Top Fuel points leader Troxel concentrates on job at hand in St. Louis
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 12 of 23 O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals Gateway International Raceway Madison, Ill. Race Date: June 23-25, 2006 MADISON, Ill. (June 21, 2006) - NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points leader Melanie Troxel is focusing on the job at hand as the series heads to Gateway International Raceway this weekend for the O'Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals: to hang onto the No. 1 position atop the standings she's held since the first event of the year, while dealing with the expected Midwest summer heat and humidity. Troxel has reached the final round in seven of the 11 events so far this season, won twice, and now leads Doug Kalitta by 48 points. The grueling back-to-back three-race swing is about to be over and, even if she and the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster team are looking for some needed rest, they'll be charging just as hard as ever. "We're on the third race of the three-race swing and I think everybody is getting a little tired," she said, "especially when you have a hot weekend like we did in Englishtown (N.J.) and the potential for a very hot weekend out here in St. Louis. "We need to stay focused on the job. You can never say 'I'm just over it, I'm not going to try.' You're always trying. We've got to put forth that extra effort no matter how hard the weekend is. We've got to put that extra effort into this weekend because every point is extremely valuable, and we have to do our best. "The hot weather is always a consideration. You never know what it's going to throw at you. I'm not sure that we fully have a handle on a hot-weather tune-up yet, but Richard (Hogan, crew chief) is working very hard to get a setup that he's comfortable with and hopefully make some progress on that and we'll do well this weekend." This year is Troxel's first full season on the NHRA Top Fuel tour. MELANIE TROXEL QUICK FACTS: * Top Fuel points leader by 48 points after Pomona and Las Vegas wins and runner-up finishes in Phoenix, Gainesville, Fla., Houston, Atlanta and Chicago * First NHRA Top Fuel driver to reach the final round in the first five events of a season * Troxel has reached six consecutive final rounds (two wins) dating back to final event of 2005. The string was broken at Bristol Dragway * She has now reached seven final rounds in 11 events in 2006 * With Tony Schumacher's five straight final-round appearances to end 2005, Don Schumacher Racing has been in 12 consecutive final rounds * Was named the first quarter winner of 2006 Driver of the Year voting * Won her first national Top Fuel event in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 12, 2006 * 2006 is her first full season of Top Fuel competition * 33 years old, born Aug. 31, 1972 * Born in Littleton, Colo., lives in Avon, Ind., with husband and Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. * Two national event wins in Alcohol Dragster in 1999 (Seattle and Topeka) * Has seven runner-up finishes in Top Fuel: in 2000 (Dallas 2), 2005 (Pomona 2), Phoenix 2006, Gainesville 2006, Atlanta 2006 and Chicago 2006 * She has qualified No. 2 twice so far, at Bristol Dragway in 2006 and Heartland Park Topeka 2006. She also has two No. 2s (Dallas '05 and Pomona 2 '05) * Drove limited schedule for Don Schumacher Racing in 2000, her first year in Top Fuel * Rejoined DSR in the 13th event of 2005 (Denver) * Runner-up in Alcohol Dragster points in 1999 * Ran limited Top Fuel schedule in 2002 and 2003 * Career quickest elapsed time in Top Fuel is 4.458 seconds, set in 2005 in Dallas * Career fastest speed is 331.04 mph, set 5/7/06 at Atlanta Dragway * In 2005, in 11 races, Troxel had eight round wins * Troxel is the quickest and fastest female driver in NHRA history, after clocking the 4.458-second pass and 330.31-mph speed in Dallas '05. She has since upped that speed to 331.04 mph. SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, June 23, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. SATURDAY, June 24, PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. SUNDAY, June 25, Pre-race ceremonies, 2 p.m. FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at 3 p.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, June 24, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying coverage at 10 p.m. (ET). Sunday, June 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, June 25, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of final round eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, June 23, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 17 K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, June 24, No feed scheduled, please roll on ESPN2 show, 10 p.m. (ET) Sunday, June 25, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 17 K (12117 MHz, horizontal)
