CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals
Joliet, IL
(June 8-11)
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King Demon Crown
 Driver Profile |
Melanie Troxel
In-n-Out Burger Dodge R/T |
The Top Fuel points leader claimed the No. 12 position in the Skull Shine/Torco Race Fuels Top Fuel dragster with her pass in the third and final qualifying session, a 4.555-second elapsed time at 308.50 mph.
After her first two attempts - a tire-shaking 11.255/76.97 and a 4.797/229.00, in which she shut off early - Troxel was not qualified last night. Rain showers delayed the start of today's sessions, and after taking nearly four hours to complete the third Top Fuel round, NHRA cancelled the final session.
"You hate being in that position when you know there's bad weather coming in," said Troxel, "but it happens occasionally and we just kept a good eye on the forecast last night and the radar hoping that it was going to move through. We got fortunate enough to have a window just big enough to get out there and run.
"We're in the field and that's the important thing. We'll go out there and give it our best shot tomorrow."
On waiting in the rain to run: "I was pretty sure that we were going to get that session in, that eventually we would have an opportunity to do that, but when it keeps drizzling on you and drizzling on you, just enough that you can't go out there and race, it gets a little frustrating. It really kind of wears you out, that anticipation to get out there.
"We're all pretty happy to have gotten that session in and that the car went down the race track. Now we can take a big exhale and relax."
Troxel faces David Grubnic in first round of eliminations on Sunday.
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