After a solid season behind the wheel last year, Melissa Bullen is set to return to the track once again this year, and continuing to improve as a driver.

“I plan to continue to hope to improve and get stronger each and every night,” she told Short Track Musings. “As my confidence grew significantly last season I feel more comfortable and confident entering a whole new season, possibly racing with new drivers and a few new changes on the car. Going into 2017 I hope to strive towards and achieve our goals and make for another successful and positive season. I’m very excited about this season, we have many things planned and to look forward to as a team and I’m very anxious and excited to get out practicing for the 2017 season.”

Last year, Bullen competed in Sunset Speedway’s second-tier Mini Stock division, the Mighty Minis, scoring a consi victory, along with three top-fives and nine top-10s.

“Last season is a season I’ll never forget, as a team and myself we had a very productive and successful season,” she said. “Finishing a handful of top 5 and top 10 finishes helped bring my confidence up throughout the whole season, making it in the top five in points, beating my fastest lap time and almost getting my first feature win really encouraged and reminded me to never give up and always try your best. I had more up moments then down which really made for a positive and fun season. I learned a lot this past season which makes me feel even more confident and positive going into the 2017 season.”

She notes the stronger finishes, including a career-best fourth place finish on August 4th, were a result of getting more comfortable with the car as this was her first full year driving a rear wheel drive mustang.

“The biggest thing I learned during the first half of the year was all about my car, where it didn’t and where it did best ran, throttle control, keeping my momentum, what line best worked for me and the car and how to best inform and communicate with my team about problems or questions about my car,” she explained. “After the first half of the season I began to feel more familiar and use to the cars and drivers I ran with on a regular night at Sunset. The Mighty Mini division last season had a handful of respectful and helpful drivers that helped and guided me through the season as I still had a lot to learn.”

Going into this year, the scene is set to change slightly as Sunset Speedway announced they are going to combine the pair of divisions together.

“The tracks got to do what they have to do, that’s all I really have to say,” Bullen said of the track’s decision. “The mighty mini class was a great idea, gave the opportunity for beginner drivers like myself to learn at their own speed and have fun doing so. There is a huge difference from the mini stock division to the mighty mini division regarding talent, experience and speed which plays a big factor. Depending on numbers for the mini stocks this season they may end up with two features runs (A main & B main) anyways so personality I don’t see a difference if they leave the two classes or not. No matter what they do, as a team we just have to follow through with it and try our best each and every week, it’ll be a big difference but we won’t be giving up.”

Now racing against past division champions and feature winners, Bullen is keeping her goals in check by hoping to learn as much as she can while finishing inside the top-10.

“As a team we plan to travel to other short tracks across Ontario to get more experience and race with other racers as well,” she said. “We do this as a family and if I can come in each and every race seeing smiles on my parents and brothers faces I know I achieved something. I’m out here to have fun and win, I’m not really focused on points but if we stand in the top 10 to top five in points at the end of the season we know as a team we succeed our overall goals and we’d be more then glad with that accomplishment.”

Racing as a family comes as no surprise for anybody in the Ontario racing scene as the Bullen name is well known, with Melissa’s father Phil, brother Branden and grandfather Fred each having spent time behind the wheel with success. Being able to lean on both Branden and Phil weekly has proven to be a huge benefit for Melissa.

“I probably would have never got into racing if it wasn’t for them; they are the ones that have taught me everything from in shop to at the track,” she said. “I really look up to both my dad and brother Branden as they have been a significant part of my racing and amazing teachers/coaches to me. Within these past two years they have taught me a handful of helpful information and guided me through difficulties that I have had. If I have a bad practice or bad run I always know when I come into the pits they are there with support and ready to help. With Branden previously running mini stock himself, he has been a huge mentor during these past two seasons. I’m so glad I could carry on our family tradition as my grandfather raced (Fred Bullen) and I know it is very important for my dad. They always laugh and tease about taking my car out instead because they get that racing itch.

“I owe all my thanks to not only my dad and Branden with them previously raced but my younger brother Josh is there just as much to lean on for advice as well.”

Going into the year, Melissa would like to thank her Dad, Mom, both brothers Branden and Josh and the Howse’s for all their help and support during the off season and race season. As everything is still in progress of coming together, Melissa and Bullen Racing would like to welcome back Ryan’s Landscaping, K&J General Contracting, Wix Filters, Paul Howse and Associates, Permatex and Northway Tire Ltd for the 2017 race season.

Fans are also welcome to keep up with Bullen all year by liking the ‘Bullen Racing’ facebook page, and following her on both instagram and twitter via @67bullenracing.