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POMONA, Calif. (February 4, 2008) - Last year, Melanie Troxel successfully scored two wins in four final-round appearances in Top Fuel and finished in the top ten in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing. This weekend, in Pomona, Calif., she will embark on a new chapter of her storied, record-setting career as she begins her season behind the wheel of the ProCare Rx Dodge Charger R/T nitro Funny Car at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals.
"It's been a lot of hard work getting to this point, and now that it’s here, I think everyone on our team is anxious to watch this car go down the track and get this season started," Troxel said.
Aside from the obvious changes from Dragster to Funny Car, Troxel and her entire Gotham City Racing team have ridden a roller coaster of news events, with the loss of their longtime team sponsor in early January to the addition of ProCare Rx less than 48 hours later.
"I don't think the news of not having a sponsor ever really sunk in because it was handled so quickly. [ProCare Rx CEO] Roger Burgess and Mike [Ashley, team founder] came to the shop in Indy, and the two of them formed a partnership that I think positions us right at the top. They are two of the most amazing men, and it's really a privilege to work with them.
"For me, as a driver, it gives me the confidence knowing that the operations and development side of things is being handled so well. And with Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald calling the shots on the car, I know this is going to be a great year in Funny Car," she said.
Troxel holds the honors of the quickest and fastest woman in NHRA Drag Racing, and said she is looking forward to setting new marks in Funny Car as well.
"This is the same team that put Mike in the record books with the fastest Funny Car run in history, and, with that kind of knowledge and brain-power, I think you'll see a lot more record-setting performances this year.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time. This entire Gotham City Racing team has been working so hard to get everything prepared, and now that it's all coming together, we can just take a deep breath, go out there and do our jobs," Troxel said.
Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 7-8 and continue at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 9. NHRA Raceday, a 30-minute pre-race show, will air at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 10 and eliminations beginning at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.
Troxel anxious to get the season started in Pomona
POMONA, Calif. (February 4, 2008) - Last year, Melanie Troxel successfully scored two wins in four final-round appearances in Top Fuel and finished in the top ten in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing. This weekend, in Pomona, Calif., she will embark on a new chapter of her storied, record-setting career as she begins her season behind the wheel of the ProCare Rx Dodge Charger R/T nitro Funny Car at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals.
"It's been a lot of hard work getting to this point, and now that it’s here, I think everyone on our team is anxious to watch this car go down the track and get this season started," Troxel said.
Aside from the obvious changes from Dragster to Funny Car, Troxel and her entire Gotham City Racing team have ridden a roller coaster of news events, with the loss of their longtime team sponsor in early January to the addition of ProCare Rx less than 48 hours later.
"I don't think the news of not having a sponsor ever really sunk in because it was handled so quickly. [ProCare Rx CEO] Roger Burgess and Mike [Ashley, team founder] came to the shop in Indy, and the two of them formed a partnership that I think positions us right at the top. They are two of the most amazing men, and it's really a privilege to work with them.
"For me, as a driver, it gives me the confidence knowing that the operations and development side of things is being handled so well. And with Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald calling the shots on the car, I know this is going to be a great year in Funny Car," she said.
Troxel holds the honors of the quickest and fastest woman in NHRA Drag Racing, and said she is looking forward to setting new marks in Funny Car as well.
"This is the same team that put Mike in the record books with the fastest Funny Car run in history, and, with that kind of knowledge and brain-power, I think you'll see a lot more record-setting performances this year.
"I've been looking forward to this for a long time. This entire Gotham City Racing team has been working so hard to get everything prepared, and now that it's all coming together, we can just take a deep breath, go out there and do our jobs," Troxel said.
Qualifying sessions are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 7-8 and continue at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. Final eliminations begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise qualifying highlights at 8 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, Feb. 9. NHRA Raceday, a 30-minute pre-race show, will air at 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, Feb. 10 and eliminations beginning at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday evening.
