Fri, 3 Jun 2011, 09:56 PM Troxel Sets National Record in Pro Mod Qualifying at NHRA SuperNationals

Courtesy of NHRA Communications Photo copyright 2011 Auto Imagery, Inc.

ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. --

Melanie Troxel

Melanie Troxel set a national record en-route to the provisional No. 1 qualifying position Friday during the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

Troxel drove her ProCare Rx '53 Corvette to a record-setting run of 5.800-seconds at 258.71 mph to set the national record for both time and speed. If it stands, it would be Troxel's first No. 1 qualifier of the season in the fifth event of the NHRA Get Screened America Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

"The Corvette had itself figured out," said Troxel. "Steve Petty (tuner) is doing a great job with that car. We've nicknamed it 'The Silver Bullet.' It's just flying down there all on its own, in spite of anything I might be doing behind the wheel."

Points leader Khalid Balooshi currently sits 13th in the field with a run of 6.030 at 240.04, while Troxel's teammate and car owner, Roger Burgess, sits 19th with a run of 6.348 at 191.51.

Qualifying continues Saturday with sessions at 1:45 p.m. along with the first round of eliminations at 4:15 p.m. Eliminations will continue of Sunday.