<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/tf_finaDSB_8656.jpg" alt="tf_finaDSB_8656" align="right"borders="0"/>
PHOENIX, AZ. - Melanie Troxel drove the Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA dragster to a runner-up finish at the NHRA CSK Nationals in Phoenix, AZ. The award winning driver from Avon, IN, drove an inspired race that started from the #5 qualifying position and enabled her to take out the #1 qualifier along the way to meeting Rod Fuller in the final round.
Troxel’s successful weekend catapulted her from the 11th position in the championship standings to fifth.
“The one thing that completes the day is that we made a huge leap in the points,” Troxel said. “It’s disappointing to get to the final round and lose. But, there were so many positives this weekend for the Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA dragster. The crew did a great job and we didn’t hurt a lot of parts. I think with Morgan Lucas Racing that we are moving in the right direction.”
Troxel opened the day by stopping Lucas Oil-sponsored teammate Morgan Lucas and performed a masterful driving job in taking out Brandon Bernstein’s Budweiser entry. Her finest hour transpired in the semi-finals when she defeated top qualifier Tony Schumacher’s U.S. Army team.
In the final round, Fuller’s Valvoline dragster beat Troxel to the finish line by a mere .046 of a second.
Over a dozen Vietnam Veterans and members of the POW-MIA families group attended this weekend’s event in a show of support for the car. Half of the group were attending their first drag race since the 1960s.
“It’s so incredible to get to meet the Vietnam Veterans as well as all war veterans and those families with POW-MIA loved ones. They come by and thank us for our tribute and I tell them thanks because it is their sacrifice that has made what we do out here possible. I know this is just a little token but this is about Evan Knoll and the commitment he made to honor these wonderful people. It’s important that our Vietnam Veterans know that we are welcoming them home. It’s important also that we convey that we haven’t forgotten our POWs and MIAs.”
One of the veterans posed the question to Troxel, “You do know that you’re going to have a lot of fifty-somethings cheering for you this year, don’t you?Troxel just smiled at the notion.
“I think it’s great. It has been so great to talk to so many people and learn of their experiences. In this day and age, everyone is behind the troops whether they agree with the war or not. You get to talk to these people and it helps to understand what they have had to go through. I can’t think of a better group of people I’d rather have out there cheering me on.”
The Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA Dragster is presented by Torco race Fuels and Lucas Oil Products.
PHOTO BY ROGER RICHARDS, COMPETITIONPLUS.COM OF NHRA CSK NATIONALS FINAL ROUND.
MELANIE TROXEL DRIVES THE VIETNAM VETERANS/POW-MIA DRAGSTER TO RUNNER UP FINISH IN PHOENIX, AZ.
PHOENIX, AZ. - Melanie Troxel drove the Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA dragster to a runner-up finish at the NHRA CSK Nationals in Phoenix, AZ. The award winning driver from Avon, IN, drove an inspired race that started from the #5 qualifying position and enabled her to take out the #1 qualifier along the way to meeting Rod Fuller in the final round.
Troxel’s successful weekend catapulted her from the 11th position in the championship standings to fifth.
“The one thing that completes the day is that we made a huge leap in the points,” Troxel said. “It’s disappointing to get to the final round and lose. But, there were so many positives this weekend for the Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA dragster. The crew did a great job and we didn’t hurt a lot of parts. I think with Morgan Lucas Racing that we are moving in the right direction.”
Troxel opened the day by stopping Lucas Oil-sponsored teammate Morgan Lucas and performed a masterful driving job in taking out Brandon Bernstein’s Budweiser entry. Her finest hour transpired in the semi-finals when she defeated top qualifier Tony Schumacher’s U.S. Army team.
In the final round, Fuller’s Valvoline dragster beat Troxel to the finish line by a mere .046 of a second.
Over a dozen Vietnam Veterans and members of the POW-MIA families group attended this weekend’s event in a show of support for the car. Half of the group were attending their first drag race since the 1960s.
“It’s so incredible to get to meet the Vietnam Veterans as well as all war veterans and those families with POW-MIA loved ones. They come by and thank us for our tribute and I tell them thanks because it is their sacrifice that has made what we do out here possible. I know this is just a little token but this is about Evan Knoll and the commitment he made to honor these wonderful people. It’s important that our Vietnam Veterans know that we are welcoming them home. It’s important also that we convey that we haven’t forgotten our POWs and MIAs.”
One of the veterans posed the question to Troxel, “You do know that you’re going to have a lot of fifty-somethings cheering for you this year, don’t you?Troxel just smiled at the notion.
“I think it’s great. It has been so great to talk to so many people and learn of their experiences. In this day and age, everyone is behind the troops whether they agree with the war or not. You get to talk to these people and it helps to understand what they have had to go through. I can’t think of a better group of people I’d rather have out there cheering me on.”
The Vietnam Veterans/POW-MIA Dragster is presented by Torco race Fuels and Lucas Oil Products.
PHOTO BY ROGER RICHARDS, COMPETITIONPLUS.COM OF NHRA CSK NATIONALS FINAL ROUND.
