TROXEL'S 2009 RESTART
Thu, 2008-09-04 10:29
Melanie Troxel isn’t ready to return to Top Fuel racing any time soon.
The first year Funny Car driver has explored both ends of the emotional spectrum in 2008.
She’s won races and she’s failed to qualify.
“There are definitely aspects of the dragsters that I miss, but we're having a lot of fun over here,” said Troxel. “Certainly making the switch over here is a new challenge so I am not bored by any means. People keep wanting to ask me which I like better, I don't think, it's like trying to pick between your kids, I don't think you can pick. They definitely each have their own personality; they are both an adrenaline rush and both a lot of fun.” Melanie Troxel isn’t ready to return to Top Fuel racing any time soon.
The first year Funny Car driver has explored both ends of the emotional spectrum in 2008.
She’s won races and she’s failed to qualify.
“There are definitely aspects of the dragsters that I miss, but we're having a lot of fun over here,” said Troxel. “Certainly making the switch over here is a new challenge so I am not bored by any means. People keep wanting to ask me which I like better, I don't think, it's like trying to pick between your kids, I don't think you can pick. They definitely each have their own personality; they are both an adrenaline rush and both a lot of fun.”
Troxel entered the 2008 season with four career Top Fuel victories to her credit. While driving a dragster is largely a finesse technique, she’s quickly discovered the Funny Car to have a different personality.
“It might be kind of like the problem child, who's having a temper tantrum at times,” Troxel admitted, with a smile. “The dragster is probably easier to get along with most of the time. It's a lot of fun, but sometimes the most rewarding feelings come from a challenge which this car is.”
The NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis started a new chapter for Troxel. She began the season as a driver for Gotham City Racing when defending event champion Mike Ashley teamed with Roger Burgess after her longtime sponsor Torco Race Fuels suspended their sponsorships.
A lot has changed since the season-opener and Ashley is now out of the game, leaving Burgess as the sole team owner.
The team was rebranded as R2B2 Motorsports and came to Indy with a totally new image. Troxel admitted the new look and feel has made those Funny Car temper tantrums easier to deal with.
“We kinda fell into a little slump in the middle year,” Troxel said. “To be honest we had a slump at the beginning of the year, ran good for a little while there and then ran into another slump. We kind of feel like the performance of the car, we're on to something, we're making progress. It happens to be at the same time we changed everything over, uniforms, cars, trailers, changed the name of the team and I think that is probably a really good new start for us. We're starting with a clean slate, all new stuff and see if we can't build something from this.”
A semi-final finish at the largest drag racing event in the world is a good start.
The first year Funny Car driver has explored both ends of the emotional spectrum in 2008.
She’s won races and she’s failed to qualify.
“There are definitely aspects of the dragsters that I miss, but we're having a lot of fun over here,” said Troxel. “Certainly making the switch over here is a new challenge so I am not bored by any means. People keep wanting to ask me which I like better, I don't think, it's like trying to pick between your kids, I don't think you can pick. They definitely each have their own personality; they are both an adrenaline rush and both a lot of fun.” Melanie Troxel isn’t ready to return to Top Fuel racing any time soon.
The first year Funny Car driver has explored both ends of the emotional spectrum in 2008.
She’s won races and she’s failed to qualify.
“There are definitely aspects of the dragsters that I miss, but we're having a lot of fun over here,” said Troxel. “Certainly making the switch over here is a new challenge so I am not bored by any means. People keep wanting to ask me which I like better, I don't think, it's like trying to pick between your kids, I don't think you can pick. They definitely each have their own personality; they are both an adrenaline rush and both a lot of fun.”
Troxel entered the 2008 season with four career Top Fuel victories to her credit. While driving a dragster is largely a finesse technique, she’s quickly discovered the Funny Car to have a different personality.
“It might be kind of like the problem child, who's having a temper tantrum at times,” Troxel admitted, with a smile. “The dragster is probably easier to get along with most of the time. It's a lot of fun, but sometimes the most rewarding feelings come from a challenge which this car is.”
The NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis started a new chapter for Troxel. She began the season as a driver for Gotham City Racing when defending event champion Mike Ashley teamed with Roger Burgess after her longtime sponsor Torco Race Fuels suspended their sponsorships.
A lot has changed since the season-opener and Ashley is now out of the game, leaving Burgess as the sole team owner.
The team was rebranded as R2B2 Motorsports and came to Indy with a totally new image. Troxel admitted the new look and feel has made those Funny Car temper tantrums easier to deal with.
“We kinda fell into a little slump in the middle year,” Troxel said. “To be honest we had a slump at the beginning of the year, ran good for a little while there and then ran into another slump. We kind of feel like the performance of the car, we're on to something, we're making progress. It happens to be at the same time we changed everything over, uniforms, cars, trailers, changed the name of the team and I think that is probably a really good new start for us. We're starting with a clean slate, all new stuff and see if we can't build something from this.”
A semi-final finish at the largest drag racing event in the world is a good start.
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