Melanie Troxel knew it was just a matter of time before the gremlins that had plagued her from time to time exorcised themselves. Friday qualifying in Pomona proved her right as she jumped to the top of the field with a 4.105 second run at 304.25 miles per hour.

“We’re a little disappointed the season is coming to an end,” Troxel admitted. “We kind of feel we are finally getting into a stride. I think the plan is to carry that momentum over into the next season.”

Troxel credits the relentless dedication of tuners Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald as key factors in keeping the team focused despite the hardships they’ve endured along the way. Melanie Troxel knew it was just a matter of time before the gremlins that had plagued her from time to time exorcised themselves. Friday qualifying in Pomona proved her right as she jumped to the top of the field with a 4.105 second run at 304.25 miles per hour.

“We’re a little disappointed the season is coming to an end,” Troxel admitted. “We kind of feel we are finally getting into a stride. I think the plan is to carry that momentum over into the next season.”

Troxel credits the relentless dedication of tuners Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald as key factors in keeping the team focused despite the hardships they’ve endured along the way.

Since the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Troxel has qualified no lower than seventh with her best being fourth in Dallas and Richmond. If her provisional No. 1 holds, it will mark her second of the season.

Troxel admitted she set high standards for her rookie season in Funny Car after bringing five career Top Fuel victories to the class. She scored her first win in Bristol, Tenn., back in April and backed up the performance with her first top qualifier in Chicago.

Despite her noted success, she was never able to crack into the NHRA POWERade Top Ten standings.

“Our team has always been capable of a championship,” Troxel said. “I knew there would be a transition for me but I never expected us to struggle as we did. I would have liked to have been in the top ten.

“We still have a shot at a second national event win this weekend. It’s not the season I wanted but it’s not a terrible one either.”

GO WILK! - No offense to the yet unqualified point leader Cruz Pedregon, but Troxel is cheering for Tim Wilkerson to win the championship this weekend. Such a victory would be a major victory for the single-car teams much like the one Troxel drives for.

"Short of us winning the race, the next thing I would like to do is be able to come against Cruz [Pedregon] and take him out and help Tim [Wilkerson] win the championship," she said. "Timmy's such a great guy and everyone in the pits likes him. I think everyone was happy to see him doing so well this year and to see it come down to the last race and there's a chance he won't win the championship is heartbreaking.

"Tim's had the consistency to win the championship throughout the year but Cruz is on a hot streak right now.