TROXEL TO TEST FUNNY CAR
Mon, 2007-08-06 14:46
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Melanie Troxel will make
test runs in a Funny Car owned by Mike Ashley during the upcoming PRO
test session prior to the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. He's got the
blessings from sponsor Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels to make it
happen.
“We’ve had Melanie fitted for a Funny Car,” Ashley said. “I’m all for doing this as long as it doesn’t interfere with our Countdown to the Championship. We have to make sure our car is ready for that. We will do it at the Indianapolis test session coming up.”
Ashley is aware that such a move will create a plethora of speculation. While expansion of his Torco Race Fuels-sponsored team is clearly something he has publicly admitted, he’ll admit that adding Troxel to his team would clearly be an asset.
“Evan is really happy with our program and we are seriously looking at the prospects of running a multi-car team,” Ashley said. “Melanie Troxel has expressed an interest in driving a Funny Car. I think she would be a great spokesperson for the class but most of all I think she would be a top-notch driver.
“From a media standpoint, I think she would be great and really it would be neat to see a husband and wife racing against each other in the class. I would be very interested in putting together a team one day with Melanie and I have spoken together with Evan. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It will be under my umbrella if it happens.” Troxel to test Mike Ashley Funny Car during Indy test session
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Melanie Troxel will make test runs in a Funny Car owned by Mike Ashley during the upcoming PRO test session prior to the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. He's got the blessings from sponsor Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels to make it happen.
“We’ve had Melanie fitted for a Funny Car,” Ashley said. “I’m all for doing this as long as it doesn’t interfere with our Countdown to the Championship. We have to make sure our car is ready for that. We will do it at the Indianapolis test session coming up.”
Ashley is aware that such a move will create a plethora of speculation. While expansion of his Torco Race Fuels-sponsored team is clearly something he has publicly admitted, he’ll admit that adding Troxel to his team would clearly be an asset.
“Evan is really happy with our program and we are seriously looking at the prospects of running a multi-car team,” Ashley said. “Melanie Troxel has expressed an interest in driving a Funny Car. I think she would be a great spokesperson for the class but most of all I think she would be a top-notch driver.
“From a media standpoint, I think she would be great and really it would be neat to see a husband and wife racing against each other in the class. I would be very interested in putting together a team one day with Melanie and I have spoken together with Evan. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It will be under my umbrella if it happens.”
With rumors circulating that Dean Skuza will drive an Ashley car outside of his current testing regimen, the team owner/driver is hesitate to say what level his expansion will be if it does transpire.
“I’m not going to say what we will expand to in the future, if it is three or four,” Ashley said. “I’ll just say we are looking at the prospects of a multi-car team and one of those could be driven by Melanie Troxel.”
Troxel, ranked 9th in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings, admitted she has a fascination with Funny Cars. After all, her husband Tommy Johnson Jr., drives one.
“I have actually been interested in doing for a long time,” Troxel said. “I actually had a Top Alcohol Funny Car license before I went over to Top Alcohol Dragster. The opportunity came up for me to make a few passes in testing and it was something that I’ve always wanted to do.
“I just want to give it a shot and see how I like it. The way I look at this is that it is a great opportunity to go out and get some experience.”
Troxel says that’s just it – experience.
“I definitely aspired to drive a Funny Car professionally at one time,” Troxel said. “At this point, all drivers know that having a ride is a fortunate thing and when opportunities come along you take them. I’m having a fun time doing what I am doing. But, if someone offers me the opportunity to make a few passes in Funny Car, I am not going to turn it down.”
“This is just an opportunity to make some passes. I had mentioned to Evan earlier in the season that I would love to have the chance to make a few runs. Obviously, the most important thing is not to mess with Mike Ashley’s championship run. We are going to be out testing and there should be the opportunity to make a few runs and that’s all it is.”
“We’ve had Melanie fitted for a Funny Car,” Ashley said. “I’m all for doing this as long as it doesn’t interfere with our Countdown to the Championship. We have to make sure our car is ready for that. We will do it at the Indianapolis test session coming up.”
Ashley is aware that such a move will create a plethora of speculation. While expansion of his Torco Race Fuels-sponsored team is clearly something he has publicly admitted, he’ll admit that adding Troxel to his team would clearly be an asset.
“Evan is really happy with our program and we are seriously looking at the prospects of running a multi-car team,” Ashley said. “Melanie Troxel has expressed an interest in driving a Funny Car. I think she would be a great spokesperson for the class but most of all I think she would be a top-notch driver.
“From a media standpoint, I think she would be great and really it would be neat to see a husband and wife racing against each other in the class. I would be very interested in putting together a team one day with Melanie and I have spoken together with Evan. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It will be under my umbrella if it happens.” Troxel to test Mike Ashley Funny Car during Indy test session
Torco’s CompetitionPlus.com has learned that Melanie Troxel will make test runs in a Funny Car owned by Mike Ashley during the upcoming PRO test session prior to the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. He's got the blessings from sponsor Evan Knoll and Torco Race Fuels to make it happen.
“We’ve had Melanie fitted for a Funny Car,” Ashley said. “I’m all for doing this as long as it doesn’t interfere with our Countdown to the Championship. We have to make sure our car is ready for that. We will do it at the Indianapolis test session coming up.”
Ashley is aware that such a move will create a plethora of speculation. While expansion of his Torco Race Fuels-sponsored team is clearly something he has publicly admitted, he’ll admit that adding Troxel to his team would clearly be an asset.
“Evan is really happy with our program and we are seriously looking at the prospects of running a multi-car team,” Ashley said. “Melanie Troxel has expressed an interest in driving a Funny Car. I think she would be a great spokesperson for the class but most of all I think she would be a top-notch driver.
“From a media standpoint, I think she would be great and really it would be neat to see a husband and wife racing against each other in the class. I would be very interested in putting together a team one day with Melanie and I have spoken together with Evan. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. It will be under my umbrella if it happens.”
With rumors circulating that Dean Skuza will drive an Ashley car outside of his current testing regimen, the team owner/driver is hesitate to say what level his expansion will be if it does transpire.
“I’m not going to say what we will expand to in the future, if it is three or four,” Ashley said. “I’ll just say we are looking at the prospects of a multi-car team and one of those could be driven by Melanie Troxel.”
Troxel, ranked 9th in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings, admitted she has a fascination with Funny Cars. After all, her husband Tommy Johnson Jr., drives one.
“I have actually been interested in doing for a long time,” Troxel said. “I actually had a Top Alcohol Funny Car license before I went over to Top Alcohol Dragster. The opportunity came up for me to make a few passes in testing and it was something that I’ve always wanted to do.
“I just want to give it a shot and see how I like it. The way I look at this is that it is a great opportunity to go out and get some experience.”
Troxel says that’s just it – experience.
“I definitely aspired to drive a Funny Car professionally at one time,” Troxel said. “At this point, all drivers know that having a ride is a fortunate thing and when opportunities come along you take them. I’m having a fun time doing what I am doing. But, if someone offers me the opportunity to make a few passes in Funny Car, I am not going to turn it down.”
“This is just an opportunity to make some passes. I had mentioned to Evan earlier in the season that I would love to have the chance to make a few runs. Obviously, the most important thing is not to mess with Mike Ashley’s championship run. We are going to be out testing and there should be the opportunity to make a few runs and that’s all it is.”
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