News Director 
Column By: RYAN HILL / RPW – MAYFIELD, NY – Every driver has a story. Every driver is supported by numerous people that make their racing dreams come true. Every driver’s story and support system is unique, and Sportsman modified driver Kathy Bellen’s story is one of the more unique stories in north east racing.
Kathy’s story isn’t unique because she is a woman, it is not unique because she races for a family run team, Kathy’s story is unique because she is a single mother, who races for the love of racing.
Kathy is a 29 year old driver out of Mayfield, NY, beyond that she is mother to Khloie, who turns seven next Friday. Kathy has been around racing since her father Don started racing in 1995. When Don started racing mini sprints Kathy was 8 years old, and a family friend was racing Karts at Caroga Creek Speedway, the friend let her take the kart out one night, and she was hooked.
“There is just something about being at the track, being behind the wheel with the helmet on” Kathy said. “Once that green flag drops nothing else matters other than the gas pedal, the steering wheel, and trying to be the first one over that finish line.”
From the start Kathy’s father showed her the ins and outs of preparing his race cars, cars that varied from modifieds, to 360 sprint cars, mod lites, sportsmans, pro stocks.. you name it Don has probably driven it, and Kathy was always there learning.
“The older I got the more my dad taught me about working on all the cars. I would get out of school just to come home to turn wrenches on my karts or his cars. We would spend late nights in the garage, he even showed me how to rebuild kart motors, with his direction of course.”
In 2002, after racing one of Rocky Warner’s street stocks, Don purchased Kathy a street stock of her own. Don completed a lot of the frame work, while Kathy and Don worked together on the motor. She ran that machine at Fonda Speedway for the 2002-2003 seasons, and in 2004 moved on to 600cc Micro Sprints at Whip City. In the 04/05 season Kathy graduated high school and decided to take some time off to experience life without racing.
Don continued to race over the years, and Kathy was able to jump in her Dad’s sportsman at Glen Ridge in the rookie sportsman class. In 2014 she teamed up with Don to run Lightning Sprints, and they were back racing together. This time there was a new team member Kathy’s daughter Khloie.
“I am constantly telling Khloie that she can be anything that she wants to be, and that she can do whatever she wants as long as she doesn’t give up on her dreams, if it is something that you love. What kind of mother would I be if I am not going to follow my own dreams that I have had since I was her age?
Kathy has been following her dreams, and so far it has payed off. While an unfortunate incident at the end of last season in her Lightning Sprint ended that chapter of her career, it opened a door to the next chapter.
“After much deliberation, we decided that it was time to for me to get behind the wheel of a bigger ca, and something that I could run closer to home on a regular basis. My dad surprised me in October with a trip to Rochester to pick up my new ride.. a sportsman. It was a long winter of rebuilding my Dad’s modified and my sportsman, we finally hit the track at Fonda and Glen Ridge.
Kathy was able to pick up a win her first night out in the sportsman at Fonda. The top three drivers were disqualified , but a win is win, and it was her first ever feature win, a big night for any driver.
There are many pros and cons for anybody driving for their family owned team. Kathy acknowledges this “ Usually it is just me and my father, the big boss lady, my step mother, Becky, step brother Ryan, and our family friend Matt. It is very difficult to be able to focus on both cars , but it definitely brings us closer as a family. We spend long nights and days off in the garage preparing for the weekend, or all the hours on the road travelling to tracks. I would not be able to do any of this without my family supporting me, and helping me all along the way.”
While racing at any level is a challenge in and of itself, but being single mom throws a wrench into the everyday workload of any racer. From financial stress , Kathy is currently working hard looking for new sponsors to ease the financial burdens that come with racing, to helping with her daughter’s homework, to making sure Khloie is at her dance classes, Kathy has a full plate before adding racing to the mix. This usually leaves the racing mom exhausted.
“The highlights of being a racer and a mom is when I come off the track, and just seeing the look on my daughters face, and how excited she is to be at the track with her family. She is very proud of me for not giving up on my dreams, no matter how hard it may be at times. She loves to go around and brag to how her mommy races race cars with her papa.”
Papa is impressed by the family racing, but more impressed with his daughter and granddaughter’s relationship.
“ As a mom Khloie is the center of Kathy’s universe. I am amazed at all the adventures I find the two of them undertaking. From working together washing the race car, to picking strawberries last Saturday, they are best friends in everything they do. As a driver Kathy has always been driven to perform at the highest competitive level. Her driving has always been smooth and consistent. She is often too hard on herself though, always striving for excellence.
Kathy brought up a story of how hard it can be for a kid, and how important I think it is for kids to know that they can be what they want to be, and to like what they like, regardless of what their peers say.
“My daughter has always been a huge fan of Ninja Turtles, so her Grandma bought her an awesome hoodie where the hood covers half your face. The eye holes are cut out and makes you look like a Ninja Turtle. She wore the hoodie to school the next day, only to come home crying about how a few kids in her class were picking on her, telling her that Ninja Turtles are for boys and she is weird to like them. I was able to use the fact that I race, even though plenty of people think it is “ only for boys”. I didn’t let that stop me, if anything it makes me want to do it that much more and prove them wrong..”
Kathy’s goals are to just be the best mom she can possibly be, and to raise a smart respectful who also is a strong independent young person. Kathy wants Khloie to grow up knowing she can do anything, and to not be swayed by her peers. As for racing, Kathy wants to master sportsman, hopefully win a track championship, and maybe move up to modifieds one day.
Kathy adds that wants to thank her sponsor Paul’s Auto Body because he is a part of the family as well and has helped us out tremendously over the years.
