Troxel gaining momentum, qualifies 12th in Seattle

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 14 of 23
CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Pacific Raceways
Kent, Wash.
Race Dates: July 22-24, 2005


KENT, Wash. (July 23, 2005) - Melanie Troxel and the Skull Gear/Torco Race
Fuels Top Fuel dragster are gaining momentum each day since the team debuted
at the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in Denver last week. The Denver native
qualified 12th today for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Pacific
Raceways, completing only three of four scheduled qualifying runs.

The newest addition to Don Schumacher Racing's nine-car operation continues
to build confidence while she reacquaints herself to driving a Top Fuel
dragster after a two-year hiatus.

Troxel's best qualifying effort came Saturday in the final round of
qualifying, where she posted an ET of 4.626 seconds at 319.29 mph (good for
No. 5 at that time). Her first effort on Friday produced a 4.662/307.44,
while the second round was called for darkness with four cars left to
qualify. Troxel and her teammate Tony Schumacher voluntarily opted not to
run. 

In the third qualifying session she lost traction and recorded a
12.557/74.41.

She will face Doug Kalitta, second in Top Fuel points, in the first round of
eliminations on Sunday.

"We didn't know what to expect (at our first race) in Denver, and would have
liked to have gone a few rounds there, but it probably wasn't very
realistic," she said. "Now that I have one race under my belt and out of the
way, I would say the goal is to go out and go at least one round, if not two
or three on Sunday. That's definitely the plan.

"We're still working on our program. I just need to relax and make sure
things are done right.

"We were really looking forward to going out there for the night session on
Friday and laying down a big number, but, unfortunately, the session got
pushed back later and later. We decided as a team to pull both cars - the
Skull Gear/Torco Fuels dragster and the U.S. Army car - out of the lanes
because we didn't feel it was safe (in the darkness).

"In the heat of the day the track temperature was well over 115 degrees,"
she said following the last session, "so I thought a low 4.6 was good,
especially considering we hadn't made the two previous runs to the finish
line. I'm very happy with that kind of number going into Sunday.

"On Sunday we'll be racing in the heat, so that's what really matters."