What a difference a day makes. Yesterday, R2B2 Racing Pro Mod driver Melanie Troxel was struggling
to get her '63 Corvette down the quarter-mile in qualifying at the IHRA Northern Nationals
presented by Dart Machinery at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Mich. Today, she blasted to a
career-best lap and ended up No. 4 heading into Sunday's eliminations.
With cool air and a solid racing surface, Troxel headed to the line Saturday knowing she had a
great opportunity to step up her game. Crew chief Al Billes spent time working through the setup to
find the sweet spot for Troxel, and the results proved he hit the mark. Her first lap was a
well-improved straight pass at 6.385-seconds and 221.74 mph, actually only the fourth full pull
Troxel has had since making her debut into the Pro Mod class.
Knowing the team was well into the field for Sunday, Billes turned up the wick, giving Troxel a
tune-up that could definitely make numbers. And the numbers were spectacular: Troxel blasted to No
4 with her quickest Pro Mod pass to date, a 6.029 at 238.55 mph.
"We've been working hard for a day like today, that's for sure," Troxel said. "Al and the team have
really been working hard to get things dialed in, and he wanted to take advantage of the great
conditions today.
"It felt like I was driving - a classic Corvette. Smooth and sweet, just the way it should be," she
said.
"The first lap today, it stuck all the way through the shift from first to second, which is where
we were having trouble - and after that, I just held on. The last lap, things had gotten a lot
better out there, the air was cool and the track still had enough heat in it to hold the tires - so
Al went for it - and got me a good, safe, quick lap.
"We're in great shape for tomorrow," Troxel said. She will face local Michigan driver Steve Bareman
in the first round of eliminations, scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
