St. Louis: Melanie Troxel Saturday notes

Troxel Races Mike Neff in Opening Round

Melanie Troxel was the No. 1 Funny Car qualifier when she arrived for work Saturday on the second day of qualifyingfor Sunday's Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway. By the time the 16-car starting line-up was established, Troxel and the Gotham City Racing ProCare Rx Dodge R/T teamwere 10th, but still solidly in the starting lineup. Team co-owner Mike Ashley, however, was a surprising No. 2 ona nearly perfect afternoon for quick elapsed times. Troxel's best time was her 4.802-second, 327.59-mph effort Friday night.

Ashley was 18th -- and last -- until his final run of 4.771 seconds at 327.82 mph catapulted him from last into second place.

Loss of traction forced Troxel to abort her first Saturdayattempt and she finished with a very respectable 4.823 at 309.49 mph run that could've been better.

"We were definitely going for it in the last session," Troxel said. "Wecould've run in the mid-4.70s but we hurt something (in the motor) about three or four seconds into the run and the motor kicked the rods out, so I ran the 4.82. It was definitely on a much better pass than that."

Troxel races Mike Neff (No. 7, 4.796 at 316.30 mph) in the opening round.

-credit: gcr