Women Win in Funny Car

[punishum]

For the second time in less than one month another woman won in the prestigious Funny Car class in the NHRA. The rain delayed Thunder Valley nats saw in the final round Mike Neff of Team Force who has finally hit his stride and is charging hard against Melanie Troxel who hasn't won a single round all season long. Melanie who just like Neff at the previous race not only won their first round but eventually the event. With crews fighting the weather and shortened turn around times it was nerve wracking for all involved. in the finals when both cars were rolling into the staging beams after they backed up from their burnouts crew chief John Medlen of Team Force and crew could not get the body lifted up to set the pneumatic timers and to release the second mag for the run. Neff is unaware of the problem and realizes he needs to stage. As the lights dropped Neff had the advantage off the starting line and about 150 feet out Melanie experienced some tire shake and back pedaled. The tight track as the temperatures were very cool allowed her to do that. At about 400 feet as the timers on Neff's car were not activated no fuel was getting into the motor and you could see the green glow from the headers signaling a lean condition as magnesium and aluminum parts were eating itself up. Then the blower blew and the oil ignited and violently blew all the bursts panels even on the body. At that point Melanie sailed on to the win with a mediocre pass of 5.06. A disapopinted Mike Neff congratulated the winner An elated Melanie Troxel as she became the first woman to win in both nitro Top Fuel and Funny Cars. Melanie became the 82nd different winner in Funny Cars in 57 years and only the second woman to do so besides Ashley Force. With eight races completed Team Force has had a car in every final round this season except for the Gatornationals. Mike Neff has been in 2 back to back finals, Ashley with 3 finals and a win and Robert Hight has 2 finals and a win at Pomona.


Next stop for the NHRA tour is in two weeks in Kansas for the O'Reilly Summer Nats.

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