NHRA: Troxel, Dream House Dodge Ready for Atlanta Race
MELANIE TROXEL PRE RACE REPORT – ATLANTA Melanie Troxel Avon, Ind. Dream House Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car Summit Racing Equipment Nationals April 25-27, 2008 Atlanta Dragway Contact: Joe Sherk jlsherk@aol.com 360.981.4806, mobile Troxel Enthusiastic about Improving Performance Of Special Dream House Dodge Charger A test session last week at deserted Raceway Park in Indianapolis may be remembered later this year for providing the impetus that put Melanie Troxel and the Gotham City Racing team into race-winning form. Troxel, driving the special Dream House for Medically Fragile Children Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car she will run this weekend, and teammate Frank Hawley, at the controls of the ProCare Rx Dodge R/T Funny Car, were among those making laps. The results were very encouraging. Troxel, now approaching the sixth race of her first NHRA POWERade Series Funny Car season, is very optimistic going into the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, April 25-27. “Testing is always good,�?? she said, “but there are times when you test and don’t feel like you found anything. But the test at Indy was one of those times when you get excited about what you learned and you can’t wait to go to the next race to see if it works. “We had a problem at (the last race at) Las Vegas with inconsistencies in some of the timers on the car. The guys fixed it and that gave them the opportunity to play around with some different things they wanted to try . . . and they think they found some promising things, so we are excited to be going to Atlanta so we can try them.�?? Troxel made three solid qualifying runs at Vegas and her best effort of 4.936 seconds put her 14th in the starting line-up. Loss of traction in the first round against Bob Tasca III led to her early exit, but she was pleased to qualify and get more on-track time. “I think we are back on track,�?? she said. “It definitely feels like we have a car that should qualify and we are getting to the point where we have as good a shot as anybody of winning races. It will be a great weekend for us if we can win a few rounds for everyone at the Dream House. “I think a win would be great because it would bring a lot of exposure to the Dream House cause, and obviously the team would love to do that, too.�?? Troxel said the she is getting more comfortable in the car with each run. “ It’s comforting to know the car is going to go down the track on most runs. The improvements (crew chiefs) Brian (Corradi), Mark (Oswald) and the guys have made to the car in the last two races make it exciting to drive.�?? Gotham City Racing co-owners Roger Burgess and Mike Ashley recognize the impact Dream House has in providing for medically fragile children. They organized a special fund-raising event featuring National Hot Rod Association drivers Saturday, April 26, at Chateau Élan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Ga. “Roger mentioned that he wanted to run a car specifically championing the Dream House cause,�?? said Troxel. “It’s a great opportunity for us. I know Frank and I are looking forward to going to the Dream House Tuesday and visiting with the kids. Making the connection with the kids and having the opportunity to represent them at the track is what’s going to make it special for me.�?? Race fans will have an opportunity to mix and mingle with NHRA drivers during the dinner at Chateau Élan on Saturday. Some of the other drivers who will be attending include Burgess and Ashley, Gary Scelzi, Jack Beckman, Matt Smith, Raymond Commisso and Danny Rowe. Event tickets are $250 each. Anyone sponsoring a table of 10 ($2500) will sponsor a race car driver or Dream House representative and their guest. Ticket information is available at http://www.registereasy.org/burgess or call 1-678-248-3186. Summit Racing Equipment Nationals: Qualifying: Friday, Pro Stock, 2 and 5:30 p.m.; Funny Car and Top Fuel, 3 and 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Pro Stock, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Top Fuel and Funny Car, 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Television: ESPN2 – Saturday, qualifying, 6-8 p.m., EDT; Sunday, eliminations, 7-10 p.m., EDT For more information about Gotham City Racing, visit the team website: www.GothamCityRacing.com. # # # About Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc.: Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. is a diligent advocate for a little known population in Georgia – medically fragile children. Their numbers are growing exponentially due to life-saving medical advances made in the last decade that now allow these children to survive. Dream House offers unique programs and services that enable families to care for these children in their own homes. This gives children with complicated medical conditions a chance to be part of a loving home where they are valued and cared for effectively. Dream House is a state-wide resource that empowers communities to help keep these families together. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. obtains all resources from donations, grants and fund raising activities. The Dream House Family for Keeps™ transition model of care, education programs and services is the only one of its kind in the country. Since 2001, Dream House has served over 800 family members caring for more than 795 medically fragile children in 37 of 159 Georgia counties. Dream House aims to improve the quality of life for these children and their families, dramatically reduce the number of medically fragile children in foster care, and in doing so, save the State of Georgia, its tax payers and healthcare institutions millions of dollars each year. About ProCare Rx: Roger and Barbara Burgess founded ProCare Rx in 1988 to provide prescription drug claims processing, clinical services and support for any organization that provides a Prescription Drug Benefit to its employees or members. Clients include self-insured businesses, unions, hospices, worker compensation plans, local and county governments, health maintenance organizations, associations and other insurance plans. Today, after almost 20 years in business, ProCare Rx is one of the largest privately held Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and administrators in the United States, experiencing 19 straight years of continual growth. The company works with pharmacies and prescription drug manufacturers to ensure that clients save money while managing the health of their members thru the application of innovative technologies and population health services directed to all members, with focus on those with chronic conditions. For more information, visit the company web site at _www.procarerx.com_ (http://www.procarerx.com) . Gotham City Racing is also sponsored by: * Oakley - _www.oakley.com_ (http://www.oakley.com) * The Hyperbaric Therapy Center - _www.hypertc.com_ (http://www.hypertc.com) * Lend America - _www.lendamerica.com_ (http://www.lendamerica.com) About Lend America Lend America, a National Mortgage Banking Organization and one of New York's largest privately owned direct lenders, has proudly served the residential mortgage marketplace for more than 20 years. The company is one of the most successful direct-to-consumer lenders in the United States and is the region's largest and most well known FHA direct lender. Lend America is also the originator of the successful nationwide broadcast-television educational seminar programs titled "The Mortgage Insider." Lend America offers a wide range of home purchase and refinance programs to meet their clients' individual requirements. Lend America employs approximately 650 employees and is headquartered in Melville, New York. For more information on Lend America, visit _www.lendamerica.com_ (http://www.lendamerica.com) or call (877) 4-RACE LOAN. #### **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)