Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Troxel back in NHRA with Schumacher team

Thursday, July 7, 2005 | 9:58 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at bh@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4089.

Melanie Troxel is reuniting with team owner Don Schumacher and will drive Schumacher's second Top Fuel dragster in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series.

Troxel, who drove for Schumacher in 10 national events in 2000, will drive the Torco Gear dragster beginning with next weekend's Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

"It's kind of funny how things come around," Troxel said. "It's almost exactly five years from the first time that I talked to Don. I'm thrilled to be coming on board with the Don Schumacher Racing team.

"When I came to work for DSR in 2000, I talked about what a great high-caliber team it is and I feel the same way -- and even more so today. Opportunities to work with a team like this only come around once and, I guess, twice, in my case."

Don Prudhomme released Troxel from a driver development contract on Friday, paving the way for her to join Don Schumacher Racing.

"I am excited to be able to bring Melanie Troxel back to drive our second Top Fuel dragster through the completion of the 2005 NHRA season and beyond," Schumacher said. "She has a tremendous presence and popularity in this sport and is an outstanding driver. Melanie did an excellent job for us in 2000 and I'm delighted to have her return to our team.

"I have been working all season trying to get a second Top Fuel car out there. So, when the opportunity with Torco Gear presented itself and with Melanie being available to drive, there was no question that this was the right decision to make."

Schumacher reportedly had talked with Las Vegas resident Rod Fuller about driving the Torco Gear dragster before settling on Troxel. Schumacher last week hired Fuller's crew chief, Richard Hogan, to tune the team's second dragster.

Troxel has not piloted a Top Fuel dragster since the national event at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., in the summer of 2003. She said she plans to use the remaining 11 races to prepare for a run at the 2006 Top Fuel championship.

"Obviously we won't be in the points chase this year," Troxel said, "but I think we have a great opportunity to go out and get in a lot of passes, gain a lot of information, and get a lot of good experience for me.

"At the same time, we're laying the groundwork for this team to be competitive next year and be in the points chase."

BRIEFLY: The NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series begins its traditional "Western Swing" next weekend with three national events on three consecutive weekends. The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals near Denver kicks off the swing and will be followed by races at Pacific Raceways near Seattle and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. ... Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) is the most recent driver to sweep the "Western Swing;" he won all three stops last season. ... Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), John Force (Funny Car), Anderson (Pro Stock) and GT Tonglet (Pro Stock Bike) lead their respective pro categories after 12 of 23 races national events. ...

"Midnight Mayhem" for street-legal cars and motorcycles returns to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday night from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $10 for racers and $5 for spectators.