Melissa Fifield of Wakefield, NH is no ordinary teen.  She drives the # 17 car in the Allison Legacy North Series for Pine Knoll Racing. 

 I recently had an opportunity to ask Melissa a few questions about herself and learn more about one of Wakefield’s rising stars.

Melissa started racing early on in the Junior Champ Karts. When asked where “Pine Knoll Racing” got its name, she explained that she and her family were looking for something different.   Since the family lives on a knoll surrounded by pine trees, they found inspiration from the area where they live.

Her career stats to date are the 2006 Jr. Champion at Londonderry Raceway. 2007 she placed 4^th in WKA (Northeast) in Points. Last year she placed 6^th in ALNSR points for 2008. Melissa did acknowledge that with increased fuel prices, things had been more difficult to come by. She said, “Last year the fuel price was a killer, so we had a hard time buying things we needed for the car”.

With the 2009 season underway, Melissa returns to racing in the Allison Legacy North Series and hopes to get in a couple Allison Legacy Touring races down South. The sponsors for Melissa are primarily Eastern Boats, New England Correct Craft, Color Coatings, Twin State Speedway, Seven Lakes Snowmobile Club, and Attorney Robert Wunder.

When asked what her favorite track to race at, Melissa said two came to mind. “Lee USA Speedway is my home track so I love to race there”. Melissa said her most memorable moment in her racing career took place at Lee USA Speedway.  It was her first race in the Allison Legacy. Melissa stated, “I had always dreamed of racing there so it was thrilling and frightening at the same time!”.  Her other favorite track is the Adirondack International Speedway. This is a fast D-shaped half-mile track. Melissa favors this track because; “the speeds at Adirondack are fast so I love to race there”!  Melissa is used to seeing cars in the rearview mirror. The one car she doesn’t want to see is her “DAD” Ken Fifield who is also the Chief of Police in their home town!

Where does this bright young lady see herself after high school and in the next five years? Melissa hopes to continue racing and attend NHTC (New Hampshire Technical College) to get her degree in automotive engineering. Melissa also, “hopes to be in a high level touring series like Camping World East, or PASS”!  With the talent and drive this young lady has, these goals are not too hard to imagine her securing as her future plays out before the racing community.