Melissa Fifield operates both Pine Knoll Auto Sales and her NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race program out of New Hampshire.
Elizabeth Nelson operates Farm Fueled Nutrition out of Montana.
Thanks to their shared values as female business owners, their mutual passion for nutrition and a little twist of fate, the women who were complete strangers five months ago are now operating as partners as Fifield works through her 11th Modified Tour season.
Their connection is a warming success story in a sport fueled by the often cold business of promotion.
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Fifield’s expedition through the world of racing is defined by perseverance. On the heels of a childhood full of karting competition, the 31-year-old Wakefield, New Hampshire native continues to race her own Modified full-time on the Tour despite a relative lack of resources. She does so because she’s addicted to the adrenaline a Modified race provides. “Everything slows down. I’m in my own world. I love that moment,” she explained earlier this year.
When she’s not working on her race program, Fifield can be found operating the car dealership that funds her life both inside and outside a race car. In other words, she’s always working.
Fifield’s story is what resonated when Nelson received a random outreach in January.
Fifield’s health journey prompted her to seek out a dietary supplement that would provide whole nutrition with real ingredients. Her search led her to Farm Fueled Nutrition, a brand-new product. Upon researching the superfueled greens, she realized Nelson’s status as the owner and operator.
“I discovered it was another female-owned business,” Fifield said. “I wanted to reach out to her to see if there was anything we could do to work together.”
Added Nelson: “I didn’t know her from anything, to be honest. Of course I know NASCAR, but being this far North and West away from it all, I [had to search] what she raced.”
Nelson’s research into Fifield’s career left her nothing to consider.
“I was on board pretty much from the start,” Nelson said. “I just love that she’s going after her dreams; it’s similar to my vision of Farm Fueled Nutrition. I love sponsoring someone like that. It’s what my business stands for.
“What it takes to be in that arena, in a sport dominated by men. The amount of work that has to be done; just a lot that goes into doing what she does. I’m super proud of her.”
Nelson agreed to partner with Fifield heading into the 2024 season, and the black-and-pink No. 01 Modified has displayed a Farm Fueled Nutrition decal all season. When the Modified Tour races at New Hampshire’s Monadnock Speedway on July 20 and at New York’s Lancaster Motorplex on Aug. 3, Farm Fueled Nutrition will be the primary featured sponsor on Fifield’s car.
Fifield is hoping to host Nelson in person for the first time at either of those races, if not an event later in the season. Nelson’s hectic schedule makes travel to the East Coast a little difficult to manage.
“It’s been a great partnership so far,” Fifield said. “It just kind of came together as something really unique that just happened. We had a similar story with both of us being on a journey. She had just gotten this product launched, and she loved being able to support another female-owned business.”
Nelson said she’s open to continued support of Fifield’s program beyond this season, though the two have not yet discussed a longer-term partnership.
Fifield, of course, wants to continue racing as long as she can. She’s in the process of moving both her life and her business to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, where her fiancé lives and works. She doesn’t expect the relocation to impact her ability to continue full-time on the Modified Tour.
As her career progresses, Fifield will need more partners.
Few, though, will be as special as the association she’s forged out of the blue with a business owner located more than 2,000 miles away.