NASCAR Cup Series

Drive for Diversity profile: Mackena Bell

Published Jan. 22, 2009 6:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

Team Owner: Position One Motorsports

Track: Toyota Speedway at Irwindale

Hometown: Carson City, Nev.

Years in Racing: 6

Date Of Birth: 6/9/90

Mackena Bell, 18, is known to many in her hometown of Carson City, Nev., as the "NASCAR Prom Queen." Mackena was Carson High School's prom queen in 2008 and wore a checkered flag prom dress to the school's prom.

Bell began racing in 2002 when she drove super outlaw dirt karts in her hometown at Thunder Bowl Speedway. Her impressive skills on the track earned Bell the rookie of the year title. In 2005, Bell's auto racing career blossomed. In her rookie season racing asphalt legends cars, Bell became the only female to win a legends championship at Champion Speedway in Carson City. She was also the youngest driver to win a title in the track's 42-year history.

In 2007, Bell gained valuable experience on the track, racing super outlaw dirt karts in Red Bluff, Calif. Bell was the highest-ranking female in the series, finishing 16th in points. She accomplished the feat without racing a full season. That same year, Bell began racing NASCAR Whelen Late Models at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif. She ran three races and had one top-10 finish (ninth place).

Last year was the biggest year of all for Mackena Bell. She participated in her first full season at All American Speedway racing NASCAR Whelen Late Models for her family-owned race team, Mackena Bell Motorsports. She was the youngest female competitor, and in 18 starts had three top-five finishes, 11 top-10 finishes, and completed the season ninth in points after missing four races.

Bell also participated in her first NASCAR Drive for Diversity Testing & Evaluation Combine presented by Sunoco at South Boston Speedway. Due to her performance at the Combine, Bell was selected for a spot in the 2009 NASCAR Drive for Diversity class. Bell will race the 2009 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series schedule for Position One Motorsports at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale as part of the Drive for Diversity program.