TEAM REPORTS (PETERSBURG, VA) - TROXEL IN WINNING SPIRIT...

The current crest of performance for the Vietnam Veterans POW/MIA Top Fuel team has its driver, Melanie Troxel in more of a winning spirit than usual. Her victories at the St. Louis and Memphis races places her in a capable car and taking a win at this weekend’s Virginia Motorsports Park in front of her sponsor and race backer Torco Race Fuels would make for a perfect Hollywood script. “We’re definitely riding a great performance level that we understand can go out and win races,” said a confident Troxel. “It’s the first time in a while that we have had a competitive car going into a Torco-sponsored race. It’s exciting to know we have a legitimate chance and I know Richmond is a young event, we’ve only been there only once before, but would be a great opportunity for our team to bring home a win for us.” The October Richmond date gives the Vietnam Veterans POW/MIA team a late season chance to reel off some incredible elapsed times with no stress of a points championship to interfere with their advance thinking. The cooler ambient conditions will allow them to use all four qualifying runs in hopes of improving their starting position. “As it starts to cool off later in the year, it should become less important to get in on that Friday night session,” said Troxel. “The cooler air temperatures during the day will allow the teams more consistent runs to be able to qualify with. Let’s not forget that Friday night run, it’s always important. We’ll try to do our best to make a reasonably safe run early on Friday afternoon and get after it that night. That’s the goal of all the teams is to get as far back in the pack as you can for that session and be ready.” In memory of NHRA founder, Wally Parks, the passing of such of great man has Troxel remembering her fond thoughts of him and on the sport she loves so much. “Wally Parks is NHRA Drag Racing,” she said. “With his passing we lose a huge part of the sport. Everybody involved with drag racing, in general, is certainly going to feel that loss.” The start of the second annual Torco Racing Fuels Nationals begins at the Virginia Motorsports Park on Friday, Oct. 5, with two qualifying sessions starting at 4:00 p.m. (EDT) with a second session at 6:30 p.m. Saturday's time trials start at 12:30 p.m. for the nitro classes followed by a second session at 3:00 p.m. The race starts promptly at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 7.