Troxel Becomes Sixth Woman to Win In NHRA Top Fuel

Hight and Anderson also win CARQUEST Winternationals

By NHRA Communications

POMONA, Calif. -- Melanie Troxel became just the sixth woman in NHRA history to win a Top Fuel event Sunday by racing to victory at the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals.

Funny Car sophomore Robert Hight and three-time and reigning Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson also scored big wins at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, assuming the POWERade Series points lead in their respective categories. The $2 million race is the first of 23 in the 2006 POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Eighteen years after her world champion father Mike Troxel won this event in his family-owned Top Alcohol dragster, Melanie returned to Pomona's famed winner's circle in her Don Schumacher-owned dragster and became just the eighth female to win in a professional category.

"It gets media attention to say I'm the 'Xth' number female to win a race, but those of us in the NHRA know that it's no big deal because we've had lots of female winners, especially when you compare us to all the other motor sports," Troxel said. "I'm thrilled there were women before me to pave the way but really we just want to be the best team out here, regardless of me being female."

The final round was her easiest of the day as she streaked away from David Baca, whose Mach 1 dragster lost traction, to clinch the trophy with a 4.582-second run at 321.65 mph. She proved herself worthy of the win as the day progressed, beating Clay Millican in the first round, three-time NHRA POWERade world champion Tony Schumacher, and red-hot Morgan Lucas.

Hight's third career win was a struggle from the start in his Auto Club Ford Mustang. He didn't make the elimination field until the final qualifying session. Then he had to overcome a huge second-round engine explosion that ruined his primary body and an accidental discharge of his fire bottles just to make it through the day and reach the finals, which ended with a photo finish final round victory over Ron Capps.

"We did have a few bad luck things happen today but my team came through like professionals," Hight said. "It was lucky for us that John (Force) and Eric (Medlen, teammates) lost early because their crew guys came over and helped us. If they hadn't we wouldn't have made it up there for the semifinals. Everyone jumped in there. It was awesome to see."

After running the quickest time for a Funny Car in NHRA history during qualifying, a stellar 4.664-second blast, 13-time Funny Car champion Force failed to back up the mark up during eliminations to make it an official national record. Per NHRA rule, any potential national record run must be certified by another run within 1 percent.

Both Force and reigning champ Gary Scelzi lost in the quarterfinals.

Three-time and reigning Pro Stock world champ Anderson raced to his 40th career victory -- and 36th win of the last 70 national events -- in convincing fashion. In the final he posted a track record performance of 6.665 at 207.75 mph in his Summit Racing Pontiac GTO to dismiss final round challenger Mike Edwards, who finished in 6.726 at 206.48 in his Young Life GTO.

"It's not as easy as it looks, I swear," Anderson said. "I'm sorry if I'm boring you guys (the media), but we've just been on such a roll over the last few years. It's still a struggle and I lose sleep every night worrying about what everyone else is doing, but we've managed to stay ahead. We have a long way to go this year but we're off to a great start."

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series tour continues with the 22nd annual Checker Schuck's Kragen NHRA Nationals, Feb. 24-26, at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix.

POMONA, Calif. -- Final finish order (1-16) for professional categories at the 46th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The $2 million race is the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL: 1. Melanie Troxel; 2. David Baca; 3. Morgan Lucas; 4. Doug Herbert; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Rod Fuller; 7. Larry Dixon; 8. Doug Kalitta; 9. Brandon Bernstein; 10. David Grubnic; 11. Cory McClenathan; 12. Bruce Litton; 13. Clay Millican; 14. Doug Foley; 15. Hillary Will; 16. J.R. Todd.

FUNNY CAR: 1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang; 2. Ron Capps, Dodge Stratus; 3. Phil Burkart, Chevy Monte Carlo; 4. Bob Gilbertson, Stratus; 5. Del Worsham, Monte Carlo; 6. John Force, Mustang; 7. Gary Scelzi, Stratus; 8. Jim Head, Stratus; 9. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo; 10. Whit Bazemore, Stratus; 11. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo; 12. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 13. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo; 14. Eric Medlen, Mustang; 15. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo; 16. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo.

PRO STOCK: 1. Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO; 2. Mike Edwards, GTO; 3. Larry Morgan, Dodge Stratus; 4. Mark Pawuk, GTO; 5. Jason Line, GTO; 6. Warren Johnson, GTO; 7. Rickie Smith, Chevy Cobalt; 8. Erica Enders, Cobalt; 9. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt; 10. Ron Krisher, Cobalt; 11. Richie Stevens, Stratus; 12. Bob Panella, Cobalt; 13. Allen Johnson, Stratus; 14. Jim Yates, GTO; 15. Dave Connolly, Cobalt; 16. Greg Stanfield, GTO.

POMONA, Calif. -- Sunday's final results from the 46th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. The $2 million race is the first of 23 in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel -- Melanie Troxel, 4.582 seconds, 321.65 mph def. David Baca, 8.677 seconds, 91.43 mph.

Funny Car -- Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.763, 317.94 def. Ron Capps, Dodge Stratus, 4.775, 323.50.

Pro Stock -- Greg Anderson, Pontiac GTO, 6.665, 207.75 def. Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.726, 206.48.

Top Alcohol Dragster -- Duane Shields, 5.478, 253.42 def. Aaron Olivarez, 5.612, 254.90.

Top Alcohol Funny Car -- Jay Payne, Chevy Camaro, 5.603, 254.95 def. Frank Manzo, Chevy Monte Carlo, foul.

Competition Eliminator -- Lou Ficco Jr., Chevy Cavalier, 7.845, 123.45 def. Dean Carter, Dragster, foul.

Stock Eliminator -- Keith Lynch, Chevy Camaro, 10.464, 114.50 def. David Rampy, Camaro, foul.

Super Comp -- Anthony Castillo, Dragster, 8.884, 170.54 def. Keith Downing, Dragster, 8.868, 165.07.

Super Gas -- Val Torres, Pontiac Firebird, 9.902, 149.90 def. Bill Ohmer, Chevy Nova, 9.903, 146.30.

 POMONA, Calif. -- Final round-by-round results from the 46th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE -- Melanie Troxel, 5.318, 225.22 def. Clay Millican, 9.369, 75.24; David Baca, 4.819, 302.75 def. Brandon Bernstein, 4.945, 238.64; Larry Dixon, 5.142, 286.38 def. Cory McClenathan, 5.850, 223.76; Doug Herbert, 4.648, 310.84 def. J.R. Todd, 24.660, 33.15; Tony Schumacher, 4.517, 323.12 def. Bruce Litton, 8.170, 96.62; Doug Kalitta, 4.589, 279.09 def. David Grubnic, 5.716, 167.47; Morgan Lucas, 4.567, 324.75 def. Hillary Will, 14.204, 43.04; Rod Fuller, 4.579, 328.14 def. Doug Foley, foul; QUARTERFINALS -- Herbert, 4.561, 320.58 def. Dixon, 4.595, 320.74; Lucas, 4.542, 321.27 def. Fuller, 4.585, 320.43; Baca, 4.735, 276.92 def. Kalitta, 6.702, 144.92; Troxel, 4.524, 325.77 def. Schumacher, 4.530, 321.96; SEMIFINALS -- Baca, 4.620, 326.56 def. Herbert, 5.735, 233.84; Troxel, 4.553, 324.12 def. Lucas, 4.754, 290.88; FINAL -- Troxel, 4.582, 321.65 def. Baca, 8.677, 91.43.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE -- Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.733, 322.19 def. Eric Medlen, Mustang, 5.582, 173.99; Del Worsham, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.894, 319.29 def. Tony Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 5.147, 237.38; John Force, Mustang, 4.774, 313.00 def. Cruz Pedregon, Monte Carlo, 6.432, 156.90; Jim Head, Dodge Stratus, 4.881, 294.43 def. Tommy Johnson Jr., Monte Carlo, 4.946, 311.56; Gary Scelzi, Stratus, 4.775, 324.05 def. Tony Bartone, Monte Carlo, 4.914, 293.79; Bob Gilbertson, Stratus, 4.813, 316.38 def. Whit Bazemore, Stratus, 4.943, 311.70; Ron Capps, Stratus, 4.790, 322.19 def. Tim Wilkerson, Monte Carlo, 5.150, 243.77; Phil Burkart, Monte Carlo, 4.881, 316.30 def. Gary Densham, Monte Carlo, 8.107, 98.90; QUARTERFINALS -- Capps, 4.813, 325.85 def. Head, 7.212, 119.70; Gilbertson, 4.880, 283.19 def. Scelzi, 6.908, 131.88; Hight, 4.762, 326.71 def. Worsham, 4.835, 318.69; Burkart, 4.844, 319.37 def. Force, 5.703, 180.69; SEMIFINALS -- Capps, 4.815, 322.58 def. Gilbertson, 11.044, 79.95; Hight, 4.799, 327.35 def. Burkart, 4.866, 320.20; FINAL -- Hight, 4.763, 317.94 def. Capps, 4.775, 323.50.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE -- Rickie Smith, Chevy Cobalt, 6.722, 205.79 def. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 6.727, 206.16; Mark Pawuk, Pontiac GTO, 6.756, 205.29 def. Richie Stevens, Dodge Stratus, 6.740, 205.51; Mike Edwards, GTO, 6.733, 205.85 def. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 6.718, 207.72; Jason Line, GTO, 6.689, 207.37 def. Greg Stanfield, GTO, 14.592, 59.39; Larry Morgan, Stratus, 6.713, 206.23 def. Jim Yates, GTO, 12.061, 74.36; Warren Johnson, GTO, 6.709, 206.51 def. Allen Johnson, Stratus, 6.765, 205.26; Greg Anderson, GTO, 6.670, 206.73 def. Bob Panella, Cobalt, 6.760, 205.04; Erica Enders, Cobalt, 6.773, 204.14 def. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 13.330, 65.28;

QUARTERFINALS -- Pawuk, 6.765, 205.16 def. Enders, 6.816, 204.05; Edwards, 6.723, 206.45 def. W. Johnson, 6.725, 206.51; Morgan, 6.735, 206.10 def. Line, 6.714, 206.48; Anderson, 6.695, 207.05 def. Smith, 6.725, 205.76; SEMIFINALS -- Edwards, 6.729, 205.76 def. Pawuk, 6.772, 205.10; Anderson, 6.684, 206.80 def. Morgan, 6.737, 205.94; FINAL -- Anderson, 6.665, 207.75 def. Edwards, 6.726, 206.48.

 POMONA, Calif. -- Point standings (top 10) for NHRA professional categories following the 46th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the first of 23 events in the $50 million NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

Top Fuel

1. Melanie Troxel, 112; 2. David Baca, 92; 3. (tie) Doug Herbert, 71; Morgan Lucas, 71; 5. Tony Schumacher, 58; 6. Doug Kalitta, 57; 7. (tie) Larry Dixon, 54; Rod Fuller, 54; 9. J.R. Todd, 36; 10. Hillary Will, 35.

Funny Car

1. Robert Hight, 112; 2. Ron Capps, 92; 3. (tie) Phil Burkart, 72; Bob Gilbertson, 72; 5. John Force, 58; 6. Gary Scelzi, 56; 7. (tie) Jim Head, 51; Del Worsham, 51; 9. Tommy Johnson Jr., 37; 10. Tony Pedregon, 35.

Pro Stock

1. Greg Anderson, 118; 2. Mike Edwards, 94; 3. Larry Morgan, 75; 4. Mark Pawuk, 72; 5. Erica Enders, 57; 6. Warren Johnson, 56; 7. Jason Line, 54; 8. Rickie Smith, 53; 9. Richie Stevens, 33; 10. (tie) Kurt Johnson; 32, Ron Krisher, 32; Greg Stanfield, 32; Dave Connolly, 32.