Kelly
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Troxel fourth-quickest Funny Car qualifier for Fall Nationals
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ENNIS, Texas, Sept. 20, 2008 -- Melanie Troxel and the R2B2 Racing Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team continued their impressive performance Saturday at the Texas Motorplex as qualifying concluded for Sunday's Fall Nationals.
Troxel, who earned the No. 4 starting slot with a 4.096-second run at 304.67 mph -- the category's fastest speed -- Friday night, came back with a 4.166-second effort in the hottest part of Saturday afternoon that was second-quickest of the session. She races Gary Densham (No. 13, 4.175 at 292.14) in the first round.
"We've had a car that has been running pretty good now for the last three races," Troxel said, ":but on Sunday we've been bitten by the car being a little too aggressive. That's the thing we've been working on this weekend -- getting that variable out of there so we can have a consistent race car on Sunday.
"We went down the track on all but our first pass Saturday, but that's what we have been talking about -- when the car gets unexpectedly aggressive. That was a great opportunity to learn something, to go back out and make the same run and work out that little kink. I think we are pretty happy with the results.
"We've had a pretty good race car for a couple of weeks now but certainly the more consistent you get, the more often you run well, definitely builds the confidence of everybody on the team," Troxel added.
Llewellyn winds up 13th, squares off against Matt Smith
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Peggy Llewellyn rode her way into the No. 13 qualifying spot Saturday for Sunday's O'Reilly Super Start
Batteries Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex and thereby has the opportunity to defend her race win of a year ago.
In her second race aboard the R2B2 Motors Buell prepared by Matt Guidera's Rocklin Motorsports team, the San Antonio resident improved on every quarter-mile run, concluding with her best of 7.103 seconds at 184.93 mph.
"I get to play on Sunday," said a happy Llewellyn. "And we are starting from the lucky number 13."
Her opening opponent is Matt Smith (No. 4, 7.001 at 190.75 mph).
"We have been able to refine our tune-up and we are getting the bike to respond in the first 60 feet," she continued. "We are excited to be racing Sunday. I am getting more comfortable on the bike and I hope we can go rounds on Sunday."
