Results tagged “Funny Car” from Haddock in the Paddock

Melanie Troxel had a chance to become the first woman to be the top-seeded driver in NHRA Funny Car eliminations, but ended up third at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.
Troxel, who is in her first year of Funny Car competition after years in the Top Fuel division, had the fastest run in the first two days of qualifying.
But Tim Wilkerson and Jerry Toliver had better runs Saturday and bumped Troxel down to third.
Troxel will face Bob Tasca III in the first round of eliminations. She said she is still trying to get comfortable in the Funny Car after her time in Top Fuel dragsters.
"When you get in the car, your instincts take over," Troxel said. "Ten years of driving dragsters, it's hard to break those habits. Every pass, I'm breaking habits and hopefully working on new ones."
There were 23 cars qualifying for 16 spots in the elimination rounds. Troxel's husband, Tommy Johnson, was not among the top-16 drivers and did not qualify for the finals.
"I'm heartbroken for Tommy," Troxel said. "That's incredibly frustrating as a driver. People make a big deal about when we line up to race each other in the final round for the first time, well that's great. That's a good day for everybody.
"It's times like this when one of us is doing well and the other one isn't, that it kind of puts a bunch of salt in the wound."