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POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2006) - Melanie Troxel and the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster team took advantage of perfect racing conditions today at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona to capture the No. 4 qualifying position for Sunday's eliminations at the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.
Troxel zoomed to a 4.485-second lap at 329.83 mph in the final qualifying session, in cool conditions, which highlighted a string of strong quarter-mile runs, including a 4.527/327.59 earlier in the day, and a 4.559/321.35 on Friday. She opened qualifications on Thursday with a tire-shaking 10.612/83.85.
"That .52 number earlier (today) was not a bad run," said Troxel, "but when that puts you No. 8, it means you would have to face No. 9 in the first round. You hate to race a car that is so evenly matched in the first round, so we wanted to step it up in the final session to give us a better starting spot in the ladder. It feels much better to be in the No. 4 spot."
Troxel, winner here at the season-opening Winternationals, now aims for a second victory at Pomona in her first full NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season. "Having a win here to finish off the season would definitely end the year for the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race fuels team on a high note, and kind of tie-in with how well we ran earlier in the season," she said.
"Right now I feel like we have a car that is right up there with the best cars out here. This is the most consistent car we've had in the second-half of the season. It's one thing to go out and run good once, but it is another to run good three out of the four runs.
"We've got a great car, and I'm feeling very comfortable in the Skull Shine car, so hopefully we can go out and do something big with that tomorrow."
The 16-car Top Fuel field here ties the record for quickest field in NHRA history with a 4.585-second bump spot.
Troxel, No. 4 in the Top Fuel point standings, faces Steve Torrence in Sunday's opening round of eliminations.
TROXEL NAILS DOWN NO. 4 SPOT IN POMONA QUALIFYING
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2006) - Melanie Troxel and the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster team took advantage of perfect racing conditions today at the Auto Club Raceway in Pomona to capture the No. 4 qualifying position for Sunday's eliminations at the Auto Club of Southern California NHRA Finals.
Troxel zoomed to a 4.485-second lap at 329.83 mph in the final qualifying session, in cool conditions, which highlighted a string of strong quarter-mile runs, including a 4.527/327.59 earlier in the day, and a 4.559/321.35 on Friday. She opened qualifications on Thursday with a tire-shaking 10.612/83.85.
"That .52 number earlier (today) was not a bad run," said Troxel, "but when that puts you No. 8, it means you would have to face No. 9 in the first round. You hate to race a car that is so evenly matched in the first round, so we wanted to step it up in the final session to give us a better starting spot in the ladder. It feels much better to be in the No. 4 spot."
Troxel, winner here at the season-opening Winternationals, now aims for a second victory at Pomona in her first full NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season. "Having a win here to finish off the season would definitely end the year for the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race fuels team on a high note, and kind of tie-in with how well we ran earlier in the season," she said.
"Right now I feel like we have a car that is right up there with the best cars out here. This is the most consistent car we've had in the second-half of the season. It's one thing to go out and run good once, but it is another to run good three out of the four runs.
"We've got a great car, and I'm feeling very comfortable in the Skull Shine car, so hopefully we can go out and do something big with that tomorrow."
The 16-car Top Fuel field here ties the record for quickest field in NHRA history with a 4.585-second bump spot.
Troxel, No. 4 in the Top Fuel point standings, faces Steve Torrence in Sunday's opening round of eliminations.
