Troxel continues to roll, secures No. 3 in Phoenix qualifying

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 2 of 23
CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS
FIREBIRD INTL RACEWAY
CHANDLER, Ariz.
Race Date: Feb. 24-26, 2006

CHANDLER, Ariz. (Feb. 25, 2006) - Coming off her first Top Fuel win at
the season-opening Winternationals two weeks ago, Skull Gear/Torco Race
Fuels Top Fuel dragster driver Melanie Troxel has kept that momentum going
by qualifying No. 3 for the Checker Schuck's Kragen Nationals at Firebird
Raceway.

Troxel set her quickest pass of the weekend in the final qualifying session
on conditions similar to what are expected on race day, of 4.502-seconds at
326.48 mph. Her earlier attempts, each of which placed her in the top five,
were 4.521/319.75, 4.655/283.91 and 4.532/320.97.

In the final two rounds, she was second quickest only to her teammate and
No. 1 qualifier Tony Schumacher.

The No. 3 spot is in line with the team's goals coming into the weekend.
"Friday night is almost the only time you're going to get the really big
numbers out of the car," she said. "If you want to be No. 1 qualifier and
you don't make it down the track Friday night, then it's probably not going
to happen," said Troxel. "I'd much rather run good on Saturday then lay down
big numbers on Friday night. We are happy with No. 3.

"We would love to come out here and have another win, but, more importantly,
I think we need to maintain some consistency and go several rounds every
weekend to keep us in the points race. You just have to take each round as
it comes, and see where you are at the end of the day.

"We didn't start off qualifying real well, but we kept at it," added the Top
Fuel points leader. "Richard (Hogan, crew chief) and the Skull Gear guys are
working hard to give me a good car that is real consistent. We made it down
the track every pass, which helps our confidence heading into tomorrow."

Troxel has lane choice against Bob Vandergriff Jr., in the first round
of Sunday's final eliminations for the second round of the 23-event NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series.

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