Deby
Nitro Member
[coverattach=1]POMONA, Calif., Nov. 15, 2008 -- Melanie Troxel has been looking for another Funny Car victory to go with her first trophy in May, and she and the R2B2 Racing Pro Care Rx Dodge Charger R/T team stamped themselves as one of the favorites with a 4.082-second run at 305.01 mph Saturday as qualifying ended for Sunday's Auto Club Finals.
The sterling performance put her in the No. 2 starting position and was the best of the competitive elapsed times on a hot Auto Club Raceway at Pomona track. Troxel began the day in the top spot was bumped down by Mike Neff's 4.079 before improving her previous best of 4.106 seconds.
"It's too bad it's the very end of the year before we are hitting our stride," Troxel said. "We bettered our time (Saturday) so the fact we lost that No. 1 spot is a bit of a bummer but we did what we needed to do. And, to be honest, sometimes that No. 1 spot comes with a little baggage or a little jinx, so I'm not disappointed at all with the No. 2 spot.
"Any time we can be in the top four, that's what we're shooting for as a team, and we feel pretty good about the race Sunday."
Troxel's opening round foe is Jim Head (No. 16, 4.187 at 296.63 mph).
"Everybody contending for the championship are on the other side of the ladder so that will be interesting to see how they hash it out. There are never any easy people on the ladder. We feel good about the way the car is running and I feel probably the best I have as a driver."
The sterling performance put her in the No. 2 starting position and was the best of the competitive elapsed times on a hot Auto Club Raceway at Pomona track. Troxel began the day in the top spot was bumped down by Mike Neff's 4.079 before improving her previous best of 4.106 seconds.
"It's too bad it's the very end of the year before we are hitting our stride," Troxel said. "We bettered our time (Saturday) so the fact we lost that No. 1 spot is a bit of a bummer but we did what we needed to do. And, to be honest, sometimes that No. 1 spot comes with a little baggage or a little jinx, so I'm not disappointed at all with the No. 2 spot.
"Any time we can be in the top four, that's what we're shooting for as a team, and we feel pretty good about the race Sunday."
Troxel's opening round foe is Jim Head (No. 16, 4.187 at 296.63 mph).
"Everybody contending for the championship are on the other side of the ladder so that will be interesting to see how they hash it out. There are never any easy people on the ladder. We feel good about the way the car is running and I feel probably the best I have as a driver."
