I'm Headed to Virginia!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2008-09-29 "Keep this news to yourself and immediate family, Mackena." BELIEVE me... That was easier said than done, but now I'm ready to share it with all of YOU. Several weeks ago I received a telephone call informing me that what I had worked so hard for this season, had paid off! On the other line, I was being told that I had been accepted to attend the NASCAR 2009 Drive for Diversity combine at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia. After hanging up the phone, I could barely contain myself and I've been on Cloud 9 ever since! I will be leaving for Charlotte, North Carolina in a few short days. While on the east coast, I will be surrounded by people who love this sport like I do. A bunch of racing junkies! Excitingly I've been offered the opportunity to tour several different race shops, attend several different races (some from the grandstands and some from the pit area) and will have the opportunity to introduce myself to the best in the business! Am I excited? Heck no, I'm ecstatic! Then on October 13 & 14, I will participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity combine at South Boston Speedway. The areas of competition for the combine include on-track assessment, testing & pratice, qualifying laps and intermediate runs in a Camping World Series stock car. It's gonna be sooo much fun! There will also be in-car communication between myself and the crew and then off track assessment will include media... Yes, media! Live, camera kinda media. Ugh, how can media make me more nervous than racing!? Anyway, of the hundreds of applications received only 24 of us were lucky enough to get the invite and only 8 of us will get the opportunity to compete with a Drive for Diversity affiliated team in 2009. As the youngest of those selected from All American Speedway, all I can say is I'm gonna give em' hell trying! Even if most of them have years more experience than me. So a lesson to all of you that think dreams don't come true... They do! And as I've told you before, as long as you keep BELIEVING, there is nothing you can't achieve! Well, I have packing to do, but I promise to update all of you when I return in a few weeks! Until then, wish me luck!! See you at the track! ~Mack What a Month!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2008-06-10 BELIEVE me when I say, "What a month! What a month!" Hey race fans, I hope all of you have made it out to the racetrack or spent some time watching racing in the last few months! To those of you that are traveling over the hill to support me at All American Speedway, you are the best! And when I tell you thank you, I really mean it! Life has been absolutely CrAzY over the last month but oh so worth it! So many changes and I know great things to come! As many of you have already heard, it started off with a Prom Queen candidacy. It was weeks of Prom Queen candidate responsibilities and all of them were an experience. Then came prom with great friends and even better memories. The Crown! Who would have 'thunk' it? What a night! Soon to follow was "Senior" everything. Projects, ditch day, prank, sunset, and oh yah, Class Clown title...Oh, heck yes! I always knew being a Senior was the best year ever!! Next was graduation and before I knew it, Saturday, June 7th was here and I was sitting in the middle of Carson High's football field, surrounded by hundreds of my favorite people (ok, and some not so favorite people) but either way, I had one of those moments where you think... "Wow, this IS really it!" It was the coolest feeling. I had done it! I was graduating. After graduation, I threw my cap in the air and worked my way through the millions of cars in the parking lot to get home and on the road to Roseville. We made it just in time for the first set of practice laps and had a great night to back up my great morning! My best qualifying effort of the season (9th) and another Top 10 finish (4th of my 6 races) made my day! Sunday morning we woke up early after about 4 hours of sleep and got ready for the graduation party of a lifetime. With 160+ friends and family, the weather was perfect (which in Nevada just never happens!), the food was great and the fun... well, the day was all about fun! Some would think it was the perfect weekend and it was, but my 18th birthday was just a day away. Monday, June 9th I turned 18. Woohoo, finally a legal adult and time to... stay right where I am! Why would I want to move out or get a real job? I've got it made and I know that and am very grateful. Sometimes I don't tell my parents and sister just how much I appreciate them and I hope they know how much I do. I'm one lucky girl to be able to do what I love the most each weekend and live a life that I realize most kids my age will never get to experience. Some call me spoiled... I like to think of it as 'loved'and as the great 80's band Loverboy once said, "I'm lovin' every minute of it!" Dang that's a great band!! My plans for the summer are to continue racing, racing, racing. I'll keep working for the Rec. Department and collecting those "tips" at the softball fields (gotta luv those!). And heck, with all the generous, very generous graduation and birthday money I received, I might just take a week or two off and do nothing but hang by the pool... I'm sure my Dad will have something to say about that! Seriously, I'll make good choices with the $$$ and take some of it and purchase tires. I gotta support my business you know. YES, MY BUSINESS! Turning 18 made me primary owner of Mackena Bell Motorsports... Watch out Delana Harvick (wink,wink). Life.... pretty sweeeet. Whatever your dreams, keep believing! Never give up, always stay focused and never, ever forget those who helped you get there! Like Dale Earnhardt once said, "The WINNER ain't the one with the fastest car. It's the one who refuses to lose." Keep your foot on the gas, turn left and see YOU at the track! Have a GREAT summer, ~Mack Finally, I KNOW, I KNOW!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2008-04-20 Hey, hey! I hope all of you race fans have been spending your days at the track and are ready to BELIEIVE that 2008 is my year for great things!! I've been counting down the days until graduation and BELIEVE me I can't wait! Its gonna be sooo sweeet. I've been busting my butt at the gym 5 days a week, I'm getting ready for Prom, working endlessly on my Senior Project, still working both my jobs and yes, racing, racing, racing!!! Even though I don't know if I'm coming or going, BELIEVE it or not, I'm a HAPPY GIRL.... it's race season! My new car is the bomb and racing in the NASCAR Whelen series has been a blast! (get it...LOL) I got a top 10 in the season opener and although last night was a bust (#$&*!) BELIEVE ME I'm already looking forward to next weekend!! The car feels incredible (thanks Dad, Dave, Matt & "Daves Dad" as I like to call him). The "seat" and I are getting comfortable and getting closer and CLOSER to the wall is getting easier... and oh ya, the sandwiches and salads "Daves Dad" is making for me... wow, good stuff! I'm having some trouble with the qualifying but I'll get it. I still feel a little new at all of this but I'm determined and more focused than ever and I know if I keep BELIEVING it'll all work out in the end! I'm really liking All American Speedway and the fans have been SO GREAT to me! I can hear all of them cheering me on during introductions and even though I'm the youngest on the track, you know me, that ain't gonna stop me from carving my way! Here's some new news :)Even though I LOVE the late model, I'm missing (just a bit) my Legends car. I know its because I felt sooo comfy in it and there wasn't much that was "new"... but the good news is this! I've been asked to drive a couple of Legends races in the months to come, so I'm excited to get back to my ole' stompin grounds! YEEEHA... I'll keep ya'll posted! Well fans, continue to BELIEVE that everything in life is possible, check out my polaroids page and keep turning left! I'll see YOU at the track, ~Mack~ BELIEVE me, I have no time!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2007-08-09 "BELIEVE" me when I say, I have had no time to keep this Journal updated! With advanced Anatomy and American Literature, working 6 hours a day sometimes and then homework, Zzzzz and RACING, I don't know if I'm coming or going, but hey, that is the life in the World of Mack!! Let me catch you up . . . Being a Senior is the best, ever. With football games, homecoming, bonfires and friends, I can't "BELIEVE" how fast this school year is going bye! My Senior schedule is 'unBELIEVEably' the best, with a late start day 2 or 3 times a week and an early out on the others....Sweeeeet! Racing - The Legends series is over and it was great fun while it lasted, even though it was a frustrating season. We finally figured out the motor problems, then it blew-up and caught fire. I was a girl on fire....!! Even though I finished top 3 in pro and 4th overall, I would have had a better season if we didn't have soooo many problems. Boys, consider yourselves warned for next year! Pops you are the best and thank you for never giving up on me this season. We made it through! My NASCAR debut in the late model has been an aaaaawesome experience and just this last weekend I finished in the top 10 in only my second race. I'm loving it and hoping that 2008 will bring all kinds of opportunity....I keep telling myself, "NOTHING AS GREAT AS 2008! Kellcy is doing great, still kickin my bootay at Guitar Hero and tearing up the basketball court! She is faaaaaast and has some sweeeeeet lay-ups. Little stud! She still isn't sure if she is going to run the 250cc in Red Bluff, but I am hoping she will change her mind. I know she can give those boys a run for their money. She is a 2-time Champ you know!! Mom and I have been working out and running. Dang, I hate running!!!! There has got to be an easier way to get exercise... like driving the car to the corner!!! FOR SURE! Mom did a great job helping me put my Drive for Diversity package together, but again this year I was not selected. Some changes were made to the program and although I MADE THE CUT, (which I know I should be really happy about)I still got the "no thank you letter" :( I was really, really bummed, but hey, anyone who knows me knows that I won't give up. I'll reapply next year and keep diggin' until I make my own path... KEEP "BELIEVING" and everything is possible! I'm keeping my options open for 2008 and always looking to learn something new. There is too much I love about racing to give up now. "BELIEVE, BELIEVE, BELIEVE!" For all you dirt fans, Red Bluff is starting back up in a few weeks. I'm excited to get back on dirt, return to my old stompin' grounds! Yeeeeeha!! Should be lots of fun and always full of drama. Well, it's back to American Lit. homework. Leave me your messages in my Guestbook or shoot me an email at kbelltile@aol.com. Take care and I'll see YOU at the track! -Mack Dang I was close!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2007-05-01 What a great car my Pops gave me last weekend! Ive never been to the Roseville track but I liked it!!! I was dang close this weekend and the car was perfect. I know I couldve given Kavert a run for the money$$!! Me and Pops are working good together, making good changes and learning together the things weve had trouble with in the past. Its paying off and it shows on the track. If you read my homepage you know how the weekend ended up. . . BUMMER!!! Im really liking racing at the different tracks and Ive said it before when you run just one track you dont learn anything new and it doesnt make you a better driver (in my opinion :) Im having fun, I like the car counts and Ive met alot of cool drivers! Im looking forward to going back to Roseville and running again. Hopefully things will turn out different this week. To you people that sent me messages about the decision at the track, thanks for the support, but racing is racing! Ive learned you cant dwell on it, just move on and go back and kick sum botay again!!! :) As USUAL it is back to Math homework!! 33days and counting until SCHOOL IS OUT! Then Im a SENIOR with 1/2 days....THANK GOD! Keep checking back for all my race results and I'll keep you posted on my late model schedule. Its looking like MAY 19TH is the big day! CAN'T WAIT!!! See YOU at the track!!!! -Mack Too much fun... Hold on Nellie!!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2007-04-18 Me and the "folks" have decided to run the Legends of the Pacific schedule and I'm really excited to see what I can do. We went to Madera for the first time last weekend and that track in Turn 2 is cRAzY! I felt like I was an off road racer, but boy was it FUN!!! I really had to drive the car, get in my element and focus. I had a blast! I got to chat with old friends, made some new ones and finished 4th. We made some changes to the car before qualifying, but made some more before the main. Pops keeps telling me that if we don't make changes we don't know what the car can do. I guess he is right, cause the car was great in the main, I just needed to go forward sooner than later...DUH! Dang shifter!! Anyways, I'm hoping the weather will clear up. Its been snowing here and obviously that is NOT race track weather. Eitherway, we are heading to Shasta this weekend and I'm hoping for some sunny weather. I'm a sunshine kinda girl!!! Back to more math, anatomy and Ellen Degeneres! Then AMERICAN IDOL... go Jordin! Keep checking back for all my race results and I'll keep you posted on my late model schedule. Not sure exactly when I will get back in that car, but when I do, you can bet I'll have a big smile on my face. Can't wait! See YOU at the track!!!! -Mack Had so much fun!!!!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2007-04-02 I could only stay in my crappy slump for so long. It reminded me that the up's and down's of racing, are what I love the most and that when you take the fun out of it, it's really no fun at all! Sooooo, getting back to my oldself, me and the family headed to Opening Day at SRP. The car was fast, my Dad did a great, great job and our communication skills are getting better and better. I immediately felt fast when entering the track and felt really good about the day. I qualified 4th and I know I could have done better because I was running faster times during practice, but I had to remind myself that qualifying was just part of the day and the best was yet to come.... THE RACING!! The heat race was fun and I really wanted a few more laps so that I could bump bumpers with Jeremy Wood. His car was fast, but mine was faster and I just ran out of laps.... lucky Jeremy!! The Dash was great! The car felt perfect and I knew that Derek Copeland would race me clean. I kept my foot on the throttle, drove it in deep and held those guys off until the checkered flag. I LOVED IT! The fans really made me feel welcome and the little kids at the fence always make my heart smile. I just love them!! The Main event was a huge crash waiting to happen and thank God I avoided them. I will never understand how driving in the "agriculture" to make a pass is legal or how driving through the middle of the pack in the first lap is gonna win you the race, but ????! I'm glad I made it to the checkered flag in one piece and CONGRATS to Jeremy on the win! Back to Math homework (Grrrr) and Full House :) Keep checking back for all my race results and I'll keep you posted on my late model test this weekend in Eureka. Should be a blast!!! See YOU at the track!!!! -Mack Not Even Worth Mentioning!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2007-03-19 I hate to say it, but this Journal is hard for me to keep updated. With school, work and racing I don't have the time to keep it updated like I'd like too (did that make sense?). But here goes: I was excited to get back to Red Bluff for the Nationals. The kart was fast but I had a crappy line in qualifying. I was running hard and holding off Ryan Foster in the heat race and the kart had really come to me. I knew Ryan would drive me clean but the race had soooooooo many cautions that it was hard to keep my nice lead. On the last lap I didn't avoid the rut in turn 4 completely. It grabbed the wheel from me and shot the kart into the wall, taking Ryan with me. I felt like crap for crashing Ryan and was in shock about what had just happen. It happen sooooo quick! What a crappy night!!!!! and I had to sit through all of Saturday wondering if I could do well enough in the 'b' main to make the 'a'. Nope, starting lap they had a big pile-up. I had almost missed it until I got hit from the back, pitched my butt-end around and I clipped the crash. To the back we all went... like 6 of us. It was pretty much a crash fest from there. Every other lap was a caution and at the end of the cRAziNeSS I was 12th. WooHoo!! Needless to say, I'm glad that is over and looking forward to running my Legends car in a couple of weeks and then some more practice time in the late model. I'll be going to Shasta for my first Legends race on March 31st and then to Eureka on April 21st for my first late model race. I'll keep you posted. See YOU at the track!! -Mack Busy, Racing & Sick...    Posted by: Mackena  |  2007-02-26 Sorry it has taken me so long. Trying to keep up with school and work and getting over the flu. As the COURIER says the last night of Red Bluff was a disappointment, but hey, thats racing!! I wanted to run Alissa Gevings 410 sprint car this last weekend, but with the rain and the FLU it just didnt work out. Im hoping to get another opportunity in the weekends to come. I think that would be a BLAST! It looks like the weekend has finally come to get some laps in Marty & Dana Melos late model. Ill be heading down to Shasta this weekend to try it out. I cant wait!!!!! I will also be getting some laps in my Legends car to prepare for Las Vegas next weekend. Im excited to see the changes to LVMS and anxious to see how it all plays out. We have about 4 schedules we are interested in running this summer, so its gonna be crazy, but thats how I like it!! Ill try my best to keep you posted on whats going on but sometimes I just forget. SORRY! See YOU at the track! -Mack Get Untangled...Get Back On The Gas!    Posted by: Mackena  |  2007-02-13 My race weekend was going in the right direction starting with qualifying. The kart was good I was sitting 6th and I was excited to get on the gas! I had a stacked heat race but things happened and I got lucky, taking a 3rd and tranferring into the A. Before the A event I ran the Trophy Dash. I had a great starting position...POLE but the top had come in sweeet and once Mason got the jump he was gone. Good Job Mason! Back to the A... I started 2nd row outside and was having a great time racing Sean Becker the "SHARK". I raced him hard and wasnt gonna give up my 4th place but he finally got by me and then out of nowhere Steven Gannon parks himself on my left hand and we are tangled in turn 4!!! I wasnt really mad because I have learned that this is racing. It ain't over till its over and I just wanted to get untangled and line back-up so I could start moving forward. After some beating and banging my silencer (which had been damaged in the crash but I didn't know that at the time) went flying off and I had to leave the track. :( I was bummed and disappointed because I know I would have had my first Top 5 of this season in the Open class but I'll get it next time. Looking forward to my final race this weekend but I'll be back for Nationals in March. Did good last year and hoping to do good again this year! I'm heading to Las Vegas to run my Legends car in the next couple of weeks and I can't wait for that. GOOOOD TIMES! Well check back and have a great Valentines Day... xoxo See YOU at the track! -Mack