Troxel looking forward to Charlotte II

Reenergized Troxel brings new attitude to second Charlotte race

Melanie Troxel

Photo by: Ted Rossino

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 11) -- Coming off her best weekend of drag racing this year, popular pro Melanie Troxel and her R2B2 Racing teammates are anxious to attack the fourth annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at zMax Dragway.

Troxel came within a fraction of a second of making NHRA history at the tour's most recent stop in Indianapolis, qualifying a season-best No. 2 in Funny Car and No. 1 in Pro Mod. If not for a last-gasp qualifying pass by Cruz Pedregon that nudged her off the top of the Funny Car heap in the fifth and final session, Troxel would have become the first racer in history to qualify on top of the two categories at the same national event.

"That would have made a nice line in the record books but we're still completely thrilled about the performance of both racecars," Troxel said. "We set both ends of the national record in Pro Mod earlier this year in the 'Silver Bullet,' so we knew what to expect with that car, but the Funny Car coming around like that was a great thing.

"No one has worked harder this year than my Funny Car guys. We haven't gotten the results on the track but the long hours have been put in, trust me on that one. To see us qualify so well was a great tribute to the never-say-die attitude Aaron Brooks (crew chief) and his staff have shown us. I'm so proud to be a part of this group."

In the past four races, Troxel has qualified in the top half of the Funny Car field three times, a streak she hopes to extend in Charlotte.

"It's important because qualifying well and getting the car down the track every pass lets everyone else know you're for real," Troxel said. "No one out should take us for granted because we're running well.

"Now we need to take all these positive steps and turn them into more win lights on Sunday."

In the Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Troxel has been a contender numerous times this season in her twin-turbo entry, setting two national records in Englishtown, N.J., with a run of 5.772 at 258.71 mph, winning Bristol and reaching the semifinals in Indy.

"The Pro Mod car is an absolute dream to drive," Troxel said. "Steve Petty (tuner) knows these turbo combinations better than anyone I've ever met and having two of our cars run identical elapsed times in the semifinals last weekend in Indy and winning that race with Eric (Dillard, team driver) shows what we're capable of every time out.

"I have a feeling this weekend is going to be another good one for R2B2 Racing."