Troxel could be heading toward her first Top Fuel win
DON SCHUMACHER RACING 2005 NHRA POWERade DRAG RACING SERIES No. 21 of 23 ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas, Nev. Race Dates: Oct. 21-23, 2005 LAS VEGAS (Oct. 17, 2005) - Following her semifinal finish after qualifying No. 2 in Dallas two weeks ago, where she also established herself as the quickest and fastest female driver in NHRA history (4.458-second elapsed time, 330.31 mph) and the first female NHRA driver to hit 330 mph, Melanie Troxel could be heading for her first career Top Fuel win in these last two events of the 2005 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The Skull Gear/Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster team, led by crew chief Richard Hogan, has made steady progress since debuting with Don Schumacher Racing back in Denver nine races ago. Troxel, Hogan and the crew have consistently improved their performance as the season wore on, and are serious contenders for their first victory at this weekend's ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The season ends in Pomona, Calif., on Nov. 3-6. "I think that we absolutely have the performance of the car where it needs to be to have a legitimate shot at winning one of these last two races," said the Colorado native who lives in Avon, Ind., with husband and Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr. "It's been a slow progression since we put this new team on the track for Skull Gear, but we have finally reached the point where we know we need to be. "We're running as good as any car out there, and we just need to capitalize on that and get all the pieces to fall in the right places to make that happen. "The Strip is a great facility. That's always nice. It takes one more thing off your mind. You don't have to worry about the track conditions, whether that's going to play into qualifying or how you run, or if it's a one-lane track on race day. You just know going up there that the track's going to be great and we just need to do our job." Although the weather is expected to be comfortable this weekend (80s during the day and 60s in the evening), the higher altitude of this track (2100 ft.) may be a factor in setting any new records. "The altitude does play into it a little bit," said Melanie. "But, in past experience I haven't felt that it affected the cars as much as you might think for the altitude adjustment. We'll have great weather, and great track surface conditions. We are looking forward to seeing some good times." SCHEDULE: Pro qualifying sessions are scheduled for noon and 3:30 on Friday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 22. Budweiser Shootout rounds are scheduled for 1:30, 3:15 and 4:50 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23. TELEVISION: ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise 30 minutes of Budweiser Shootout coverage at 10:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Oct. 22. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD also will televise three hours of qualifying of the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals at 11 p.m. (ET) on Oct. 22. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise three hours of final eliminations coverage beginning at 8 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, Oct. 23. MELANIE TROXEL QUICK FACTS: * 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) * Runner-up finish best Top Fuel result, in 2000 (Dallas 2) * No. 2 is her best qualifying effort so far (Dallas '05) * Drove limited schedule for Don Schumacher Racing in 2000, her first year in Top Fuel * 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 this year in Dallas * Career fastest speed is 330.31 mph, set in Dallas '05 * So far, in 2005, after nine races, Troxel¹s highest qualifying position is No. 2, and she has five round wins * Troxel is now the quickest and fastest female in NHRA history, after clocking the 4.458-second pass and 330.31-mph speed in Dallas '05.