July 11, 2025 • 40 mins
Karyl Bell's motorsports journey is the perfect blend of family legacy, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering determination. From her earliest memories at Lebanon Valley Dragway in upstate New York, where her mother serves as assistant track manager and her father races, Karyl has turned a childhood passion into both a competitive career and innovative business ventures.
Beginning in junior dragsters at age eight, Karyl quickly proved her talent by capturing a track championship in just her second year. Today, she competes at the highest levels of bracket racing, seamlessly switching between Super Pro and Super Comp divisions - sometimes within the same weekend. Her mechanical knowledge runs deep, working alongside her father to maintain their race cars and understand every aspect of vehicle performance.
What truly sets Karyl apart is her response to adversity. After surviving a dramatic barrel-roll crash that destroyed her Nova, she returned to racing with renewed perspective rather than fear. This experience directly influenced her decision to establish KB Performance Center, a trackside business at Lebanon Valley Dragway selling essential safety equipment from helmets to fire jackets. This brilliant innovation means racers who fail technical inspection can purchase required safety gear immediately rather than missing competition.
Perhaps most remarkably, Karyl balances her racing life with owning a dance studio - two worlds that couldn't seem more different yet complement each other perfectly through their seasonal schedules. This diversity in her professional life reveals a multi-faceted woman who refuses to be limited by conventional expectations.
Throughout her career, Karyl has encountered gender discrimination but transformed these challenges into motivation. When a professional racer once dismissed her with "girls don't race," she responded by proving him wrong repeatedly on the track. Her racing philosophy combines strategic planning with mental discipline: "Don't overthink" and "Always have plans A, B, and C" for each run down the quarter-mile.
Follow Karyl's continuing journey on Instagram @buckwild198 or Facebook as she pursues her passion for racing while building businesses that support and strengthen the motorsports community. Her story reminds us that with dedication and perseverance, we create our own definitions of success both on and off the track.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Melinda Russell (00:02):
Welcome to the Women's Motorsports Network
podcast, the show that puts thespotlight on the incredible
women who fuel the world ofmotorsports, from drivers to
crew members, engineers to fansand everyone in between.
We're here to celebrate thetrailblazers, dreamers and doers
shaping the sport we love.
Each episode we share inspiringstories of females of all ages
(00:24):
from every corner of themotorsports universe past,
present and future.
It's a journey through theseasons of life filled with
heartfelt moments, laughter anda whole lot of horsepower.
So, whether you're a lifelongfan, a racer yourself or simply
curious about the extraordinarywomen behind the wheel, settle
in, relax and enjoy a fun anduplifting ride with us.
(00:46):
This is the Women's MotorsportsNetwork podcast, connecting and
celebrating women inmotorsports, one story at a time
.
Let's hit the track.
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(01:06):
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Log on to RacingJunkcom to findthe gear you're looking for.
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(01:55):
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Because gratitude builds greattracks.
Hello everyone, this is MelindaRussell with the Women's
(02:44):
Motorsports Network podcast, andmy guest today is Karyl Bell.
Karyl, I want to welcome you tothe show and, first of all,
what I always ask my guests isto tell us a little bit about
yourself so we can get to knowyou better.
So tell me about your family,your past, whatever you want to
share pass whatever you want toshare.
Karyl Bell (03:07):
Well, first off, thank you for having me.
It is a great honor to be ableto share the stories, share
backgrounds and just getwhatever information out there,
especially about women inmotorsports.
So my name is Karyl.
I live in upstate New York.
My home track is Lebanon ValleyDragway.
(03:28):
I've been there basically sinceI was born.
My mother is the assistanttrack manager there, my father
races and works there, my sisterused to race and now has two
(03:49):
little kids of her own who willeventually grow up to be junior
racers, and my boyfriend alsoraces along with us.
So it's just like a really, andso does his family actually.
So it's just like a really bigfamily community that I've been
(04:12):
really happy to get involvedwith and my two cats, keiko and
Grapes.
Keiko is a small one, she's sixpounds, and Grapes is 14 pounds
.
He's oh yeah, he's massive.
Yeah, and I was gonna saythey're crawling around my feet
(04:34):
currently.
Melinda Russell (04:34):
Oh yeah of course I have a.
I have about a 15 pound ShihTzu dog, so my dog and your cat
are about the same size oh,absolutely.
Karyl Bell (04:43):
And he's like super long, like when I adopted him.
We're like ah, he's just like areally big cat.
No, we swear.
He like kept coming out andjust kept stretching.
We're like are you ever goingto end?
Melinda Russell (04:58):
That's.
That's cool.
I've seen some big cats thatthat could take on my dog for
sure, so no surprise, yeah.
So, Karyl, thank you forsharing that.
Now tell me.
You said you know everybody'sinvolved at the track, so you
started going to the track whenyou were born, when you were
little.
Tell me your story.
Karyl Bell (05:18):
Yeah, I started to go.
I was only a few months old.
I was born in the winter, so Iwas a few months when my parents
started to bring me and my dadwas racing and my mom was
helping him at the time and alsoracing because or also working
there, because that's how theymet.
They met at the track.
She was at the top end and mydad comes through balls
(05:42):
of-bleezing.
Something happened and that'show they met.
Melinda Russell (05:46):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (05:47):
And my grandparents used to race as well.
So it's been a few generations.
Started with my grandparents,my cousin raced juniors until he
just decided he no longerwanted to.
My dad, and then me and mysister.
Melinda Russell (06:03):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (06:04):
And currently it's me and my dad left so far, but
we have I have two nieces thatone of them is definitely going
to do it Like.
That is, without a doubt, theother one who knows?
Melinda Russell (06:21):
Yeah, there's usually one in the family that
kind of you know, it seems likeit's one that carries it on, and
then the other one doessomething completely different,
like dance or softball orsomething else.
Karyl Bell (06:34):
Well, the funny part is, is I actually just
purchased a dance studio.
Melinda Russell (06:40):
Oh, okay.
Karyl Bell (06:40):
That's a whole other life of mine is dance Awesome.
So they're both currently indance and one's like whatever I
do, she's going to do.
And then the older one is more,she's just going to dance or do
artsy stuff.
She's not really into racingand that's okay, Sure it is.
(07:01):
That's the crafty one Exactly.
She'll be doing all of myflyers later on in life.
Melinda Russell (07:06):
She'll do your hero cards and the graphics on
your car, and that's allimportant too.
So there you go.
You got everything covered.
Karyl Bell (07:14):
Exactly so.
I can't wait to see what theycome up with as they grow up.
But I started at the trackreally young and I started in
junior dragsters at the age ofeight, my second year.
I was track champion in thejunior division and then it kind
of went downhill from there.
(07:35):
But that's OK, we live and welearn.
Yeah, I've won a couple, uh,local races.
I was actually the runner up inthe inaugural 1.1 million sfg
race in the women's race.
Um, that was like one of mybigger accomplishments recently.
Melinda Russell (08:00):
um, that I'm really proud of yeah, so where
did you win the trackchampionship when you were young
?
Karyl Bell (08:06):
Lebanon Valley Dragway.
Melinda Russell (08:08):
Okay, all right , is that?
That's your home track?
Karyl Bell (08:12):
Yeah, I bounced between there and Naperville uh
and Canada.
Melinda Russell (08:19):
Oh, okay, is it hard to go across the border?
Karyl Bell (08:22):
No, they're honestly more, at least when we go
through.
Okay, is it hard to go acrossthe border with your car?
They're honestly more, at leastwhen we go through.
They're more curious to seewhat is in there than, like,
what we actually have.
Like yeah, they're like the onetime we had brought my dad's
dragster, my dragster.
(08:43):
So they were both in there andthey're like how do you do that?
So can we see it.
So they're both in there andthey're like how do you do that?
So can we see it?
There was more interest in theengineering of putting things in
there than actually like a listof items.
Melinda Russell (08:55):
Yeah, that's interesting because, you know,
nascar just went to Mexico acouple weekends ago and, from
the people I know and thingsI've heard, the logistics of all
of that was a nightmare yeah,that I can understand, yeah so
interesting.
Okay, so that's juniordragsters.
(09:18):
You moved up to.
What are you driving?
What class do you drive now?
Karyl Bell (09:22):
So now I'm in our super pro bracket program.
I also used to have a Nova andI wrecked that two years ago on
Father's Day.
My mom had actually just gottenout of the hospital two days
prior from a really big,traumatic incident.
(09:43):
She came to the track.
They were watching, they leftand went to go home and I was
later on in the rounds andsomething let go and I don't
even know how many times Ibarrel rolled.
All I know is people saw whiteand then they saw green in the
(10:03):
air and they knew it was justlike over from there um wow but
I was fine.
I had no concussion, no brokenbones, just really sore and a
couple of um bruises.
But I was like really thankfullike that all the safety
equipment had worked Um.
So that car is somewhere, whoknows, in a scrap yard somewhere
(10:28):
.
Melinda Russell (10:28):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (10:29):
Um, so we're building a 71 Pontiac LeMans
Okay, no 68.
I lied 68 LeMans.
Um, currently, and that's aprocess, it it's been two years
and that will be in Super Street.
(10:50):
Okay, so, and my currentdragster is, like I said,
bracket and Super Comp.
Melinda Russell (10:58):
Okay, all right .
So what do you like the best?
Karyl Bell (11:04):
I like it all.
I just like seat time.
Um, it's, it never seems tofail, like at one point I'll be
like yes, I'm all into thisbracket racing, I'm doing great,
and then it goes downhill.
But then when it starts goingdownhill, it's about the
divisional time, and then I doreally well.
And then when that starts to godownhill, it goes back to
bracket.
Yeah, um, so like I did reallywell.
(11:24):
And then when that starts to godownhill, it goes back to
bracket.
Yeah, um, so like I did reallywell this weekend in our bracket
program.
I got to the quarterfinals onsunday, this past sunday, and
now this weekend I race tomorrownight at our night of fire,
which is a bracket program.
Saturday, I'll put it in supercomp trim and do some testing.
(11:47):
Sunday, I'll go back tobrackets, and then next week
thursday, friday, saturday,sunday, I'll be in super comp
wow, so you got to be good atboth to go back and forth like
that yeah for sure and, like Iusually, except for the past
couple years, have run twovehicles at like the divisional,
(12:10):
so jumping back and forth forme like honestly helps my brain.
I feel like sometimes, when I'mstuck doing one thing, yeah, you
get a little lackadaisicalabout it, yeah, and I feel like
I forget something when I knowI'm not forgetting something.
Melinda Russell (12:25):
Right Right, that's very cool, and is this
something you want to keep doingfor a long time?
Do you love it?
Karyl Bell (12:33):
I do, I definitely love it, and I can like in the
winter it's harder.
You kind of I get likedepressed, but at least, like
right now with the project car,I can go out and be like, okay,
I can see what we're doing, Ican continue to do it and like,
when it comes to you know, thesummer stuff, it's like I look
forward to getting back in thecar and taking my brain away
(12:58):
from the business aspect of thedance studio and just being like
, okay, need to focus on this.
Melinda Russell (13:05):
It's and it's like an outlet and I feel like
I'd be lost without it well inyour dance studio, isn't that
busier, like through the schoolyear, fall to may, you have your
recital and then you know youmay do some summer stuff.
But they kind of blend welltogether, I, I would think.
Karyl Bell (13:23):
Yeah, no, they definitely do, because they're
on opposite schedules and then,I actually own another business
for racing.
It's called KB PerformanceCenter and we sell.
We're actually a Zamp dealer.
Melinda Russell (13:36):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (13:37):
And we do also Lucas Oil products.
All right so, and we've gotteninto selling some spark plugs,
some safety um, other safetystuff.
We have basically anything.
You would need to have yournine second license.
Okay, we it's at the track, um,at lebanon valley dragway,
(14:00):
ready to sell and for you toliterally, the business is at
the track.
Yeah, so it's in a, in abuilding there yeah, it's right
in the office area with themerchandise wow so you come in,
you can look at the merchandiseand if you need something um a
quart of oil or oh, I need ajacket, I went a little too fast
.
Um helmets we sell a lot ofhelmets really um neck collars.
Melinda Russell (14:25):
We even do the zamp head and neck restraints
for sale um okay yeah well, andbecause it's there, they don't
worry about having to gosomewhere to get something you
know, they just know.
Karyl Bell (14:39):
Oh, I can get that at the track when I go to the
race exactly, and, like a lot ofpeople, it used to be oh well,
you didn't have this.
Through tech, you can't race.
Yeah, oh, you don't have this.
Go to the office, they have itfor sale, yeah, so we're
actually keeping a lot moreracers daily, yeah, Having,
(14:59):
daily, yeah, having all theseproducts there in at their
disposal yeah, you know what asmart idea, because more tracks
should do that.
Melinda Russell (15:12):
I mean, I realize they gotta have the
manpower of somebody to run it.
But, um, you know you're.
You're selling to the choir, asthey say, right.
Karyl Bell (15:22):
Absolutely yeah.
And like the cool thing aboutlike where we have it it's you
get your merchandise right there, you get your payouts right
there, and now you have all ofyour safety equipment at there
as well.
And I'm very thankful that,like my mom is the office and
(15:45):
she does the payouts andeverything else.
She has office staff that helpher.
And then, of course, when I'mnot there and I'm out racing my
dad's in there, yeah, or like inbetween rounds, like I'll come
in and I'll do it.
So it's like all in one area.
Melinda Russell (16:00):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (16:01):
Okay, well, here's the merchandise.
Oh, you have to go over therefor payout, and Wayne, literally
, has recreated this office areato be a multi-purpose.
Melinda Russell (16:15):
That's great.
Other tracks should go.
Look, you know, even if theysub it out to somebody else to
run, you know like they doconcessions or whatever, that's
still a great idea to have.
You know the especially thebasic necessities gloves and
things that are easy to forgetto take to the track.
You know and you don't, you're,you know, three hours from home
(16:38):
, or whatever.
Karyl Bell (16:38):
So how cool is that?
Yeah, this year has been.
We've been selling stuff that,like hasn't been a big item
either.
A lot of people are looking foropen face helmets cool, really,
we've got them.
A lot of people either haveholes in their gloves, forget
their gloves in another vehicle,so we've been selling gloves
(17:00):
like crazy, like um last night.
One guy doesn't need a firejacket.
He wanted, wanted one, so webought it.
Yeah, and it's there.
They can try it on.
Yeah, see the size.
If we don't have the size andthey want it, we order it and it
comes the next week.
Melinda Russell (17:17):
Yeah, wow, Karyl, you're quite the business
woman, for sure.
Karyl Bell (17:22):
Trying to be Trying to keep myself pretty busy.
Melinda Russell (17:25):
There you go, so let to keep myself pretty
busy.
There you go, so let's let's goback.
Karyl Bell (17:31):
Do you work on your car or or does somebody else
help you with it?
Uh, my dad and I do all of themaintenance on um all of our
vehicles yeah, and that's better.
Melinda Russell (17:39):
And because then if something goes wrong,
you know, or you're driving it,you're like, yeah, this doesn't
feel right.
Then you, you're involved andyou kind of know, you know what
it is that you need to do.
Do to it for sure oh absolutely.
This is a great question foryou, because you're super busy.
Um, how do you, how do you findbalance?
How do you take care of Karyl?
Karyl Bell (18:02):
I make sure to set a specific amount, or I try still
working on it, uh, during theday, like where I go work out,
um, or I just do something forme, like I'll go get my nails
done.
Right now that is not happening.
Melinda Russell (18:18):
That's more of a winter thing yeah, yeah,
because working on the race carand nails don't always go
together no, so I save that likefor a winter thing.
Karyl Bell (18:30):
Um, you know, but I take some time.
I'll go hang out with my nieces, um, just do something that I
normally wouldn't.
I don't want to say wouldn't do, but like that I don't need
somebody else to do with me.
Yes, um, like I'm not gonna lie, going to get my oil changed
today was my 45 minutes to me,yeah, you know.
(18:55):
And like tonight I'll probablygo drop my rig off at the track,
get ready for a night of fire.
Depending on what time we dothat, I'll probably go to the
studio and paint some more but,like I, there's always something
to do and if I didn't need tosleep I probably wouldn't.
(19:18):
There's like that much to do,yeah, and I've created, or I'm
trying to create, where it'slike 9, 9, 30 at night and I
stopped responding to emails, Istopped doing stuff for the
dance studio or anything besidesfor myself and taking the night
to enjoy watching TV, watchinga show, going to bed early, like
(19:43):
yeah, absolutely.
Melinda Russell (19:45):
And you, you have to always remember that.
You know you do have to taketime for yourself, you do have
to get your rest and, yeah, Idon't sleep well, and so you
know there's times that I'm wideawake at two o'clock in the
morning and sometimes I think,well, I should just get up and
do whatever because I'm notsleeping.
(20:05):
But I normally put a podcast onand put my earphones in and you
know they kind of can lull meto sleep.
But you have to be conscious ofyour health and taking care of
yourself when you're so busy.
Karyl Bell (20:19):
Oh, absolutely, and especially in my past, like I
was really sick.
I had allergic reaction in 2009.
So my body had to like learnhow to do things again and I can
get.
I can have a day where I'mperfectly great, nothing hurts,
(20:41):
everything's fine.
The next day, I probably walklike I'm 90 years old.
Oh, I get it, and it's everyday and I don't know what type
of day I'm going to wake up to.
And I'm still working on andtrying my best to figure out
what can I do to help prevent ortone back those days.
Melinda Russell (21:05):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (21:05):
Where I'm not overdoing it enough, to where
I'm debilitating myself for afew days.
Melinda Russell (21:13):
I, I have the same issues and I'm a lot older
than you, but I have a bad back.
I had a knee replacement, I'mgonna have to have back surgery
again and and so you know, Istill think I'm 40 and not
almost 70, because there's timesthat I just pick up the tub,
pick up this, do that, and thenI'm like, oh, I shouldn't have
done that.
So I totally get that.
(21:34):
And you know, the weather has alot to do with it.
I live in Michigan, so there'shumidity and um, and you know,
this week we've had 95 degreetemperatures.
It makes a difference.
And you, you, you have verysimilar weather to what we have
here in Michigan.
You live in New York, so, um,yeah, that's, that's all part of
it for sure oh yeah, and that'swhat happened, like this
(21:56):
weekend.
Karyl Bell (21:57):
Sunday it rained in the morning, a storm came
through and, wayne, by allmighty god, we got racing in.
We started at noon instead of 930, but we got it in but, it
was so humid we were all like ifthe sun was out we would be
dead yeah and oh it's beenmiserable here, for sure and
(22:20):
moving into monday and tuesday.
Melinda Russell (22:21):
It was just we keep sending all that your way,
you know.
Yeah we really do.
It goes right across thecountry.
So, um so, Karyl, every day isnot a good day at the racetrack,
unfortunately.
When something bad happens, howdo you handle that?
What do you do?
Um, do you ever think, okay,I'm done, I'm not going to do
(22:45):
this anymore?
You know, you had that wreck.
How do you handle bad days?
Karyl Bell (22:50):
The funny part is is after my wreck I handled that
better than a race I was at lastyear where I just I literally
couldn't do anything right,couldn't find the fricking
finish line, I couldn't hit thetree, I, whatever I did, it
didn't matter.
And at that point I was likeI'm done, like I was so
(23:13):
frustrated with myself at thatpoint that I was like I'm done.
And then, of course, my dad'slike no, you ain't.
He's like go in the motor home,go relax, go for a walk.
In 10 minutes, minutes, you'regoing to change your mind.
Yeah, of course guess what I did10 minutes later, after I had
my little meltdown.
(23:34):
I was fine, but I had and Iremind myself, not every day is
a good day period and the factthat I'm still here to to live
to talk about my story, to talkabout racing to race, because I
almost wasn't able to yeah is ablessing.
(23:57):
And I remind myself like it's sostupid I can't get upset over
the stupid things.
In a moment I can, but like,have the moment, let it go, move
on.
What can we do to be betternext time?
Yeah, like this weekend.
This past weekend I couldn'thit the broad side of the barn,
(24:19):
couldn't do it, but I could playthe top end like nobody's
business and it was working forme.
So I didn't change a thinguntil it wasn't working for me
yeah, well, and you know it's.
Melinda Russell (24:33):
Isn't it amazing how today the car is
great, you don't do a thing.
Tomorrow, you're at the sametrack, you're doing the same
thing and it's terrible andyou're like, okay, what happened
?
It's, it's, it's air pressure,it's heat, it's all the things
(24:54):
and, and sometimes you justthrow up your hands and be like
I don't know what else to do.
I'm just going to do the best Ican and chalk it up to uh seat
time and go from thereabsolutely and like we.
Karyl Bell (25:05):
Actually I had a conversation with another racer.
They're like we raced yesterday.
Car was great, no wrong, put itaway, bring it out.
And like everything was wrong.
They're like we put it awayFine, what happened with it?
Sitting there.
Melinda Russell (25:24):
I know Happens in every kind of racing there is
.
I hear it all the time and Isee it when I'm watching racing.
You know they might practicegreat or qualify great and then
they race terrible and it's justwhat it is for sure.
Oh absolutely yeah.
So, Karyl, do you think dragracing, motorsports in general,
(25:46):
is a good sport for girls to bein?
You know, have you ever had anytime when you feel like you
didn't belong?
Can you kind of talk about that?
Karyl Bell (25:56):
I do think it's a good sport for girls and women
to be in.
And, yes, you do have to haveslightly a thicker skin to be in
it, Because you're gonna comeup against and I'm going to say
men and they're going to look atyou and be like you shouldn't
be here.
And I had an experience when Iwas younger, in juniors, with a
(26:18):
professional racer and I wantedhim to sign my helmet and he was
like you don't race, Likeyou're just a girl like girls
don't race.
You're just a girl like girlsdon't race.
And back then that was kind ofthe stigma and I was like you
want to bet?
like and how rude of him it wasreally rude and, honestly, to
(26:41):
this day, I still don't like him.
I wouldn't either like and like.
I felt like I had a point toprove like I should be.
I have a right to be here.
I put my pants on the same way.
You know everybody else putstheir pants on.
There is no difference.
You know and like, if you can'thandle us putting the helmet on
(27:03):
the same way and me being nextto you, maybe you shouldn't be
in here.
Melinda Russell (27:08):
I was just thinking the same thing.
Yeah, because and I think youknow it's been a few years since
you raced juniors, but I thinkit's it's getting better all the
time there's so many littlegirls that are in juniors now.
I mean any track you go towhere there's drag racing so
many little girls.
We have US 131 Motorsports Parkreal close here to me and great
(27:34):
, just a great track andfacilities.
And the first time I went upthere back in 2018 to check out,
you know, the drag racingBecause they have amazing
national events and everything Iwas overwhelmed with how many
little girls there were, andthat was seven years ago.
Karyl Bell (27:53):
It's just getting bigger and bigger all the time
oh, absolutely, and I know, likeour junior program, um, there's
a few girls um growing up.
Like when I was in it, I thinkwe dominated the guys.
Yeah, like that's just how itwas.
And you know, a lot of them arestill in racing in some
(28:16):
capacity, which is amazing, andthat's what it has to be.
You have to invite these peoplein and whether they're male,
like, if we don't have theseyounger kids, period, there is
no sports.
Melinda Russell (28:34):
Right, no future.
Karyl Bell (28:36):
There is no future.
And you know where I lookaround is the junior dragster
scene is pretty, pretty decent.
Melinda Russell (28:48):
Yeah it really is is those kids are competitive
.
Karyl Bell (28:52):
I don't want them to come to super they're way too
competitive.
Melinda Russell (28:55):
No so, Karyl, on race day, do you have any
superstitions, or you alwayswear the same socks, or anything
like that?
I always go to mcdonald's forbreakfast.
Whatever it might be, what isit?
Karyl Bell (29:17):
I actually don't.
I say I don't.
I think like subconsciously Ido things like that are
superstitious and I just don'trealize it.
But if I sit in my trailer Ican't do it, so I have to like
walk around.
I know, right before I burn out, you know, as I'm sitting there
I just pray, you know, foreverybody to have a safe run,
(29:40):
like I do stuff like that.
But like to wear the same socksto like no, as long as they're
tall socks and they go above myankle, cool, cool, okay, as long
as I'm wearing shorts thataren't gonna like fold up Cool.
Melinda Russell (29:57):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (29:59):
I usually race in like a tank top, you know so.
But I think what it is is likenow that I have to like do
things a certain way, like Iwon't put my okay, I lied, I do
have one.
I won't put my pants on until,like they call the class before
(30:21):
us, because I don't take mypants off the whole day.
Melinda Russell (30:27):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (30:28):
Because to try to get my pants off is it's not fun
?
Yeah, they just kind of stickto you and I'm like I'd rather
just deal with the heat or dealwith the sweat, whatever.
Melinda Russell (30:40):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (30:40):
Until I'm done, instead of getting comfortable.
Melinda Russell (30:43):
Yeah, okay.
Karyl Bell (30:45):
So I guess, making myself uncomfortable all day
would be another one another one.
Melinda Russell (30:51):
That's cool.
Now, how about advice?
Has anybody given you like apiece of advice or a quote or
something that has stuck withyou while you've been racing?
Karyl Bell (31:00):
don't think okay um, that one really stuck with me
because I like to think a lot,but then when I start thinking I
think about other things.
So as soon as I do my burnoutand I back up, I can't think
about anything else.
That nothing it's in my hands.
(31:22):
But like, don't overthink it.
And then have plans A, b and C.
Melinda Russell (31:29):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (31:29):
Go for A.
You're going to know when youleave that line if A is going to
work.
If that don't work, go to B.
You're going to know that byeighth mile if you're running
quarter mile.
If that ain't going to work,throw the number C.
Hail Mary.
Always have multiple plans, butknow which plan you're going to
target.
Melinda Russell (31:50):
Okay, good advice, good, good advice for
other people too.
What's your favorite racememory from all your time in
racing?
Could be good, could be bad,could be anything, but it's like
, oh, I'll never forget this,yeah.
Karyl Bell (32:10):
I definitely think it would be my runner up at US
131 in the SFG 1.1 females race.
The fact, like I and it's noteven the runner up, it's just
that race in general I was goingagainst so many big names and
I'm like, do you like nobodyknows who I am, like I'm just
(32:34):
having fun, and like I was goingagainst an opponent and he was
trying to get my attention, likeby moving in his cage and stuff
, and I won, and I come back andmy dad's like did you even
notice what he was doing overthere?
Oh, not a clue, didn't evenlook like he's like you have,
(32:55):
you are really just.
But I'm like you've always toldme don't pay attention to what
they're doing right focus onwhat you need to do yeah and he
goes.
Yeah, that's about right yeah um, but like just going against so
many different racers and riskracing styles um, taught me a
(33:17):
lot.
And like always watch youropponents when you're out or
you're waiting, um, or ifthey're in a different class,
like we have a top dragster, topsportsman class as well that
runs once in a while.
Go and watch them, see theirracing habits, because I pulled
into the stage or the water boxand I turned my car off because
(33:39):
I knew the two in front of me,none of them going first.
They sat there for two minuteson a burndown.
So it's like knowing youropponents and knowing what
they're going to do.
Yeah, also up your game.
Melinda Russell (33:53):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Karyl Bell (33:56):
One thing from that that I learned and I continue to
do is I watched, I learned andI tried.
Melinda Russell (34:04):
Yeah, you can learn a lot by just being quiet
and observing other otherdrivers, other people, et cetera
.
For sure, oh, absolutely.
Yeah, so let's talk aboutsocial media here before we hang
up.
How can people follow you andhow do you use social media to
promote yourself?
Karyl Bell (34:26):
I have an Instagram.
It's buckwild198.
Instagram it's buckwild198.
I also have a Facebook and it'smy name Karyl K-A-R-Y-L-B-E-L-L
.
I also have a business page forthe KB Performance on Facebook.
(35:00):
Okay, um, so I use the KBperformance page to do a lot of
business stuff.
Like we get new stuff in um, orlike I sponsored a race at
Lebanon and put up flyers, and Iuse that more for the business
stuff.
And then my personal accountsare anything from racing, which
I'll use a Tik TOK as well.
I have a Tik TOK account that'smainly racing and I'll take
(35:23):
photos and um the videos that mydad graciously takes of every
run.
Uh, and try to make the bestcontent that I can and then I'll
share that to Instagram, whichwill then share it to Facebook,
right?
So I try to at least once aweek, try twice a week, to post
(35:48):
something racing related onsmall pages.
Melinda Russell (35:52):
All right.
So that'll tell me, like, whereyou're going to be racing or
what you're doing, and you'remostly at Lebanon.
So if we find the Lebanonschedule we'll know, right.
Karyl Bell (36:01):
Yeah, so like I'll race Lebanon Friday, saturday,
sunday this week, then next weeksame thing, I'll be at the
divisional at Lebanon Thursdaythrough Sunday, then Lebanon
again next week, same thing I'llbe at the divisional at lebanon
thursday through sunday, thenlebanon again and then canada.
(36:25):
Okay, all right.
Are you coming back to 131anytime soon, or have you
already been?
there this year I haven't come.
This year actually I haven'tgone back since that sfg race,
okay.
Um, since that SFG race, okay,we want to start traveling a
little more, so we're hopingnext year to be able to.
Okay, because I really liked131, I really loved Darlington
that was a nice track and justkind of get back to traveling a
(36:46):
little more all right.
Melinda Russell (36:48):
Well, if you come to 131, remember to let me
know, because that's only aboutmaybe a half hour from me.
So straight up 131.
So well, Karyl, is thereanything we haven't talked about
that we should have?
Karyl Bell (37:05):
No, I think, just if you feel you want to do it, do
it.
Don't let people tell you youcan't do it or that you have
limitations.
The only limitations you haveare what you put on yourself.
Yeah, and that's in racing andjust in general in life.
(37:27):
If you want something, figureit out.
Yeah, you're going to haverocks and you're going to have
boulders and you're going tohave to try to make it up that
hill, but I feel anybody can doit if you take away your own
limitations.
Melinda Russell (37:44):
Yeah, that's true.
And get out of your own head.
That's the thing, absolutelyyeah.
Karyl Bell (37:50):
Don't tell yourself you can't do it or you're not
good enough, because you are.
You're only as good as thementality you put in your own
head.
Melinda Russell (38:00):
Well, and I like to think that success isn't
always about winning, it'sabout having fun, you know,
doing your best.
It's.
You know everybody wants to win, but we know that's not
possible.
But as long as you're enjoyingwhat you're doing and and you
know life can't be all aboutwork, it has to be about things
(38:21):
that we love, and that's why wekeep going to work.
You know it's a balance and so,yeah, you have to have to keep
doing those things, and if youend up last every time and
you're still having fun and youstill want to go back the next
week, then it doesn't matterwhat place you take.
Karyl Bell (38:37):
Exactly, and that's the thing is, is, like you said,
not everybody can win, but whatdid you do better this time
than you did the last time?
Right, what is the growth,whether it be this or this?
Melinda Russell (38:51):
Right.
What is the growth?
Whether it be this or thisExactly?
That's a good thing to remindpeople about, for sure.
Yeah Well, Karyl, thanks fortaking time today to be on the
show.
I really appreciate that youwere here.
I love hearing your story andand your idea about the store at
the track.
I think somebody is going topick up on that idea for sure,
so I hope so.
Karyl Bell (39:12):
Yeah, thanks for it's a benefit for anybody.
Melinda Russell (39:15):
It is Absolutely so.
Thanks for being on, andhopefully you'll stay in touch
so I can keep track of whatyou're up to.
Karyl Bell (39:24):
Oh, absolutely.
I'll definitely keep in touchand you know, hopefully I'll be
able to come out to Michigan atsome point.
Love that, yeah, awesome.
Well, you hang on after.
Melinda Russell (39:31):
I'll be able to come out to Michigan at some
point.
Would love that.
Yeah, awesome.
Well, you hang on after I endthe recording and get some
information, then we'll go onwith our days.
Sounds good, all right, thankyou.
Thank you.
That's it for this episode ofthe Women's Motorsports Network
podcast.
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(39:53):
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(40:14):
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Because gratitude builds greattracks.
Hello everyone, this is MelindaRussell with the Women's
(02:44):
Motorsports Network podcast, andmy guest today is Karyl Bell.
Karyl, I want to welcome you tothe show and, first of all,
what I always ask my guests isto tell us a little bit about
yourself so we can get to knowyou better.
So tell me about your family,your past, whatever you want to
share pass whatever you want toshare.
Karyl Bell (03:07):
Well, first off, thank you for having me.
It is a great honor to be ableto share the stories, share
backgrounds and just getwhatever information out there,
especially about women inmotorsports.
So my name is Karyl.
I live in upstate New York.
My home track is Lebanon ValleyDragway.
(03:28):
I've been there basically sinceI was born.
My mother is the assistanttrack manager there, my father
races and works there, my sisterused to race and now has two
(03:49):
little kids of her own who willeventually grow up to be junior
racers, and my boyfriend alsoraces along with us.
So it's just like a really, andso does his family actually.
So it's just like a really bigfamily community that I've been
(04:12):
really happy to get involvedwith and my two cats, keiko and
Grapes.
Keiko is a small one, she's sixpounds, and Grapes is 14 pounds
.
He's oh yeah, he's massive.
Yeah, and I was gonna saythey're crawling around my feet
(04:34):
currently.
Melinda Russell (04:34):
Oh yeah of course I have a.
I have about a 15 pound ShihTzu dog, so my dog and your cat
are about the same size oh,absolutely.
Karyl Bell (04:43):
And he's like super long, like when I adopted him.
We're like ah, he's just like areally big cat.
No, we swear.
He like kept coming out andjust kept stretching.
We're like are you ever goingto end?
Melinda Russell (04:58):
That's.
That's cool.
I've seen some big cats thatthat could take on my dog for
sure, so no surprise, yeah.
So, Karyl, thank you forsharing that.
Now tell me.
You said you know everybody'sinvolved at the track, so you
started going to the track whenyou were born, when you were
little.
Tell me your story.
Karyl Bell (05:18):
Yeah, I started to go.
I was only a few months old.
I was born in the winter, so Iwas a few months when my parents
started to bring me and my dadwas racing and my mom was
helping him at the time and alsoracing because or also working
there, because that's how theymet.
They met at the track.
She was at the top end and mydad comes through balls
(05:42):
of-bleezing.
Something happened and that'show they met.
Melinda Russell (05:46):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (05:47):
And my grandparents used to race as well.
So it's been a few generations.
Started with my grandparents,my cousin raced juniors until he
just decided he no longerwanted to.
My dad, and then me and mysister.
Melinda Russell (06:03):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (06:04):
And currently it's me and my dad left so far, but
we have I have two nieces thatone of them is definitely going
to do it Like.
That is, without a doubt, theother one who knows?
Melinda Russell (06:21):
Yeah, there's usually one in the family that
kind of you know, it seems likeit's one that carries it on, and
then the other one doessomething completely different,
like dance or softball orsomething else.
Karyl Bell (06:34):
Well, the funny part is, is I actually just
purchased a dance studio.
Melinda Russell (06:40):
Oh, okay.
Karyl Bell (06:40):
That's a whole other life of mine is dance Awesome.
So they're both currently indance and one's like whatever I
do, she's going to do.
And then the older one is more,she's just going to dance or do
artsy stuff.
She's not really into racingand that's okay, Sure it is.
(07:01):
That's the crafty one Exactly.
She'll be doing all of myflyers later on in life.
Melinda Russell (07:06):
She'll do your hero cards and the graphics on
your car, and that's allimportant too.
So there you go.
You got everything covered.
Karyl Bell (07:14):
Exactly so.
I can't wait to see what theycome up with as they grow up.
But I started at the trackreally young and I started in
junior dragsters at the age ofeight, my second year.
I was track champion in thejunior division and then it kind
of went downhill from there.
(07:35):
But that's OK, we live and welearn.
Yeah, I've won a couple, uh,local races.
I was actually the runner up inthe inaugural 1.1 million sfg
race in the women's race.
Um, that was like one of mybigger accomplishments recently.
Melinda Russell (08:00):
um, that I'm really proud of yeah, so where
did you win the trackchampionship when you were young
?
Karyl Bell (08:06):
Lebanon Valley Dragway.
Melinda Russell (08:08):
Okay, all right , is that?
That's your home track?
Karyl Bell (08:12):
Yeah, I bounced between there and Naperville uh
and Canada.
Melinda Russell (08:19):
Oh, okay, is it hard to go across the border?
Karyl Bell (08:22):
No, they're honestly more, at least when we go
through.
Okay, is it hard to go acrossthe border with your car?
They're honestly more, at leastwhen we go through.
They're more curious to seewhat is in there than, like,
what we actually have.
Like yeah, they're like the onetime we had brought my dad's
dragster, my dragster.
(08:43):
So they were both in there andthey're like how do you do that?
So can we see it.
So they're both in there andthey're like how do you do that?
So can we see it?
There was more interest in theengineering of putting things in
there than actually like a listof items.
Melinda Russell (08:55):
Yeah, that's interesting because, you know,
nascar just went to Mexico acouple weekends ago and, from
the people I know and thingsI've heard, the logistics of all
of that was a nightmare yeah,that I can understand, yeah so
interesting.
Okay, so that's juniordragsters.
(09:18):
You moved up to.
What are you driving?
What class do you drive now?
Karyl Bell (09:22):
So now I'm in our super pro bracket program.
I also used to have a Nova andI wrecked that two years ago on
Father's Day.
My mom had actually just gottenout of the hospital two days
prior from a really big,traumatic incident.
(09:43):
She came to the track.
They were watching, they leftand went to go home and I was
later on in the rounds andsomething let go and I don't
even know how many times Ibarrel rolled.
All I know is people saw whiteand then they saw green in the
(10:03):
air and they knew it was justlike over from there um wow but
I was fine.
I had no concussion, no brokenbones, just really sore and a
couple of um bruises.
But I was like really thankfullike that all the safety
equipment had worked Um.
So that car is somewhere, whoknows, in a scrap yard somewhere
(10:28):
.
Melinda Russell (10:28):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (10:29):
Um, so we're building a 71 Pontiac LeMans
Okay, no 68.
I lied 68 LeMans.
Um, currently, and that's aprocess, it it's been two years
and that will be in Super Street.
(10:50):
Okay, so, and my currentdragster is, like I said,
bracket and Super Comp.
Melinda Russell (10:58):
Okay, all right .
So what do you like the best?
Karyl Bell (11:04):
I like it all.
I just like seat time.
Um, it's, it never seems tofail, like at one point I'll be
like yes, I'm all into thisbracket racing, I'm doing great,
and then it goes downhill.
But then when it starts goingdownhill, it's about the
divisional time, and then I doreally well.
And then when that starts to godownhill, it goes back to
bracket.
Yeah, um, so like I did reallywell.
(11:24):
And then when that starts to godownhill, it goes back to
bracket.
Yeah, um, so like I did reallywell this weekend in our bracket
program.
I got to the quarterfinals onsunday, this past sunday, and
now this weekend I race tomorrownight at our night of fire,
which is a bracket program.
Saturday, I'll put it in supercomp trim and do some testing.
(11:47):
Sunday, I'll go back tobrackets, and then next week
thursday, friday, saturday,sunday, I'll be in super comp
wow, so you got to be good atboth to go back and forth like
that yeah for sure and, like Iusually, except for the past
couple years, have run twovehicles at like the divisional,
(12:10):
so jumping back and forth forme like honestly helps my brain.
I feel like sometimes, when I'mstuck doing one thing, yeah, you
get a little lackadaisicalabout it, yeah, and I feel like
I forget something when I knowI'm not forgetting something.
Melinda Russell (12:25):
Right Right, that's very cool, and is this
something you want to keep doingfor a long time?
Do you love it?
Karyl Bell (12:33):
I do, I definitely love it, and I can like in the
winter it's harder.
You kind of I get likedepressed, but at least, like
right now with the project car,I can go out and be like, okay,
I can see what we're doing, Ican continue to do it and like,
when it comes to you know, thesummer stuff, it's like I look
forward to getting back in thecar and taking my brain away
(12:58):
from the business aspect of thedance studio and just being like
, okay, need to focus on this.
Melinda Russell (13:05):
It's and it's like an outlet and I feel like
I'd be lost without it well inyour dance studio, isn't that
busier, like through the schoolyear, fall to may, you have your
recital and then you know youmay do some summer stuff.
But they kind of blend welltogether, I, I would think.
Karyl Bell (13:23):
Yeah, no, they definitely do, because they're
on opposite schedules and then,I actually own another business
for racing.
It's called KB PerformanceCenter and we sell.
We're actually a Zamp dealer.
Melinda Russell (13:36):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (13:37):
And we do also Lucas Oil products.
All right so, and we've gotteninto selling some spark plugs,
some safety um, other safetystuff.
We have basically anything.
You would need to have yournine second license.
Okay, we it's at the track, um,at lebanon valley dragway,
(14:00):
ready to sell and for you toliterally, the business is at
the track.
Yeah, so it's in a, in abuilding there yeah, it's right
in the office area with themerchandise wow so you come in,
you can look at the merchandiseand if you need something um a
quart of oil or oh, I need ajacket, I went a little too fast
.
Um helmets we sell a lot ofhelmets really um neck collars.
Melinda Russell (14:25):
We even do the zamp head and neck restraints
for sale um okay yeah well, andbecause it's there, they don't
worry about having to gosomewhere to get something you
know, they just know.
Karyl Bell (14:39):
Oh, I can get that at the track when I go to the
race exactly, and, like a lot ofpeople, it used to be oh well,
you didn't have this.
Through tech, you can't race.
Yeah, oh, you don't have this.
Go to the office, they have itfor sale, yeah, so we're
actually keeping a lot moreracers daily, yeah, Having,
(14:59):
daily, yeah, having all theseproducts there in at their
disposal yeah, you know what asmart idea, because more tracks
should do that.
Melinda Russell (15:12):
I mean, I realize they gotta have the
manpower of somebody to run it.
But, um, you know you're.
You're selling to the choir, asthey say, right.
Karyl Bell (15:22):
Absolutely yeah.
And like the cool thing aboutlike where we have it it's you
get your merchandise right there, you get your payouts right
there, and now you have all ofyour safety equipment at there
as well.
And I'm very thankful that,like my mom is the office and
(15:45):
she does the payouts andeverything else.
She has office staff that helpher.
And then, of course, when I'mnot there and I'm out racing my
dad's in there, yeah, or like inbetween rounds, like I'll come
in and I'll do it.
So it's like all in one area.
Melinda Russell (16:00):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (16:01):
Okay, well, here's the merchandise.
Oh, you have to go over therefor payout, and Wayne, literally
, has recreated this office areato be a multi-purpose.
Melinda Russell (16:15):
That's great.
Other tracks should go.
Look, you know, even if theysub it out to somebody else to
run, you know like they doconcessions or whatever, that's
still a great idea to have.
You know the especially thebasic necessities gloves and
things that are easy to forgetto take to the track.
You know and you don't, you're,you know, three hours from home
(16:38):
, or whatever.
Karyl Bell (16:38):
So how cool is that?
Yeah, this year has been.
We've been selling stuff that,like hasn't been a big item
either.
A lot of people are looking foropen face helmets cool, really,
we've got them.
A lot of people either haveholes in their gloves, forget
their gloves in another vehicle,so we've been selling gloves
(17:00):
like crazy, like um last night.
One guy doesn't need a firejacket.
He wanted, wanted one, so webought it.
Yeah, and it's there.
They can try it on.
Yeah, see the size.
If we don't have the size andthey want it, we order it and it
comes the next week.
Melinda Russell (17:17):
Yeah, wow, Karyl, you're quite the business
woman, for sure.
Karyl Bell (17:22):
Trying to be Trying to keep myself pretty busy.
Melinda Russell (17:25):
There you go, so let to keep myself pretty
busy.
There you go, so let's let's goback.
Karyl Bell (17:31):
Do you work on your car or or does somebody else
help you with it?
Uh, my dad and I do all of themaintenance on um all of our
vehicles yeah, and that's better.
Melinda Russell (17:39):
And because then if something goes wrong,
you know, or you're driving it,you're like, yeah, this doesn't
feel right.
Then you, you're involved andyou kind of know, you know what
it is that you need to do.
Do to it for sure oh absolutely.
This is a great question foryou, because you're super busy.
Um, how do you, how do you findbalance?
How do you take care of Karyl?
Karyl Bell (18:02):
I make sure to set a specific amount, or I try still
working on it, uh, during theday, like where I go work out,
um, or I just do something forme, like I'll go get my nails
done.
Right now that is not happening.
Melinda Russell (18:18):
That's more of a winter thing yeah, yeah,
because working on the race carand nails don't always go
together no, so I save that likefor a winter thing.
Karyl Bell (18:30):
Um, you know, but I take some time.
I'll go hang out with my nieces, um, just do something that I
normally wouldn't.
I don't want to say wouldn't do, but like that I don't need
somebody else to do with me.
Yes, um, like I'm not gonna lie, going to get my oil changed
today was my 45 minutes to me,yeah, you know.
(18:55):
And like tonight I'll probablygo drop my rig off at the track,
get ready for a night of fire.
Depending on what time we dothat, I'll probably go to the
studio and paint some more but,like I, there's always something
to do and if I didn't need tosleep I probably wouldn't.
(19:18):
There's like that much to do,yeah, and I've created, or I'm
trying to create, where it'slike 9, 9, 30 at night and I
stopped responding to emails, Istopped doing stuff for the
dance studio or anything besidesfor myself and taking the night
to enjoy watching TV, watchinga show, going to bed early, like
(19:43):
yeah, absolutely.
Melinda Russell (19:45):
And you, you have to always remember that.
You know you do have to taketime for yourself, you do have
to get your rest and, yeah, Idon't sleep well, and so you
know there's times that I'm wideawake at two o'clock in the
morning and sometimes I think,well, I should just get up and
do whatever because I'm notsleeping.
(20:05):
But I normally put a podcast onand put my earphones in and you
know they kind of can lull meto sleep.
But you have to be conscious ofyour health and taking care of
yourself when you're so busy.
Karyl Bell (20:19):
Oh, absolutely, and especially in my past, like I
was really sick.
I had allergic reaction in 2009.
So my body had to like learnhow to do things again and I can
get.
I can have a day where I'mperfectly great, nothing hurts,
(20:41):
everything's fine.
The next day, I probably walklike I'm 90 years old.
Oh, I get it, and it's everyday and I don't know what type
of day I'm going to wake up to.
And I'm still working on andtrying my best to figure out
what can I do to help prevent ortone back those days.
Melinda Russell (21:05):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (21:05):
Where I'm not overdoing it enough, to where
I'm debilitating myself for afew days.
Melinda Russell (21:13):
I, I have the same issues and I'm a lot older
than you, but I have a bad back.
I had a knee replacement, I'mgonna have to have back surgery
again and and so you know, Istill think I'm 40 and not
almost 70, because there's timesthat I just pick up the tub,
pick up this, do that, and thenI'm like, oh, I shouldn't have
done that.
So I totally get that.
(21:34):
And you know, the weather has alot to do with it.
I live in Michigan, so there'shumidity and um, and you know,
this week we've had 95 degreetemperatures.
It makes a difference.
And you, you, you have verysimilar weather to what we have
here in Michigan.
You live in New York, so, um,yeah, that's, that's all part of
it for sure oh yeah, and that'swhat happened, like this
(21:56):
weekend.
Karyl Bell (21:57):
Sunday it rained in the morning, a storm came
through and, wayne, by allmighty god, we got racing in.
We started at noon instead of 930, but we got it in but, it
was so humid we were all like ifthe sun was out we would be
dead yeah and oh it's beenmiserable here, for sure and
(22:20):
moving into monday and tuesday.
Melinda Russell (22:21):
It was just we keep sending all that your way,
you know.
Yeah we really do.
It goes right across thecountry.
So, um so, Karyl, every day isnot a good day at the racetrack,
unfortunately.
When something bad happens, howdo you handle that?
What do you do?
Um, do you ever think, okay,I'm done, I'm not going to do
(22:45):
this anymore?
You know, you had that wreck.
How do you handle bad days?
Karyl Bell (22:50):
The funny part is is after my wreck I handled that
better than a race I was at lastyear where I just I literally
couldn't do anything right,couldn't find the fricking
finish line, I couldn't hit thetree, I, whatever I did, it
didn't matter.
And at that point I was likeI'm done, like I was so
(23:13):
frustrated with myself at thatpoint that I was like I'm done.
And then, of course, my dad'slike no, you ain't.
He's like go in the motor home,go relax, go for a walk.
In 10 minutes, minutes, you'regoing to change your mind.
Yeah, of course guess what I did10 minutes later, after I had
my little meltdown.
(23:34):
I was fine, but I had and Iremind myself, not every day is
a good day period and the factthat I'm still here to to live
to talk about my story, to talkabout racing to race, because I
almost wasn't able to yeah is ablessing.
(23:57):
And I remind myself like it's sostupid I can't get upset over
the stupid things.
In a moment I can, but like,have the moment, let it go, move
on.
What can we do to be betternext time?
Yeah, like this weekend.
This past weekend I couldn'thit the broad side of the barn,
(24:19):
couldn't do it, but I could playthe top end like nobody's
business and it was working forme.
So I didn't change a thinguntil it wasn't working for me
yeah, well, and you know it's.
Melinda Russell (24:33):
Isn't it amazing how today the car is
great, you don't do a thing.
Tomorrow, you're at the sametrack, you're doing the same
thing and it's terrible andyou're like, okay, what happened
?
It's, it's, it's air pressure,it's heat, it's all the things
(24:54):
and, and sometimes you justthrow up your hands and be like
I don't know what else to do.
I'm just going to do the best Ican and chalk it up to uh seat
time and go from thereabsolutely and like we.
Karyl Bell (25:05):
Actually I had a conversation with another racer.
They're like we raced yesterday.
Car was great, no wrong, put itaway, bring it out.
And like everything was wrong.
They're like we put it awayFine, what happened with it?
Sitting there.
Melinda Russell (25:24):
I know Happens in every kind of racing there is
.
I hear it all the time and Isee it when I'm watching racing.
You know they might practicegreat or qualify great and then
they race terrible and it's justwhat it is for sure.
Oh absolutely yeah.
So, Karyl, do you think dragracing, motorsports in general,
(25:46):
is a good sport for girls to bein?
You know, have you ever had anytime when you feel like you
didn't belong?
Can you kind of talk about that?
Karyl Bell (25:56):
I do think it's a good sport for girls and women
to be in.
And, yes, you do have to haveslightly a thicker skin to be in
it, Because you're gonna comeup against and I'm going to say
men and they're going to look atyou and be like you shouldn't
be here.
And I had an experience when Iwas younger, in juniors, with a
(26:18):
professional racer and I wantedhim to sign my helmet and he was
like you don't race, Likeyou're just a girl like girls
don't race.
You're just a girl like girlsdon't race.
And back then that was kind ofthe stigma and I was like you
want to bet?
like and how rude of him it wasreally rude and, honestly, to
(26:41):
this day, I still don't like him.
I wouldn't either like and like.
I felt like I had a point toprove like I should be.
I have a right to be here.
I put my pants on the same way.
You know everybody else putstheir pants on.
There is no difference.
You know and like, if you can'thandle us putting the helmet on
(27:03):
the same way and me being nextto you, maybe you shouldn't be
in here.
Melinda Russell (27:08):
I was just thinking the same thing.
Yeah, because and I think youknow it's been a few years since
you raced juniors, but I thinkit's it's getting better all the
time there's so many littlegirls that are in juniors now.
I mean any track you go towhere there's drag racing so
many little girls.
We have US 131 Motorsports Parkreal close here to me and great
(27:34):
, just a great track andfacilities.
And the first time I went upthere back in 2018 to check out,
you know, the drag racingBecause they have amazing
national events and everything Iwas overwhelmed with how many
little girls there were, andthat was seven years ago.
Karyl Bell (27:53):
It's just getting bigger and bigger all the time
oh, absolutely, and I know, likeour junior program, um, there's
a few girls um growing up.
Like when I was in it, I thinkwe dominated the guys.
Yeah, like that's just how itwas.
And you know, a lot of them arestill in racing in some
(28:16):
capacity, which is amazing, andthat's what it has to be.
You have to invite these peoplein and whether they're male,
like, if we don't have theseyounger kids, period, there is
no sports.
Melinda Russell (28:34):
Right, no future.
Karyl Bell (28:36):
There is no future.
And you know where I lookaround is the junior dragster
scene is pretty, pretty decent.
Melinda Russell (28:48):
Yeah it really is is those kids are competitive
.
Karyl Bell (28:52):
I don't want them to come to super they're way too
competitive.
Melinda Russell (28:55):
No so, Karyl, on race day, do you have any
superstitions, or you alwayswear the same socks, or anything
like that?
I always go to mcdonald's forbreakfast.
Whatever it might be, what isit?
Karyl Bell (29:17):
I actually don't.
I say I don't.
I think like subconsciously Ido things like that are
superstitious and I just don'trealize it.
But if I sit in my trailer Ican't do it, so I have to like
walk around.
I know, right before I burn out, you know, as I'm sitting there
I just pray, you know, foreverybody to have a safe run,
(29:40):
like I do stuff like that.
But like to wear the same socksto like no, as long as they're
tall socks and they go above myankle, cool, cool, okay, as long
as I'm wearing shorts thataren't gonna like fold up Cool.
Melinda Russell (29:57):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (29:59):
I usually race in like a tank top, you know so.
But I think what it is is likenow that I have to like do
things a certain way, like Iwon't put my okay, I lied, I do
have one.
I won't put my pants on until,like they call the class before
(30:21):
us, because I don't take mypants off the whole day.
Melinda Russell (30:27):
Okay.
Karyl Bell (30:28):
Because to try to get my pants off is it's not fun
?
Yeah, they just kind of stickto you and I'm like I'd rather
just deal with the heat or dealwith the sweat, whatever.
Melinda Russell (30:40):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (30:40):
Until I'm done, instead of getting comfortable.
Melinda Russell (30:43):
Yeah, okay.
Karyl Bell (30:45):
So I guess, making myself uncomfortable all day
would be another one another one.
Melinda Russell (30:51):
That's cool.
Now, how about advice?
Has anybody given you like apiece of advice or a quote or
something that has stuck withyou while you've been racing?
Karyl Bell (31:00):
don't think okay um, that one really stuck with me
because I like to think a lot,but then when I start thinking I
think about other things.
So as soon as I do my burnoutand I back up, I can't think
about anything else.
That nothing it's in my hands.
(31:22):
But like, don't overthink it.
And then have plans A, b and C.
Melinda Russell (31:29):
Yeah.
Karyl Bell (31:29):
Go for A.
You're going to know when youleave that line if A is going to
work.
If that don't work, go to B.
You're going to know that byeighth mile if you're running
quarter mile.
If that ain't going to work,throw the number C.
Hail Mary.
Always have multiple plans, butknow which plan you're going to
target.
Melinda Russell (31:50):
Okay, good advice, good, good advice for
other people too.
What's your favorite racememory from all your time in
racing?
Could be good, could be bad,could be anything, but it's like
, oh, I'll never forget this,yeah.
Karyl Bell (32:10):
I definitely think it would be my runner up at US
131 in the SFG 1.1 females race.
The fact, like I and it's noteven the runner up, it's just
that race in general I was goingagainst so many big names and
I'm like, do you like nobodyknows who I am, like I'm just
(32:34):
having fun, and like I was goingagainst an opponent and he was
trying to get my attention, likeby moving in his cage and stuff
, and I won, and I come back andmy dad's like did you even
notice what he was doing overthere?
Oh, not a clue, didn't evenlook like he's like you have,
(32:55):
you are really just.
But I'm like you've always toldme don't pay attention to what
they're doing right focus onwhat you need to do yeah and he
goes.
Yeah, that's about right yeah um, but like just going against so
many different racers and riskracing styles um, taught me a
(33:17):
lot.
And like always watch youropponents when you're out or
you're waiting, um, or ifthey're in a different class,
like we have a top dragster, topsportsman class as well that
runs once in a while.
Go and watch them, see theirracing habits, because I pulled
into the stage or the water boxand I turned my car off because
(33:39):
I knew the two in front of me,none of them going first.
They sat there for two minuteson a burndown.
So it's like knowing youropponents and knowing what
they're going to do.
Yeah, also up your game.
Melinda Russell (33:53):
Absolutely, absolutely.
Karyl Bell (33:56):
One thing from that that I learned and I continue to
do is I watched, I learned andI tried.
Melinda Russell (34:04):
Yeah, you can learn a lot by just being quiet
and observing other otherdrivers, other people, et cetera
.
For sure, oh, absolutely.
Yeah, so let's talk aboutsocial media here before we hang
up.
How can people follow you andhow do you use social media to
promote yourself?
Karyl Bell (34:26):
I have an Instagram.
It's buckwild198.
Instagram it's buckwild198.
I also have a Facebook and it'smy name Karyl K-A-R-Y-L-B-E-L-L
.
I also have a business page forthe KB Performance on Facebook.
(35:00):
Okay, um, so I use the KBperformance page to do a lot of
business stuff.
Like we get new stuff in um, orlike I sponsored a race at
Lebanon and put up flyers, and Iuse that more for the business
stuff.
And then my personal accountsare anything from racing, which
I'll use a Tik TOK as well.
I have a Tik TOK account that'smainly racing and I'll take
(35:23):
photos and um the videos that mydad graciously takes of every
run.
Uh, and try to make the bestcontent that I can and then I'll
share that to Instagram, whichwill then share it to Facebook,
right?
So I try to at least once aweek, try twice a week, to post
(35:48):
something racing related onsmall pages.
Melinda Russell (35:52):
All right.
So that'll tell me, like, whereyou're going to be racing or
what you're doing, and you'remostly at Lebanon.
So if we find the Lebanonschedule we'll know, right.
Karyl Bell (36:01):
Yeah, so like I'll race Lebanon Friday, saturday,
sunday this week, then next weeksame thing, I'll be at the
divisional at Lebanon Thursdaythrough Sunday, then Lebanon
again next week, same thing I'llbe at the divisional at lebanon
thursday through sunday, thenlebanon again and then canada.
(36:25):
Okay, all right.
Are you coming back to 131anytime soon, or have you
already been?
there this year I haven't come.
This year actually I haven'tgone back since that sfg race,
okay.
Um, since that SFG race, okay,we want to start traveling a
little more, so we're hopingnext year to be able to.
Okay, because I really liked131, I really loved Darlington
that was a nice track and justkind of get back to traveling a
(36:46):
little more all right.
Melinda Russell (36:48):
Well, if you come to 131, remember to let me
know, because that's only aboutmaybe a half hour from me.
So straight up 131.
So well, Karyl, is thereanything we haven't talked about
that we should have?
Karyl Bell (37:05):
No, I think, just if you feel you want to do it, do
it.
Don't let people tell you youcan't do it or that you have
limitations.
The only limitations you haveare what you put on yourself.
Yeah, and that's in racing andjust in general in life.
(37:27):
If you want something, figureit out.
Yeah, you're going to haverocks and you're going to have
boulders and you're going tohave to try to make it up that
hill, but I feel anybody can doit if you take away your own
limitations.
Melinda Russell (37:44):
Yeah, that's true.
And get out of your own head.
That's the thing, absolutelyyeah.
Karyl Bell (37:50):
Don't tell yourself you can't do it or you're not
good enough, because you are.
You're only as good as thementality you put in your own
head.
Melinda Russell (38:00):
Well, and I like to think that success isn't
always about winning, it'sabout having fun, you know,
doing your best.
It's.
You know everybody wants to win, but we know that's not
possible.
But as long as you're enjoyingwhat you're doing and and you
know life can't be all aboutwork, it has to be about things
(38:21):
that we love, and that's why wekeep going to work.
You know it's a balance and so,yeah, you have to have to keep
doing those things, and if youend up last every time and
you're still having fun and youstill want to go back the next
week, then it doesn't matterwhat place you take.
Karyl Bell (38:37):
Exactly, and that's the thing is, is, like you said,
not everybody can win, but whatdid you do better this time
than you did the last time?
Right, what is the growth,whether it be this or this?
Melinda Russell (38:51):
Right.
What is the growth?
Whether it be this or thisExactly?
That's a good thing to remindpeople about, for sure.
Yeah Well, Karyl, thanks fortaking time today to be on the
show.
I really appreciate that youwere here.
I love hearing your story andand your idea about the store at
the track.
I think somebody is going topick up on that idea for sure,
so I hope so.
Karyl Bell (39:12):
Yeah, thanks for it's a benefit for anybody.
Melinda Russell (39:15):
It is Absolutely so.
Thanks for being on, andhopefully you'll stay in touch
so I can keep track of whatyou're up to.
Karyl Bell (39:24):
Oh, absolutely.
I'll definitely keep in touchand you know, hopefully I'll be
able to come out to Michigan atsome point.
Love that, yeah, awesome.
Well, you hang on after.
Melinda Russell (39:31):
I'll be able to come out to Michigan at some
point.
Would love that.
Yeah, awesome.
Well, you hang on after I endthe recording and get some
information, then we'll go onwith our days.
Sounds good, all right, thankyou.
Thank you.
That's it for this episode ofthe Women's Motorsports Network
podcast.
We hope you've been inspired bythe stories I shared today and
(39:53):
feel more connected to theamazing community of women in
motorsports.
Remember, whether you're behindthe wheel in the pits or
cheering from the stands, yourstory matters and together we're
driving change and celebratingevery milestone.
If you enjoyed today's episode,be sure to subscribe, leave us
(40:14):
a review and share it withsomeone who loves motorsports as
much as you do, and don'tforget to follow us on Facebook
and Instagram for updates,behind the scenes content and
more incredible stories.
So until next time, stayinspired, stay connected and
keep racing through life.
This is the Women's MotorsportsNetwork podcast, where every
(40:37):
woman's story is worthcelebrating.
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