Competitive elapsed times keep R2B2 Racing Dodge in contention
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/m_troxel_508502.jpg" alt="m_troxel_508502" align="right"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 1, 2008 -- Melanie Troxel and the new R2B2 Racing Funny Car team's impressive qualifying performance carried into Monday's U.S. Nationals eliminations at O'Reilly Raceway Park.
Troxel qualified sixth -- one of her best showings in two months -- thanks to tune-up changes made by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald.
On race day, the Dodge Charger R/T responded with the quickest elapsed time of the opening round, 4.128 seconds at 301.00, to dispatch Ron Capps' 10.240. She came back with a 4.191 at 293.22 in the quarterfinals to send Gary Densham home. A traction problem in the semifinals slowed her to an 8.786, giving the win to Jack Beckman.
"We would have like to have won the U.S. Nationals," said Troxel. "All-in-all, it was a very good weekend and it was very productive. The changes Brian and Mark made seem to have the car working better.
"Everybody on the R2B2 Racing team feels good about it. We are looking forward to our next race at Charlotte (Sept. 12-14)."
<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/m_troxel_508502.jpg" alt="m_troxel_508502" align="right"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 1, 2008 -- Melanie Troxel and the new R2B2 Racing Funny Car team's impressive qualifying performance carried into Monday's U.S. Nationals eliminations at O'Reilly Raceway Park.
Troxel qualified sixth -- one of her best showings in two months -- thanks to tune-up changes made by crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald.
On race day, the Dodge Charger R/T responded with the quickest elapsed time of the opening round, 4.128 seconds at 301.00, to dispatch Ron Capps' 10.240. She came back with a 4.191 at 293.22 in the quarterfinals to send Gary Densham home. A traction problem in the semifinals slowed her to an 8.786, giving the win to Jack Beckman.
"We would have like to have won the U.S. Nationals," said Troxel. "All-in-all, it was a very good weekend and it was very productive. The changes Brian and Mark made seem to have the car working better.
"Everybody on the R2B2 Racing team feels good about it. We are looking forward to our next race at Charlotte (Sept. 12-14)."
