Troxel pads points lead after second-round loss in Columbus

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 8 of 23
Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals
National Trail Raceway
Columbus, Ohio
Race Date: May 19-21, 2006


HEBRON, Ohio (May 21, 2006) - Melanie Troxel, driving the Skull Shine/Torco
Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing, padded her points
lead in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel standings today at the
Pontiac Performance NHRA Nationals at National Trail Raceway, despite a
second-round loss to Cory McClenathan.

Her closest competitor, Doug Kalitta, second in points, was ousted in the
first round, giving Troxel a 154-point lead after eight of 23 events this
season.

Troxel handily eliminated Morgan Lucas in the first round with a stout
4.551-second pass at 323.74 mph to Lucas' 5.038/217.00, then lost traction
in the second round against McClenathan. Troxel slowed to an 8.869/82.55
lap, with McClenathan, who also smoked the tires but recovered first, taking
the win with a 5.019/302.48.

"The bottom line is, as long as you walk away from the race with a
first-round loss, then it's not that bad of a weekend," said Troxel. "Dougie
went out a round before us, so we made a little ground there.

"It wasn't a bad weekend. I think we've gotten a little spoiled with all
these final rounds (six of the first seven events). We're not extremely
disappointed with this weekend, but we're certainly disappointed.

"The car went out there and shook early in the run (against McClenathan),
and, even though they didn't run very well, we were out of it early on in
that pass."

Next up is the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan., May 25-28.

NHRA TOP FUEL POINT STANDINGS:
1. Melanie Troxel, 690
2. Doug Kalitta, 536
3. Dave Grubnic, 506
4. Brandon Bernstein, 515 (winner today)
5. Larry Dixon, 477
6. Rod Fuller, 472
7. Morgan Lucas, 426
8. Tony Schumacher, 411
9. Cory McClenathan, 386
10. Doug Herbert, 348

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