Topeka: Melanie Troxel Saturday summary

TROXEL HANGS ON TO NO. 1 IN TOPEKA QUALIFYING

TOPEKA, Kan. (May 27, 2006) - Under extremely hot and sunny conditions, with temperatures in the 90s and track temperatures reaching 130 degrees today, NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Top Fuel points leader Melanie Troxel held on to the No. 1 qualifying position she earned Friday night.

Troxel captured her second career No. 1 qualifying spot and her second of the season, with her solid 4.567-second elapsed time at 321.50 mph. Her other passes included a 4.761/264.29, a 4.753/294.11 and a 4.738/271.24.

"Everybody knows that Friday night qualifying means absolutely nothing when it comes to Sunday," said Troxel. "We felt pretty good about how the car's running. The track's awfully slick down there (at the top end) so we haven't actually run it (all the way) to the finish line on any pass but Friday night's.

"We assume it would probably make it, but we're trying to take it easy on parts and tomorrow if we can't keep it hooked up down track we're just going to have to leg it down there. That's probably our biggest concern, hurting parts and potential oil downs down track.

"No. 1 spot hasn't really been a good place for people to be so far this year, but we're planning on breaking that jinx tomorrow. That's our game plan, to go out and make more consistent runs."

Troxel faces No. 16 qualifier Alan Bradshaw in first round of eliminations on Sunday.

-dsr-