[coverattach=1]POMONA, Calif., Nov. 16, 2008 -- Melanie Troxel's first season in NHRA Funny Car competition came to a premature close -- as far as she and the R2B2 Racing Pro Care Rx Dodge Charger R/T are concerned -- Sunday in the quarterfinals of the Auto Club Finals.
Troxel, the No. 2 qualifier, got past Jim Head in a tire-smoking first round. She led all the way, despite running into traction trouble, and won with a time of 5.192 seconds at 189.95 mph to Head's 6.730 at 80.17 mph. But her hopes of closing the campaign on a winning note fell victim to Jack Beckman in the second round.
She got off the line first (.065 to .086) but Beckman passed her close to the 1,000-foot finish line, winning in 4.148 seconds at 301.00 to Troxel's 4.184 at 299.33.
"We lost a good, close race in the second round," she said. "We're not disappointed with that by any means. We would have liked to have won the race, but it is still a pretty strong finish in the last few races of the season and we feel we have a lot of momentum to carry into next season."
And that begins back at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 5-8, 2009.
Troxel, the No. 2 qualifier, got past Jim Head in a tire-smoking first round. She led all the way, despite running into traction trouble, and won with a time of 5.192 seconds at 189.95 mph to Head's 6.730 at 80.17 mph. But her hopes of closing the campaign on a winning note fell victim to Jack Beckman in the second round.
She got off the line first (.065 to .086) but Beckman passed her close to the 1,000-foot finish line, winning in 4.148 seconds at 301.00 to Troxel's 4.184 at 299.33.
"We lost a good, close race in the second round," she said. "We're not disappointed with that by any means. We would have liked to have won the race, but it is still a pretty strong finish in the last few races of the season and we feel we have a lot of momentum to carry into next season."
And that begins back at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 5-8, 2009.
