Top Fuel points leader Troxel marks first anniversary with DSR in Denver
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES Round 13 of 23 Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals Bandimere Speedway Morrison, Colo. Race Date: July 14-16, 2006 TOP FUEL POINTS LEADER TROXEL MARKS FIRST ANNIVERSARY WITH DSR IN DENVER MORRISON, Colo. (July 11, 2006) - Melanie Troxel has had a remarkable year with Don Schumacher Racing since rejoining the team (following a brief stint with DSR in 2000) full-time last year at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals. This weekend's event at Bandimere Speedway will mark her one-year anniversary with DSR and will bring Troxel home to her native Colorado, where she was born and raised in Littleton. Driving the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster, Troxel has led the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points standings since the first race of the season, became the first NHRA Top Fuel driver to reach the final round in the first five events of a season, has won twice, and has received an unprecedented amount of media attention throughout the sports and mainstream worlds. Despite the media frenzy, including a trip to Los Angeles for Wednesday night's ESPYS Awards, where she's been nominated for Driver of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year, Troxel is firmly planted on earth and focused on winning her first Top Fuel championship. With 11 races remaining in the season, she is 24 points ahead of a hard-charging Doug Kalitta. "It's been an incredible change of events in the past 12 months," said Troxel. "I got the call a couple of weeks before last year's Denver event to come drive for Don Schumacher and Evan Knoll. Not only did I get the opportunity to get back into a Top Fuel seat with a first-rate team, but we've really topped that off with the incredible season we are having so far." With the start of this upcoming three-race, back-to-back Western Swing and the last half of the season beginning to wind down to the finish line, this is a crucial time for Troxel. "This is really when it starts to get down to crunch time," she said. "A lot of people also seem to build up momentum on the Swing. You can make huge changes in the points over this period of time. I think it is important to get that momentum moving in the right direction right off the bat with a win in Denver. "We're heading into my hometown track and we've got a season's worth of experience. I'm looking forward to continuing on, and winning here would obviously be great. "It's always nice to return to your hometown track and see everybody. It does add a little extra pressure because you don't always get to spend as much time with people as you would like. But, I'm looking forward to catching up with some friends and family, and hopefully we can put on a good show for them." As for the trip to L.A. for the ESPYS Awards with husband Tommy Johnson Jr.: "It has been a little stressful over the last couple of weeks trying to get our schedule planned around that," she said, "and, of course, buying a dress and things like that. But, now we we will get to experience it, which is the best part." MELANIE TROXEL QUICK FACTS: * Top Fuel points leader by 24 points after Pomona and Las Vegas wins and runner-up finishes in Phoenix, Gainesville, Fla., Houston, Atlanta and Chicago * 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 the final event of 2005. The string was broken at Bristol Dragway * She has now reached seven final rounds in 11 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 * Qualified No. 10 at 2005 Mopar Mile-High Nationals, lost first round to Doug Herbert * Was named the first quarter winner of 2006 Driver of the Year voting * Is nominated for ESPYS Driver of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year * 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 seven runner-up finishes in Top Fuel: in 2000 (Dallas 2), 2005 (Pomona 2), Phoenix 2006, Gainesville 2006, Atlanta 2006 and Chicago 2006 * She has qualified No. 2 twice so far, at Bristol Dragway in 2006 and Heartland Park Topeka 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. She has since upped that speed to 331.04 mph. WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Friday, July 14, professional qualifying sessions are at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m. Saturday, July 15, pro qualifying sessions continue at 3:30 and 6 p.m. (Saturday¹s Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle sessions are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.) Sunday, July 16, final eliminationns begin at noon. TELEVISION: Saturday, July 14, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at 10 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 16, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 9 p.m. (ET). Sunday, July 16, ESPN2 will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute magazine show at 11:30 a.m. (ET). SATELLITE: Friday, July 14, 11-11:30 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17k (Downlink frequency: 12117 MHz, horizontal) Saturday, July 15, 8:30 - 9 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17k (Downlink frequency: 12117 MHz, horizontal) Sunday, July 16, 9:30 - 10 p.m. (ET) SBS 6 / Transponder 17k (Downlink frequency: 12117 MHz, horizontal)