Going rounds is key to Top Fuel points leader Troxel
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 9 of 23 O'REILLY NHRA SUMMER NATIONALS Heartland Park Topeka (Kan.) Race Date: May 26-28, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438; jstropus@earthlink.net GOING ROUNDS IS KEY TO TOP FUEL POINTS LEADER TROXEL TOPEKA, Kan. (May 24, 2006) - NHRA Top Fuel points leader Melanie Troxel is heading into what are expected to be hotter conditions during the late spring and early summer months. The temperatures for this weekend's O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals are already predicted to be in the 80s and 90s. Troxel, who drives the Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing, herself had a hot start to the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series under mostly cooler conditions. She took over the points lead after winning the first race of the year and has held it ever since. She went on to win a second race and become the first Top Fuel driver to open a season with five straight final-round appearances. Troxel now has six final rounds on her score card in eight events. So, she may be disappointed but not exactly dismayed that she went out in the second round in Columbus, Ohio, last weekend. "I think we have gotten a little bit spoiled with all of the finals we have been to so far this year," she said, "but we would certainly like to win in Topeka. Most important, we have to keep going rounds to maintain our points lead." Despite the Columbus quarterfinal loss, she actually extended her lead over Doug Kalitta, who was ousted in the first round. Ergo, the importance of "going rounds." "Topeka could be our first hot race of the year," she said. "The forecast says it will be in the 90s (degrees), so it will be interesting to see how we run, and how everyone else runs." Troxel has never driven a Top Fuel dragster at Heartland Park Topeka, but has won here in a Top Alcohol dragster in 1999, the year which ended with a runner-up finish for her in that class. MELANIE TROXEL QUICK FACTS: * Top Fuel points leader by 154 points after Pomona and Las Vegas wins and runner-up finishes in Phoenix, Gainesville, Fla., Houston and Atlanta * First NHRA Top Fuel driver to reach the final round in the first five events of a season * Troxel has reached six consecutive final rounds (two wins) dating back to final event of 2005. The string was broken at Bristol Dragway * She has now reached six final rounds in seven events in 2006 * With Tony Schumacher's five straight final-round appearances to end 2005, Don Schumacher Racing has been in 12 consecutive final rounds * Was named the first quarter winner of Driver of the Year voting * Won her first national Top Fuel event in Pomona, Calif., Feb. 12, 2006 * 2006 is her first full season of Top Fuel competition * 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) * Has six runner-up finishes in Top Fuel: in 2000 (Dallas 2), 2005 (Pomona 2), Phoenix 2006, Gainesville 2006 and Atlanta 2006 * She has qualified No. 1 once so far, at Bristol Dragway in 2006. She also has two No. 2s (Dallas '05 and Pomona 2 '05) * Drove limited schedule for Don Schumacher Racing in 2000, her first year in Top Fuel * Rejoined DSR in the 13th event of 2005 (Denver) * 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 in 2005 in Dallas * Career fastest speed is 331.04 mph, set 5/7/06 at Atlanta Dragway * In 2005, in 11 races, Troxel had eight 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. SCHEDULE: Friday, May 26, Professional Qualifying Sessions are at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27, Professional Qualifying Sessions are at noon and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 28, Final Eliminations begin at 11 a.m. TELEVISION: Saturday, May 27, ESPN and ESPN2 HD will televise one hour of qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET). Sunday, May 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Sunday, May 28, ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise three hours of eliminations at 10 p.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, May 26, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, May 27, 9:30 -10 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Sunday, May 28, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17K (12117 MHz, horizontal) Feeds include action with natural sound of Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock, plus interviews with winners on Sunday. ***