As she rolls into just her third national event competition behind the wheel of the R2B2 Racing
Voodoo '63 Corvette Pro Mod, Melanie Troxel is using her experience as a professional driver in
other drag racing cars to work her way to success in her latest challenge. Although she will
readily admit to still learning the finer points of the fully suspended Pro Mods she jokingly
refers to as 'angry little cars,' she maintains the goal of winning every race she enters. This
weekend, she will once again grace the quarter-mile, this time at the IHRA Northern Nationals
presented by Dart Machinery at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich.
A fan favorite wherever she goes, Troxel said she is anxious to go back to Martin, the site of her
IHRA Top Fuel debut in 2007. "The fans are really important to me, wherever I am, maybe even more
so because of the current economic conditions. They are spending their hard-earned money to come
for a show, a day at the race track - and I try to spend as much time with them as I can," Troxel
said.
Along with being with the fans, Troxel's time is split between her sponsors, the media, and
actually doing her job - driving a 2,700 horsepower supercharged door slammer, something that
requires consistency to be successful.
"I don't have quite the routine I did with the nitro cars, mostly because these cars are so
different and I'm still learning. It takes a lot of passes before you build up a real comfort
level," she explained.
"My routine before a race, especially in eliminations, starts when I take a little time alone to
prepare. I stretch my muscles to help my mindset and to be comfortable, and then try to prepare
mentally, analyze the situation.
"I focus on what I need to do in the car, and that's different for every pass you make, whether
it's qualifying or eliminations and what position you're in. I'm trying to get to the place with
the Pro Mods where the driving comes naturally enough that I can really focus on trying to do my
job on the starting line and hope the stuff down the track falls into place.
"I do like to be in the car a little early because there's nothing I hate more than to jump into
the car and try to get strapped in while they are pulling us to the water box. It's really nice for
me to have a few extra minutes to sit in the car, relax, and make sure my focus is where it needs
to be," Troxel said.
When she gets to the line, her reaction times are historically among the best in the sport, and as
she gets more and more comfortable with her new ride, her results are sure to prove her abilities.
"Right now, it's all about getting seat time, and learning from every pass," she said.
"After a run, I really like to go back and analyze all the data. I will go and watch the videotape
to see if I can find anything I didn't see while I was in the car. I look to see if what I felt in
the car is what happened on the tape. Then, I'll go in and try to look over Al Billes, my crew
chief's, shoulder to see what the data says. If possible, I'll ask him a few things about what
happened in the car and why. I think that makes me a better driver knowing what's going on, and
since these cars are fairly new to me, I'm trying to learn as much as possible."
Billes, a veteran driver and standout crew chief and tuner, has said that Troxel is one of the most
professional drivers he's ever worked with. "She is coming along so well, I've got nothing but good
things to say about her and her ability to drive," he said.
The feeling of respect is mutual for Troxel, who said, "I've really enjoyed the fact that I can
work directly with Al, and that he is so open to explaining things. Some crew chiefs keep all that
information to themselves, but he's really been an open book. I think part of that is the fact that
he is both a driver and a tuner, and that really helps both of us. He's been great to discuss how
things feel in the car and get suggestions and his insight.
"It's very obvious Al is a very smart guy, very methodical, and I think that's probably one of the
main reasons why he is so successful. He's not only a tuner, he is an innovator in this class - and
that's a great thing to be a part of. Roger Burgess, our sponsor and teammate has put together an
incredible team, and I know I'm in great hands when I get into the car. As more time passes and we
get more laps, the results will follow," Troxel said.
Troxel is counting on improved results this weekend, knowing that the team is still getting things
ironed out to make the setup and the driver perfectly in tune. "That's the plan, and we'll get
there one lap at a time," she said.
Qualifying is scheduled for 3 and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and eliminations are scheduled to
begin at 11 a.m. Sunday.
