Points leader Troxel says she and Skull Shine team need to
step up
DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 10 of 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, Ill.
Race Date: June 9-11, 2006
JOLIET, Ill. (June 7, 2006) - Melanie Troxel has led the Top Fuel point
standings from the beginning of the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
and, as the CARQUEST Auto Parts Nationals, round 10 of a long 23-event
season, unfolds this weekend at Route 66 Raceway, the driver of the Skull
Shine/Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster says she and the team need to step
it up to maintain that spot.
With Doug Kalitta coming on strong at the last four events, winning three of
them, Troxel's margin, which had been as high as 156 points in a season in
which she's reached six final rounds and won twice so far, has dwindled to
96.
Troxel, who has not yet lost a first round in eliminations this year, has
qualified No. 1 two times and enjoys a 23-7 round-win record, is well aware
that nothing in NHRA drag racing is a given. Anything can happen to anyone
at any time. Weather conditions, tune-up, mindset and even minor (or major)
mechanical glitches can change the complexion of one race weekend's results.
"We talked all year long about the consistency of going rounds and that
definitely is still a big part of our game plan," she says. "But Dougie is
coming on quick, so we're going to have to find some way to step up our
program a little bit here in the near future.
"It may be enough to just go out and be consistent and they may go out early
in a race or so, but we certainly can't rely on that. Right now, it's
looking like they have a pretty hot combination and we need to really be on
top of our game and at the very least not lose any more of our points lead
to them."
But, is Kalitta her only concern? "You have to be concerned about everybody
out there," adds the 33-year-old Colorado native. "We're definitely hitting
that time of the year when the weather is changing and you never know who is
going to have a good handle on their setup. Certainly Brandon Bernstein (in
third, 140 points behind) looked pretty good last weekend (runner-up in
Topeka, Kans.), and he would be another one right up there at the top of the
list.
"We're not taking anybody for granted."
MELANIE TROXEL QUICK FACTS:
* Top Fuel points leader by 96 points after Pomona and Las Vegas wins and
runner-up finishes in Phoenix, Gainesville, Fla., Houston and Atlanta
* 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 six final rounds in nine 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 six runner-up finishes in Top Fuel: in 2000 (Dallas 2), 2005 (Pomona
2), Phoenix 2006, Gainesville 2006 and Atlanta 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 9, professional qualifying sessions are at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 10, pro qualifying sessions continue at 12:10 p.m. and 3:05
p.m. King Demon Crown elimination rounds are at noon, 3, and 4:25 p.m.
Sunday, June 11, pre-race ceremonies are at 10:30 a.m., final eliminations
begin at 11 a.m.
TELEVISION:
Saturday, June 10, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of qualifying
highlights at 5 p.m. (ET).
Sunday June 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will air NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly
news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
Sunday, June 11, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise two hours of eliminations
at 5 p.m. (ET).
SATELLITE:
Friday, June 9, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 15K (Downlink
frequency, 12072 MHz, horizontal)
Saturday, June 10, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 15K (Downlink
frequency, 12072 MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, June 11, 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6, Transponder 15K (Downlink
frequency, 12072 MHz, horizontal)
