For the second consecutive event one of the most devoted competitors on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is missing from the division’s entry list.
It was a question asked by many before the Whelen Modified Tour event at Monadnock Speedway on Sept. 21. Where is Melissa Fifield?
Fifield’s status as missing from the entry list for the Winchester Fair at Monadnock had plenty of people wondering.
Before the event at Monadnock, the last time Fifield was not on the entry list for a Whelen Modified Tour event was at Oswego Speedway on Sept. 3, 2016.
Fifield began her Whelen Modified Tour career at the start of the 2014 season. She did not go to the 2014 series event at Bristol Motor Speedway. From the start of the 2014 season through to the Whelen Modified Tour event on Sept. 14, 2024 at Riverhead Raceway, Fifield was in attendance at every series event besides Bristol in 2014 and Oswego in 2016.
The Winchester Fair marked the first time in 117 Whelen Modified Tour events that Fifield was not in attendance.
Wednesday NASCAR announced the entry list for Sunday’s Sunoco World Series 150 at Thompson Speedway and Fifield was once again missing from the list.
Attempts to reach Fifield have been unsuccessful. There have been no public announcements through Fifield’s social media channels regarding her team skipping recent events.
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One can only conjecture, which I hate doing. But on what I believe was a “digging deep with Denise” interview this past summer, Melissa stated she was relocating to North Carolina. She was getting married in November I believe, and in the process of selling the homestead in Wakefeild and relocating the business as well.
I am hoping, that it’s only because that she has too many things going on at once, to attend these races. What I am not hoping, is that her relocation in North Carolina, wherever that may be, was devastated by Hurricane Helene. I hope she is out of harms way, and shes not on the entry list because she is way too busy at this time. But even travel alone, in and out of NC must be effected at the very least, never mind all the rest of the devastation. Sure Hope she is ok.
My guess is her absence is related moving her business and race team to North Carolina. I don’t care what anyone says about Fifield being slow. Anyone who puts their own race team together and shows up without causing trouble is alright in my book.
Could be work, could be health, could be a blessing from the good Lord, could be anything that isn’t anyone’s business. Stop being a dink. Are you that desperate for news that you need to talk about who isn’t going to be there? If so, call her directly.
Art,
A dink? I cover the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, which isn’t some Hobby Stock division at a backwoods short track. It’s a NASCAR regional division. Melissa Fifield has been a regular with the division for 11 years. As a matter of fact, up until two races ago, there had only been TWO events over 11 years that she did not show up and the last time it happened eight years ago. Yes, it’s news that one of the most dedicated competitors on the series for the last 11 years suddenly has disappeared.
I read the story and felt compelled to comment. Since what Bobf and Marshall said well captured the essence of what I was going to say, I’ll write to praise their sincere and most gentlemanly comments. Great to know there are real gentlemen amongst us race fans and fellow RaceDayCT newshounds. Best! ?
Everyone knows the reason why except Raceday CT? The premier CT short track reporter since 1994 doesnt realize she moved to NC and is getting married next month? Crazy
Todd,
I very much am aware that she moved to North Carolina. Published something about that very fact not too long ago. And why would that automatically be the reason why she has skipped the last two events? You do know that over the first 10.5 years of her career on the Whelen Modified Tour – when she lived in Wakefield, N.H. – there were events in Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina and other places very far away from New Hampshire and she went to all of those. But now we’re just supposed to make the blanket assumption that since she moved to North Carolina that’s why she has checked out from the series?
How is it that the tours most popular driver hasn’t announced to her fans what’s going on?
Well if you couldn’t find the answer to your question then why question it. After all you are the reporter. Or are you just looking for someone else to answer the question?
James Burke,
It’s reporting on a news subject. It’s reporting on a driver that has shown up for every event on a particular series for eight years suddenly not showing up. That’s it. Calm down.
I don’t know about the community at large but I’m interested. Regardless of her lack of success she’s been dogged in her loyalty to the Tour. We’ve talked about her huge life change from marriage to geography to business this simply a natural follow up.
There’s also the shear interest she’s commanded in this forum for the better part of a decade. I’d guess more lines written by more people about her then just about anyone else or at least in the top 10. Folks bring her up out of the blue. Unintentionally controversial, a wedge unfortunately that she had nothing to do with other then to exist but still a story.
Gender like it or not important as well. For a lot of gals simply being there an accomplishment. If the one woman is not going to be at the races that’s a story with an audience that appreciates the information I should think.
Finally those that police topics using subtraction. Critical of the mere presence of a story that seems to be a thing these days. In news where people have diverse interests always better to err on the side of more information on more topic then less and leave the decision to read it to the community.
Shawn, thanks for reporting on this. The null result is also of value. Confirming that there has been no public statement from the team leaves it as is: reason unknown.