Melanie Troxel looks to end NHRA season with Top Fuel win
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 23 of 23 AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NHRA FINALS Pomona (Calif.) Raceway Nov. 3-6, 2005 POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2005) - In just 10 races of the 23-event 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season, Melanie Troxel has demonstrated that she's a serious contender in the Top Fuel category, driving the Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel Dragster for Don Schumacher Racing. In this shortened season for the Colorado native, who re-debuted with DSR in Denver of this year, Troxel has surpassed both Shirley Muldowney and Rhonda Hartman-Smith as the quickest and fastest female driver in NHRA history (4.458-second elapsed time, 330.31 mph), became the first female driver to reach 330 mph, has qualified No. 2, reached the semifinal round once, and on several occasions has been second in performance only to her teammate and 2005 Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher. With those credentials, Troxel is more than ready to win her first Top Fuel race of the season and her career, and she has her final chance this weekend at the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals at Pomona Raceway. "It's been a long year, even though we only started running the Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels car in July," said Troxel. "I've been to every race this year (also to support her husband and Funny Car driver, Tommy Johnson Jr.), so there's a part of me that's kind of ready for the break. At the same time, our car has shown so much promise here lately, that it's a little bit frustrating knowing we're going to have to park the car (after this weekend) and wait until next year to pick up on that. "We've still got one shot at winning a race this year," she added, "and that's our goal going into this weekend. I think we accomplished what we needed to by bringing this car out this year. We helped Tony (Schumacher, by defeating Top Fuel title contenders Doug Kalitta and Larry Dixon in early rounds) and we went out and got ourselves to where we're ready to be competitive right off the bat next year. "I think those were the two main objectives. And, for me, the only thing that could make this partial season better is to go out and win the last race of the year. "Pomona is a great track. It looks like we'll have cool weather, which means that the cars are going to run well. There's certainly no question about that. We see a lot of good performances at Pomona and it's definitely a very special race starting out the year and finishing here. For that reason, winning this particular race would be very exciting. "Next to winning Indy (the prestigious U.S. Nationals), it's one of the biggest races of the year." SCHEDULE: On Thursday, Nov. 3, one pro qualifying session is scheduled for 2 p.m. On Friday, Nov. 4, the second pro qualifying session is set for 2 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 5, the last two pro qualifying sessions are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 6, Pre-race ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: On Saturday, Nov. 5, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET). On Sunday, Nov. 6, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m. (ET). Also on Sunday, Nov. 6, ESPN2 will broadcast NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute news magazine show, at 11:30 a.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) * No. 2 is her best qualifying effort so far (Dallas '05) * 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 4.458 seconds, set this year in Dallas * Career fastest speed is 330.31 mph, set in Dallas '05 * So far, in 2005, after 10 races, Troxel¹s highest qualifying position is No. 2, and she has five 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.