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TOPEKA, Kan. (June 1, 2008) - Although she didn't win the entire even like she did in Bristol, Tenn., ProCare Rx Funny Car driver Melanie Troxel did meet some goals in her quarterfinal finish at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan. Troxel defeated Jack Beckman in the first round, and lost a close race to Ron Capps in round two.
By the numbers, Troxel ran a 4.940/297.81 to Beckman's 4.976/303.03 in round one and lost to Ron Capps who laid down a 4.969 300.06 to her 5.016/298.01.
"In round one, we had lane choice because we qualified number five, which I don't know if it made a difference, but it was a good close race with Jack," Troxel explained. "We came away a winner which is always a confidence boost - especially when you don't blow up parts along the way.
"Second round, we slowed down a little bit and didn't get the round win. The car spun the tires when we made the transition onto the asphalt, and so we lost a little bit of ground there. I saw the nose of Ron's car make a little ground on us, and we were never able to make up that difference. Brian Corradi [crew chief] did indicate that the car lost a hole a little past half track, right at the transition point which cost a little bit of ET, so that was the difference right there.
"All in all, though, I'd say it was a good weekend, the car is going from A to B, and we just lost a close race," she said.
"We made up ground on a lot of people in the points race, and that's exactly what our game plan is," she said.
Troxel maintained the No 15 spot in POWERade points with 305 points and decreased the number of points she is out of the top ten from 83 to 69.
"It's been a good weekend, not a great one - but, like I said, we made up ground and moved us closer to our goal. Now we just pack it up and keep our upward momentum as we head to Chicago next weekend," Troxel said.
Troxel makes quarterfinal finish in Topeka
TOPEKA, Kan. (June 1, 2008) - Although she didn't win the entire even like she did in Bristol, Tenn., ProCare Rx Funny Car driver Melanie Troxel did meet some goals in her quarterfinal finish at the O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals in Topeka, Kan. Troxel defeated Jack Beckman in the first round, and lost a close race to Ron Capps in round two.
By the numbers, Troxel ran a 4.940/297.81 to Beckman's 4.976/303.03 in round one and lost to Ron Capps who laid down a 4.969 300.06 to her 5.016/298.01.
"In round one, we had lane choice because we qualified number five, which I don't know if it made a difference, but it was a good close race with Jack," Troxel explained. "We came away a winner which is always a confidence boost - especially when you don't blow up parts along the way.
"Second round, we slowed down a little bit and didn't get the round win. The car spun the tires when we made the transition onto the asphalt, and so we lost a little bit of ground there. I saw the nose of Ron's car make a little ground on us, and we were never able to make up that difference. Brian Corradi [crew chief] did indicate that the car lost a hole a little past half track, right at the transition point which cost a little bit of ET, so that was the difference right there.
"All in all, though, I'd say it was a good weekend, the car is going from A to B, and we just lost a close race," she said.
"We made up ground on a lot of people in the points race, and that's exactly what our game plan is," she said.
Troxel maintained the No 15 spot in POWERade points with 305 points and decreased the number of points she is out of the top ten from 83 to 69.
"It's been a good weekend, not a great one - but, like I said, we made up ground and moved us closer to our goal. Now we just pack it up and keep our upward momentum as we head to Chicago next weekend," Troxel said.
