Along the way, Bell learned as much about motorsports business and self-promotion as he did driving and race-craft. IndyCar driver Townsend Bell is asking fans to be on the lookout after thieves broke into his home. ", The temptation of bigger boats always lurks, though, and the day he talked to BoatUS Magazine he was heading to Catalina on a borrowed Gran Turismo. The wedding took place one week before Bell competes in a Cup car for the first time at Daytona International Speedway. Bell told The Associated Press on Monday the burglars made off with the 10 rings from his Indianapolis 500s, his ring for winning the 2001 Indy Lights championship, his Rolex watch from his 2014 victory in the 24-hour race and the Rolex he received for winning the IMSA title the next season. I was 10 years old at the time, and we started out with that boat in San Francisco Bay as the precursor to our Mississippi trip. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? "Double duty" in motorsports normally refers to drivers competing at the Indianapolis 500 and NASCARs Cole 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day. I can still remember being terrified in the whitecaps of the Bay. Little drama in air with pressurization. Townsend Bell competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona then flew home to Los Angeles to receive bad news from his wife: Their home had been burglarized and the bulk of his racing memorabilia had been stolen. Dad had a plan for that, too. Before joining NBC, Townsend was working as a color commentator for INDYCAR broadcasts on Sky Sports in Europe. San Luis Obispo's Townsend Bell competed in the Rolex 24 at Daytona over the weekend, then flew home to Los Angeles to receive bad news from his wife: Their home had been burglarized and the . "All the work you put in to get all that stuff, and at least you have recognition of the achievement, and now it's gone.". To access his home, the thieves had to climb over a 6-foot fence and smash through the glass door in his master bedroom. Well, actually, Im back to zero now on Rolex watches, so maybe I would have been thinking during the race I had to win because Ive got to start my whole collection over now.. He is happily married to his wife Heather Campbell Bell. He is currently competing full-time in the 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona class with Alex Job Racing in an Audi R8 GT3 and will return to Le Mans with Ferrari. 'My wife will change the locks!' . When Bell was growing up in San Francisco, his dad promised him and his two brothers that when each turned 10, he would take them on a father-son bonding trip of their choosing. At the 2013 X-Games in Munich, Bell competed in Global Rallycross and finished 6th in the final. "I went to the Indy 500," he says. I'm actually pretty shy. Passing Team Penske's Will Power on the last restart, Bell impressed with a fourth-place finish. I was just trying too hard, obviously, and I didn't have a strong foundation of confidence, frankly, that I belonged there. But it wasn't because I loved promoting myself. Bell made his sports car debut in 2012 and won the 12 Hours of Sebring on debut with Alex Job Racing. Furthermore, Townsends father had the boat inflated and checked in as luggage while they were taking a flight to Minneapolis. Some of Townsends colleagues at NBC include: In June 2021, Townsend shared an entry for the No. Oliver Gavin and Townsend Bell join Vasser Sullivan Racing as part of the two-car driver lineup for the 24 Hours of Daytona. So I'm really glad that I kind of went all-in. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Bell posted his best Indianapolis 500 qualifying effort to date in 2011, racing for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. "It was a really neat trip, and a part of the country we kids wouldn't have seen, and in a way that we never would have seen it. He raced a partial season and scored a best finish of fourth at Portland. She vastly prefers this to the back of a superbike or jumping on an off-road truck.". In addition, they had a dominant win at VIR and podium finishes in the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of LeMans. "My first real boating experience was kind of funny," says Los Angeles-based race-car driver and NBC Sports' IndyCar broadcaster Townsend Bell. LIKELY TO SELL OUT*. "It was almost ridiculous that I went from being a college student Indy-car fan to, 'Holy shit, somebody's going to pay me like a lot of money to drive their Indy car.' "Indy Car racing is what I always dreamed of as a kid, I was always fascinated with that. In the famous Indy500 in 2016 Townsend clocked a top speed of 241.637mph.[6]. Jun 9, 2015. One brother went to Alaska, another to New York. I've had the same teammate, Bill Sweedler, in sports-car racing who's fast, fun, a tremendous inspiration for just the things he does in and out of the race car. 301. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. In 2015, Bell and co-driver Bill Sweedler took home the IMSA GT Daytona Championship. See all 15 photos. Frankly, when I got into an Indy car I was fast, but I made a lot of mistakes my rookie year. Bell finished 9th in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 with Sam Schmidt Motorsports. So, how much is Townsend Bell worth at the age of 47 years old? Bell has filled in for Formula One coverage on NBC, most notably in 2016 when he replaced Will Buxton, who was on bereavement leave for the races at Sepang and Mexico City. "In the end it's just stuff, but it's special to just me," Bell told AP. Menu. Notice the aero optimized seating position. He is a member of famous Driver with the age 47 years old group. He earned his high school diploma in California from San Luis Obispo High School. [4] The pairing finished fourth overall in the full season GT Daytona class points. The real drama started when he tried to make the return trip to Daytona Saturday afternoon. Now in only his fourth season in GT machinery, he has already claimed class wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and Rolex 24 at Daytona, with this month's 24 Hours of Le Mans standing as the next endurance challenge to conquer. Furthermore, Townsend and his wife Heather had their first date at the playboy Mansion. He also was entered in a third team car in the Indy 500, where he qualified twelfth and finished tenth. He finished 21st. He is currently working as a racing commentator for NBC along with Leigh Diffey and James Hinchcliffe. per adult. Bells home was one of five burglarized in his Pacific Palisades neighborhood. He began his racing career in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, and ascended to the Indy Lights series in 2000, where he finished second behind Scott Dixon before winning the series title in 2001. Bell's home was one of five burglarized in his Pacific Palisades neighborhood. It seemed so unattainable and larger than life.". After landing, Vasser rented a car and off they set on Interstate 95. He qualified 4th and led 12 laps in the 2016 Indy 500, racing for Andretti Autosport, before an incident on pit road during caution. Townsend Bell was born on 19 April, 1975 in San Francisco, CA, is an American racing driver. Bell posted his best Indianapolis 500 qualifying effort to date in 2011, racing for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. #legend pic.twitter.com/hG4kX4cM21. The actor is married to Agatha Araya, with whom he has two children, one of whom is Desmond Townsend. For Bell, the circumstances were similarly challenging. By qualifying fourth fastest, he started the 95th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on the inside of the second row. Bell has driven in numerous domestic and international motorsport series for more than two decades, and has competed in the Indianapolis 500 on 10 occasions, finishing in fourth place in 2009. So, how much is Townsend Bell worth at the age of 47 years old? He followed that performance with a victory in the 2014 Rolex 23 at Daytona, and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GT-Am class in 2016. To access his home, the thieves had to climb over a 6-foot fence and smash through the glass door in his master bedroom. Townsend Bell (born April 19, 1975) is an American professional motor racing driver competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and also as a motorsports commentator for NBC Sports' IndyCar Series coverage. Discover Townsend Bell's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. In 2009, KV Racing Technology entered Bell in the Indy 500. Top destinations, domestic and abroad, for a 2023 fishing vacation you'll never forget including fun spots for the nonanglers in your group. Townsend Bell's net worth "The total weight of the outboard exceeded the maximum weight of checked baggage allowed, so my dad disassembled the lower unit and carried it on as hand baggage, and the four of us set off for Minneapolis. We may earn money from the links on this page. He was born on April 19, 1975, in San Luis Obispo, California, in the United States. All material is intended for informational purposes only and has been obtained from public records, MLS, or other sources believed to be reliable, but not verified. Townsend Bell nationality American age 47 years old born April 19, 1975 hometown San Francisco, California Racing highlights Racing career summary Esports career summary (work in progress) Disclaimer: the data and summaries are all taken from the data available in the career details section further below on this page. He hit trade shows carrying business cards. Crashed a lot, hit people. Private and Luxury. From that moment forward my entire life channeled to pursuing racing every waking hour.". He won the Indy Lights championship in 2001 and earned two starts in a Champ Car in a joint effort between Patrick Racing and Dale Coyne Racing as a test for a full-time seat in 2002. . He competed in the Formula Dodge Western Championship. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Any use, reproduction, modification, distribution, display or performance of this material without NBC Universal's prior written consent is prohibited.Use of the Website signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. He has also been a participant in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Furthermore, he has also worked as an analyst for SPEEDs F1 coverage. I had never really made any kind of plan like, 'This is what I'm going to do when I get older. 23 car in events where Milka Duno was not scheduled to race. His best result in 2008 was an eighth-place finish at Richmond International Raceway in June. HIS OWN DRAMATIC STORY In His Poor, Warped Mind His Love for His Dead Wife Became a Craze for Murder. Ive been in four or five states, weve had airplane issues, some drama in the skies, a lot of fun in Indianapolis earlier today. His 2014 Indianapolis 500, back with KV Racing Technology in the No. Well, actually, I'm back to zero now on Rolex watches, so maybe I would have been thinking during the race I had to win because I've got to start my whole collection over now.". TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Palisades Patrol swore in its seventh town sheriff Tuesday night, race car driver Townsend Bell, to help address quality of life issues in Pacific Palisades. All rights in such marks are reserved by The Agency IP Holdco, LLC. In 2016, Bell along with teammates Jeff Segal and Bill Sweedler won the 24 Hours of LeMans in only their second try. Ann Dermody is the former managing editor of BoatUS Magazine. But his racing career appeared to be on its way to an inauspicious fade-out as a splintered U.S. open-wheel community meant opportunities were scarce. Spirit of adventure and Huck Finn travels completed, Townsend turned to racing go-karts when he was 12 years old. Gavin will race in the No. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. "It's the perfect boat for us because it has an enclosed pilothouse and we can spend the night, if we want," he says. Christopher Bell is married to his wife, Morgan Kemenah who is also his best friend. ". Exclusive: Early-Bird Tasting Tour of Pike Place Market. Any time the pilot pulls out the owners manual, its generally not a good sign midflight, Bell said. There's something about a Ferrari road car where when I get in this thing, you know, you don't want to scratch it. Furthermore, the announcement of Townsend racing in a Lexus was made by the Vasser Sullivan Racing. Bell is also a color commentator for NBC Sports's IndyCar, Global RallyCross Championship as well as the host of What'Cha Got on Fox Sports 1. 524 following. He is competed full-time in the 2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona class with Alex Job Racing in an Audi R8 GT3 and returned to Le Mans with Ferrari in 2017. Bell moved to Europe's F3000 series in pursuit of becoming the first American since Michael Andretti in 1993 to compete in Formula One, and he tested briefly for the Jaguar and BAR Honda F1 teams. It's a model that has always existed to some degree in pro racing, but more so now than ever for a generation of young drivers trying to persevere in a struggling economy that greatly reduced the amount of available sponsorship and race seats. . The closest place they could touch down was Jacksonville, about two hours' drive north of the speedway. 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