The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Melanie Troxel: "We're in a great position"

DON SCHUMACHER RACING
2006 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES
Round 16 of 23
LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS
Brainerd (Minn.) Int'l Raceway
Race Date: Aug. 11-13, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Judy Stropus, 203-438-0501; cell 203-243-2438;
jstropus@earthlink.net

MELANIE TROXEL: "WE'RE IN A GREAT POSITION"

BRAINERD, Minn. (Aug. 9, 2006) - Don't expect Melanie Troxel to be kicking
herself. The fact that she is second in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
Top Fuel point standings after leading them through the first 12 races is
not discouraging to the driver of the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels
Top Fuel dragster. The popular 33-year-old racer in her first full season of
Top Fuel competition says she's very much OK as the series comes to the
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd Int'l Raceway this weekend.

"We're still in a great position," says Troxel, who trails Doug Kalitta by
82 markers, while teammate Tony Schumacher is 54 behind. "We're No. 2 in
points. We haven't done very well in the last several races (three
first-round losses in the Western Swing - Denver, Seattle, Sonoma, Calif.),
but we've been very fortunate that Kalitta has not run away with the points.
Certainly, Tony is closing in on us, but to be three-quarters of the way
through the season and be second in points is still a great position to be
in. 

"I think if we're able to step up our program, which I know we're fully
capable of doing, we'll be right back in it. We had a bad couple of races,
but I think we're ready to rebound and change that.

"Honestly, the Western Swing was not very kind to us. We certainly did not
live up to our own expectations.

"I think it's reasonable for any team to hit a slump in their season and I'm
just hoping that this weekend off (since the last race of the Western Swing)
has given us all some time to recharge our batteries, regroup, and will help
us to come back out and hit hard.

"Potentially, Brainerd could be very tricky for the crew chiefs to try and
tune to. This will certainly not be an easy event for us, but we're looking
forward to getting back out there and changing the direction of our
momentum."

MELANIE TROXEL QUICK FACTS:

* Currently second in Top Fuel point standings after 15 events, 82 points
behind Doug Kalitta, 54 ahead of Tony Schumacher
* First NHRA Top Fuel driver to reach the final round in the first five
events of a season (2006)
* Troxel has reached six consecutive final rounds (two wins) dating back to
the final event of 2005. The string was broken at Bristol Dragway this year
* She has now reached seven final rounds in 15 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
* At 2005 Brainerd event, she qualified No. 11, lost first round to Larry
Dixon
* Was named the first quarter winner of 2006 Driver of the Year voting
* Was nominated for Best Driver of the Year and Best Female Athlete of the
Year by the ESPYS awards
* 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 four runner-up finishes in Top Fuel; in 2000 (Dallas 2), 2005 (Pomona
2), Phoenix 2006, Gainesville 2006
* She has qualified No. 1 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 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 now the quickest and fastest female driver in NHRA history,
after clocking the 4.458-second pass and 330.31-mph speed in Dallas in ’05.
She has since upped that speed to 331.04 mph

WEEKEND SCHEDULE:  
FRIDAY, Aug. 11 -- PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 2:45 and 5:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, Aug. 12 -- PROFESSIONAL QUALIFYING SESSIONS at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15
p.m.
SUNDAY, Aug. 13 -- Pre-race ceremonies, 10 a.m.  FINAL ELIMINATIONS begin at
11 a.m. 
 
TELEVISION:     
Saturday, Aug. 12, ESPN2 will televise two hours of qualifying highlights at
6 p.m. (ET).
Sunday, Aug. 13, ESPN2 will televise three hours of eliminations at 7 p.m.
(ET).
Sunday, Aug. 13, ESPN2 will televise NHRA 2Day, a 30-minute weekly news
magazine show, at 11:30 a.m. (ET).
 
SATELLITE:      
Friday, Aug. 11, 9:30-10 p.m. (ET) ­ Galaxy 11/ Transponder 15 K (12003 MHz,
horizontal)
Saturday, Aug. 12, 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) ­ Galaxy 11/ Transponder 15 K (12003
MHz, horizontal)
Sunday, Aug. 13, 10:30-11 p.m. (ET) ­ Galaxy 11/ Transponder 15 K (12003
MHz, horizontal)
 
***