NHRA (ST LOUIS) - TROXEL BEGINNING TO MAKE A MOVE

Melanie Troxel looks like she may have learned from 2006, a season that began with her setting the world on fire only to settle back into fourth place by season’s end.

Heading into last weekend’s O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals, the seventh of 17 races in the first stage of the new Countdown playoff format, Troxel was, instead of setting the pace, stalking the pace.

She was in ninth place and largely flying under the radar, but that all ended on Sunday as she won for the first time in more than a year (April 19, 2006 at Las Vegas) to move comfortably inside the Top 8.

She has three drivers and 52 points cushion to work with now as the 17-race first stage of the Countdown approaches its midway point.

She is one of four women (with Ashley Force, Angelle Sampey and Karen Stoffer) who would advance into the second stage of the Countdown if the season ended today.

Meanwhile, John Force finally chalked up his first round win of the season in St. Louis and he moved up two spots to 18th place. As for points, however, he actually gave up ground and is now 125 behind No. 8 Del Worsham.

There are several other notables as well who have lots of work to do between now and first-stage cutoff at Race 17 (the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals Aug. 16-19 at Reading), including Morgan Lucas (TF, 16th, -144) and Kenny Bernstein (FC, 14th, -101).