Troxel eager to get on sterling Route 66 Raceway
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 20 of 23 Ameriquest Mortgage NHRA Nationals Route 66 Raceway Joliet, Ill. Race Dates: Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net TROXEL EAGER TO GET ON ROUTE 66 RACEWAY'S STERLING QUARTER-MILE JOLIET, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2005) - With the postponement of the Dallas NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event last weekend, Melanie Troxel is now looking forward to a different set of back-to-back races, as she first attacks Route 66 Raceway this weekend, then heads to Dallas the next. "Route 66 Raceway is a great facility," saYS Troxel of the track that will host the Ameriquest Mortgage NHRA Nationals this weekend. "The quarter-mile has an excellent track surface and the weather looks like it's going to cooperate in giving us the potential for record-setting numbers this weekend." Troxel, who drives the Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing this season, established her career-best elapsed time at the previous event in Reading, Pa., a 4.509-second pass, while claiming her third round-win of her short seven-race season. She's eager to continue advancing to the top of the charts after qualifying fifth in Reading, and the Colorado native feels this weekend's event could deliver a record-setting performance from her new car. The NHRA-mandated rev limiter, however, could be the spoiler. "The rev limiter will be somewhat the deciding factor in that," she says. "It's going to play a part in whether we see a lot of big numbers, but this great track and really cool weather should add up to some stout numbers this weekend." Dallas' postponement gave the crews a welcome breather, added Troxel. "The Skull Gear guys came back from Reading and had the car completely prepped and ready to go for Dallas. They used that opportunity to get a little bit ahead of the game with maintenance and different things at the shop. It also gave them a couple of days off. They've been on the road for a lot of days. "We're ready to go. We had a great race car when we left Reading and we're looking forward to bringing the car back out and getting some runs on it in Chicago. We should be able to pick up right where we left off and hopefully set some new personal-bests again this weekend." Troxel's 4.509-second ET made her the quickest female in NHRA history. She succeeded Rhonda Hartman-Smith, who had previously clocked a 4.523 in 2003. Shirley Muldowney remains the fastest female in NHRA history, with her speed of 327.66 mph, set in 2003. SCHEDULE: On Friday, Sept. 30, professional qualifying sessions are at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 1, pro qualifying continues at 12:15 and 3 p.m. On Sunday, Oct. 2, pre-race ceremonies are at 10 a.m., final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: On Saturday, Oct. 1, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 5 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, Oct. 2, ESPN2 will telecast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET). On Sunday, Oct. 2, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 8 p.m. (ET). MELANIE TROXEL QUICK FACTS: * 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) * Runner-up finish best Top Fuel result, in 2000 (Dallas 2) * Drove limited schedule for Don Schumacher Racing in 2000, her first year in Top Fuel * 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 4.509 seconds, set this year in Reading, Pa. * Career fastest speed is 326.48 mph * So far, in 2005, after seven races, Troxel¹s highest qualifying position is No. 5, and she has three round wins * Troxel is now the quickest female in NHRA history, after clocking the 4.509-second pass in Reading. ***