Seattle: Melamie Troxel Friday notes

Consistent Troxel Eighth in Seattle Qualifying
Gotham City Dodge Charger R/T Ruins 4.096 Seconds

SEATTLE, July 18, 2008 -- Melanie Troxel improved her 1000-foot performances Saturday as qualifying began for Sunday's Schuck's Auto Supply Nationals at Pacific Raceways.

Troxel put the Gotham City Racing Dodge Charger R/T into second position in the day's first run with a 4.109-second time at 301.20 mph and improved it to 4.096 at 302.55 mph to take eighth place with two more runs on tap Saturday.

"We got down the track on two passes today and that's probably the most important thing to do," she said. "It's nice to be No. 1 qualifier, or No. 2 like we were after that first session, but it's far more important to be going down the track consistently."

"It's always nice going into Saturday when you are in the top 12 and you don't have to worry about getting qualified. Right now we are in very comfortable position. We can continue to work on our race day combination. It sounds like the weather will stay pretty consistent so there won't be any big surprises on Sunday."

-credit: gcr