Densham comes from behind to edge Troxel in first round
ENNIS, Texas, Sept. 21, 2008 -- A loss of traction interrupted what Melanie Troxel hoped would be a first-round win over Gary Densham Sunday in the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.
Troxel bolted from the starting line first and stayed there for the first half of the 1000-foot track before the tires spun, enabling Densham to go by. He won with a 4.327-second time at 280.31 mph to her 4.465 at 236.59.
"More cars were making it down the right lane than we expected," Troxel said. "I think the consensus was we were a little too aggressive on a certain place on the track because when we smoke the tires it's the same place on every run.
"That's good news. We have a consistent car except for that one place. So if we fix that problem, we feel pretty good about how the car is going to run. We still have a car that runs really good."
Next up is the O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis, Friday through Sunday.
Llewellyn gets jump at starting line but can't hold off Smith
ENNIS, Texas -- Up against reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Matt Smith in the first round of the O'Reilly Super Start Batteries Fall Nationals Sunday at the Texas Motorplex, Peggy Llewellyn gave it her best shot, but it still wasn't enough to upset Smith.
Llewellyn's R2B2 Motors Buell left the starting line with a .022-second reaction time to Smith's .072, but it wasn't long before Smith took the lead. His win light came on in 7.020 seconds at 188.38 mph to her 7.154 at 183.07.
"We had a good weekend," she said. "It was safe. We learn every time we go out. Even though I am racing sporadically, we are still learning and that will help us for 2009. We are working on some things for next year."
Llewellyn has two more races remaining this season, at Las Vegas and Pomona, Calif.
