NHRA

Richmond: Melanie Troxel preview

TROXEL REINVIGORATED FOR RICHMOND DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 3, 2006) - Melanie Troxel is ready to attack the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals this weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park at a venue unknown to her and one at which her seasoned opponents ...

Published: Oct 4, 2006, 9:40 PM

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TROXEL REINVIGORATED FOR RICHMOND

DINWIDDIE, Va. (Oct. 3, 2006) - Melanie Troxel is ready to attack the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Nationals this weekend at Virginia Motorsports Park at a venue unknown to her and one at which her seasoned opponents have not raced since 2000.

Driving the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster for Don Schumacher Racing in her first full season of Top Fuel competition, Troxel is fresh off a runner-up finish at Reading, Pa., on Sunday after reaching her eighth final round of the year. And, with the level playing field expected here this weekend, she's poised to continue her return to the top of the standings. After leading the rankings through the first 12 races of the season, Troxel is fourth, 150 points short of the lead, 98 out of second, with three events remaining.

"Obviously, coming off of a runner-up finish, we're kind of reinvigorated, ready to go out there and see what we can do," says the Colorado native, who was named a finalist in the Women's Sports Foundation's Sportswoman of the Year voting, the winner of which will be named in New York City on Oct. 16. "I think we have had an incredible season for my first full year in Top Fuel and our first full year as a team. To be able to finish on a high note with strong finishes in these last three events would be great."

She is also eager to put on a good show for the team and event sponsor, Torco Race Fuels. "Our objective is to do the best job we can for Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels and hopefully reward them for their continuing support," she says.

"It has absolutely been a dream season for me," Troxel adds. "The mid-season slump we had takes a little of the excitement out of it, but if you had talked to us before the season started and said we'd be in fourth position after leading the points and winning twice with three races to go, I'm not sure any of us would have realized what an incredible accomplishment that would be.

"And I think we're all looking forward to a strong finish of this great season."

Troxel has visited several new venues for her this season. "I think that you never know what's going to happen going to an unknown track, but I feel confident that we'll run well here. If anything, the fact that NHRA hasn't raced here since 2000 should play into our favor because we don't have as much experience together as a team at a lot of race tracks. This should level the playing field a little bit."

-credit: dsr

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