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POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2006) - Melanie Troxel has one goal as the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series comes to a close at this weekend's Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.: to win!
Driving the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster in her first full season of Top Fuel competition, Troxel has left a solid mark on the sport, both on and off the quarter-mile. She led the point standings through the first 12 events, reached a record-setting five final rounds to open a season, won twice, and has been nominated for and received a number of sporting awards for her remarkable accomplishments throughout the year.
While her chances to claim her first world championship have dwindled in the last half of the season, the popular racer and 2006 Pomona season-opener winner would like to complete her exceptional year with book-end victories.
Fourth in the standings, Troxel has an opportunity - although it's a longshot -to move up one spot in the rankings with a strong result this weekend. She trails third-place Brandon Bernstein by 113 points. Doug Kalitta is the leader, 213 markers ahead of Troxel and out of reach, as is her teammate Tony Schumacher in second (168 points ahead.)
"We definitely had a great first season and I would be lying if I didn't say we were a little bit disappointed with the way the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels car has been running the second half of the year," said Troxel. "But I think we still have a good car right now, and we have an opportunity to go out and win the last race of the year.
"It would be great to finish on a high note like that. We're going to go out and do our best to get the job done in Pomona. We won here in the spring, so our agenda is to go out and win the last race of the year.
"We do have an opportunity to move up one spot with the win, but, regardless of that, if we went on to a No. 4 finish in the points this year, my first full season in Top Fuel, I'd still have to say that it's been a great season."
The extra 20 bonus points awarded for a national elapsed-time record could come in handy. "I don't think that our agenda is to go out and try to set a record," said Troxel. "I think it would be great if it happens. Instead, we're going to go out and race smart and the first objective is to get the car out of the trailer and lay down a good number right out of the box. We have to know that we're definitely qualified for Sunday's eliminations, and if the conditions are right, and we have an opportunity to go out and run a big number, then certainly we will try and do that then."
TROXEL OUT TO WIN POMONA
POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2006) - Melanie Troxel has one goal as the 2006 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series comes to a close at this weekend's Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif.: to win!
Driving the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster in her first full season of Top Fuel competition, Troxel has left a solid mark on the sport, both on and off the quarter-mile. She led the point standings through the first 12 events, reached a record-setting five final rounds to open a season, won twice, and has been nominated for and received a number of sporting awards for her remarkable accomplishments throughout the year.
While her chances to claim her first world championship have dwindled in the last half of the season, the popular racer and 2006 Pomona season-opener winner would like to complete her exceptional year with book-end victories.
Fourth in the standings, Troxel has an opportunity - although it's a longshot -to move up one spot in the rankings with a strong result this weekend. She trails third-place Brandon Bernstein by 113 points. Doug Kalitta is the leader, 213 markers ahead of Troxel and out of reach, as is her teammate Tony Schumacher in second (168 points ahead.)
"We definitely had a great first season and I would be lying if I didn't say we were a little bit disappointed with the way the Skull Shine/Knoll Gas-Torco Race Fuels car has been running the second half of the year," said Troxel. "But I think we still have a good car right now, and we have an opportunity to go out and win the last race of the year.
"It would be great to finish on a high note like that. We're going to go out and do our best to get the job done in Pomona. We won here in the spring, so our agenda is to go out and win the last race of the year.
"We do have an opportunity to move up one spot with the win, but, regardless of that, if we went on to a No. 4 finish in the points this year, my first full season in Top Fuel, I'd still have to say that it's been a great season."
The extra 20 bonus points awarded for a national elapsed-time record could come in handy. "I don't think that our agenda is to go out and try to set a record," said Troxel. "I think it would be great if it happens. Instead, we're going to go out and race smart and the first objective is to get the car out of the trailer and lay down a good number right out of the box. We have to know that we're definitely qualified for Sunday's eliminations, and if the conditions are right, and we have an opportunity to go out and run a big number, then certainly we will try and do that then."
