TROXEL BECOMES FIRST WOMAN TO WIN IN TOP FUEL AND FUNNY CAR; SCHUMACHER, CONNOLLY ALSO WIN AT BRISTOL
Melanie Troxel became the first woman in NHRA history to win in both
Top Fuel and Funny Car when she raced to the Funny Car victory Sunday
at the O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Tony Schumacher and Dave Connolly also won in their respective
categories at Bristol Dragway in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series
event.
Troxel, who earned five Top Fuel victories prior to switching to Funny
Car this season, joined her husband Tommy Johnson as one of 14 drivers
in NHRA history to earn victories in both nitro categories when she
powered her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger to a 5.066 at 310.27 to defeat
rookie Mike Neff in the final round. She is the second female to win in
Funny Car in NHRA history, following Ashley Force's gender-breaking
victory last month in Atlanta.
“You know I haven’t even given that any thought,” said Troxel,
referring to being one of fourteen drivers to get a win in both of
NHRA’s nitro classes. “We were so focused on going out there and
getting some round wins and getting a win. That’s kind of like icing on
the cake.”