done in the Beginner Box Division.  After taking the early lead and leading the rest of the field by a 1/2 lap, it looked as though she had her first main event victory of the season and the 6ft trophy in the bag.   But with  6 laps to go a competitor spun and brought out the yellow flag.     On the restart lap,  the second place kart jumped the start and ran-up over the back of Kellcy's kart.   He became locked on her back-bumper and her vision of winning her second Perpetual Trophy and her first main event of the season, ended.   Through the tears and frustration she fiercely raced her way back through the pack and gained enough points to keep her points lead.    This incident changed Kellcy's thinking and after such a disappointing night, she was more certain than ever,  that the only night that could erase the tears of the Perpetual Trophy night, would be winning the Championship.

 

On February 18, 2006, Kellcy prepared herself for the last race of the season.   As she buckled into her kart, she asked her dad, "Where do I need to finish dad to win the Championship?"   Kellcy's dad bent down next to her kart and told her not to worry about points.  "Just go out there and win the race!"   As she entered the track, she saw her Mom and sister in the grandstands.  Her mom was giving her the "I love you" sign and Mackena was giving her thumbs-up.   "I remember thinking to myself, this is it!   I kept replaying in my head what my dad had told me I needed to do and when I got to the green flag, I just never looked back!"

 

Kellcy finished the season is style,  winning her first main event of the season and her second Championship title in three years.      With the fans on their feet and the cheers from the crowd, Kellcy had become the only female driver in 26 years to win two championships in Red Bluff, CA.     While spinning donuts in the end field,  her fist in the air and a smile on her dirt covered face, Kellcy realized at that moment that the tears she cried during the disappointing Perpetual Trophy night had been wiped from her memory.     She knew that another Championship title and jacket were all hers and she says "I remember thinking to myself, "I did it, I did it again!"    

 

Finishing her Box Stock career as the only female in the Top 18,  Kellcy's mom, Shannon, says,  "The season was incredibly stressful, but unforgettable.  The memories that Kellcy created for herself and for all of us will last a lifetime".   And about that "statement" her Dad wanted them to make.  Kellcy says, "When you see that big smile on my dads face, you know you've done good!"

 

Since then, Kellcy has received great hometown publicity, picked up her first national sponsor, BELL RACING HELMETS and sold her championship Box Stock kart.   Together with her national sponsor and her continuing hometown sponsors,  K. Bell Tile & Marble, Joe the Chromer, Benny's Auto Painting, Vital Signs, Tile Outlet of Carson City and K.Dub Creative Web & Graphic Design, she will move forward into the 2006-07' season in a 250cc Intermediate kart.     After her first test and tune run,  she got out of the kart with a big grin and exclaimed, "Man, this thing is FAST!"  

 

She, like Mackena, has been racing a select West coast schedule and with Junior High and school sports beginning in the Fall, she will race a limited number of events in Red Bluff this winter.    When asked if she will miss running the points chase in Red Bluff, she replied, "I love racing Red Bluff.  It is my most favorite track but I'm really excited about getting involved in school.   When I run the points I have to be focused and I have to give up a lot of other things on the weekends.   I'll be back in Red Bluff to run a few races this winter but for now I'm excited to do other stuff.   But then again, I've said that before,"  she says with a laugh.   "I know how it feels to wear that Championship jacket and even if I miss a few races,  I'm not gonna forget what it takes to win a championship.  Don't worry, I'll be back!",  she says with a smirk.

 

As an All-Star soccer player,  swimmer, basketball, volleyball and snow skier,  Kellcy has her plate full at 11 years old.   But after meeting this little dynamo,  I have a feeling that no matter what she sets her mind too or  how much time may pass, once her foot finds that gas pedal, further history will be made.