Morrison – The National Hot Rod Association’s two most popular women produced decidedly different results Saturday at Bandimere Speedway.
Denver native Melanie Troxel made it an exuberant homecoming at the 28th Mopar Mile-High Nationals. Despite shutting her top-fuel dragster off in Saturday’s two qualifying sessions, Troxel’s Friday night qualifying run of 4.61 seconds at 322.42 mph held up as the quickest and fastest pass of the year at Bandimere, giving the 34-year-old her first top-fuel pole of the season and third of her career.
Ashley Force, the funny-car rookie, reality-show star and daughter of legendary driver John Force, failed to qualify for the 16-car field. Midway through the fourth and final qualifying session, she had a 5.02-second run to improve from 17th to 13th. However, she was soon bumped out and ended 18th among 19 cars, absorbing her second consecutive DNQ after qualifying for the first 10 races of her career.
Troxel, meanwhile, earned eight bonus points for her pole along with fellow No. 1 qualifiers Robert Hight (funny car), Allen Johnson (pro stock) and Matt Smith (pro stock motorcycle).
“Growing up here, and at my hometown track, it’s definitely great to come back here and run good, but to get the first No. 1 qualifier of the year, I couldn’t think of a better race to turn things around,” said Troxel, who is eighth in the top-fuel standings.
She is not concerned about her aborted passes on Saturday.
“We definitely had a mechanical problem on this last pass (and) the guys still have sorted out what it was,” she said. “But we’re not that disappointed with that, because it’s better to get the mechanical issues out of the way.
“We made two good passes on Friday so we feel pretty confident on having a handle on the car.”
Footnotes
Hight, the son-in-law of John Force and one of Force’s three funny-car drivers, tied Jack Beckman for funny car’s quickest qualifying pass of 4.862 seconds. Hight earned the No. 1 position on a tiebreaker – top speed (314.02 to 313.88). … Defending event top-fuel champion J.R. Todd qualified No. 4. Just after a 95-minute rain delay, Todd ripped down the track in 4.61 seconds at 312.67 mph. … Johnson’s pro-stock pole was his first of the season. He dedicated his success at Bandimere to his father, Roy, the team’s engine builder who suffered a heart attack earlier this season at a race in Phoenix. “It’s just a dream come true for us, and for him especially,” Johnson said. “He’s worked his whole life to try to build good engines and do good. The deal in Phoenix with his heart and everything we went through, it’s just real special for him.” … Smith’s motorcycle pole was his fourth of the season and eighth of his career. He opens today against No. 16 qualifier Mike Berry of Littleton. … Lakewood’s V Gaines, who is eighth in the pro-stock standings, missed the cut for the first time this season.
Mile-High Nationals schedule
TODAY
9 a.m. – Gates open
11 a.m. – Pre-race ceremonies
Noon – Final eliminations
TV: Tape delay, 7 p.m., ESPN2
RESULTS at Bandimere Speedway, Morrison
TOP FUEL
1. Melanie Troxel, 4.610 seconds, 322.42 mph., vs. 16. Mike Strasburg, 4.886, 309.91. 2. David Grubnic, 4.612, 327.82, vs. 15. Cory McClenathan, 4.819, 308.43. 3. Rod Fuller, 4.615, 319.75, vs. 14. Morgan Lucas, 4.797, 311.56. 4. J.R. Todd, 4.617, 312.57, vs. 13. Doug Herbert, 4.765, 300.33. 5. Tony Schumacher, 4.630, 322.96, vs. 12. Clay Millican, 4.714, 298.73. 6. Brandon Bernstein, 4.646, 318.84, vs. 11. Hillary Will, 4.681, 316.90. 7. Doug Kalitta, 4.650, 320.05, vs. 10. Larry Dixon, 4.670, 308.99. 8. Bob Vandergriff, 4.659, 311.49, vs. 9. Whit Bazemore, 4.662, 318.99.
FUNNY CAR
1. Robert Hight, Ford Mustang, 4.862, 314.02, vs. 16. Gary Densham, Chevy Impala, 5.020, 289.63. 2. Jack Beckman, Dodge Charger, 4.862, 313.88, vs. 15. Tommy Johnson Jr., Impala, 5.013, 296.24. 3. Mike Ashley, Charger, 4.889, 311.34, vs. 14. Tony Pedregon, Impala, 4.948, 308.28. 4. Jerry Toliver, Toyota Solara, 4.893, 319.60, vs. 13. Jim Head, Solara, 4.946, 299.60. 5. Del Worsham, Impala, 4.893, 318.09, vs. 12. Ron Capps, Charger, 4.934, 315.27. 6. John Force, Mustang, 4.895, 317.12, vs. 11. Gary Scelzi, Charger, 4.932, 311.99. 7. Kenny Bernstein, Charger, 4.916, 309.20, vs. 10. Jeff Arend, Impala, 4.925, 306.05. 8. Tony Bartone, Chevy Monte Carlo, 4.922, 300.26, vs. 9. Scott Kalitta, Solara, 4.924, 311.49.
PRO STOCK
1. Allen Johnson, Dodge Stratus, 7.032, 195.73, vs. 16. Greg Stanfield, Pontiac GTO, 7.109, 193.63. 2. Richie Stevens, Stratus, 7.035, 195.34, vs. 15. Erica Enders, Stratus, 7.109, 194.27. 3. Kenny Koretsky, Chevy Cobalt, 7.047, 195.03, vs. 14. Max Naylor, Stratus, 7.096, 194.52. 4. Kurt Johnson, Cobalt, 7.053, 195.59, vs. 13. Jim Yates, GTO, 7.092, 194.27. 5. Dave Connolly, Cobalt, 7.054, 195.28, vs. 12. Warren Johnson, GTO, 7.091, 194.21. 6. Jeg Coughlin, Cobalt, 7.058, 195.59, vs. 11. Larry Morgan, Stratus, 7.077, 195.00. 7. Ron Krisher, Cobalt, 7.058, 194.74, vs. 10. Jason Line, GTO, 7.076, 195.73. 8. Justin Humphreys, GTO, 7.068, 194.72, vs. 9. Greg Anderson, GTO, 7.075, 194.94.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE
1. Matt Smith, Buell, 7.347, 180.24, vs. 16. Mike Berry, Suzuki, 7.487, 177.77. 2. Andrew Hines, Harley-Davidson, 7.382, 180.55, vs. 15. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.482, 179.30. 3. Michael Phillips, Suzuki, 7.393, 182.30, vs. 14. Antron Brown, Suzuki, 7.470, 180.62. 4. Chip Ellis, Buell, 7.394, 179.04, vs. 13. Hector Arana, Buell, 7.450, 177.70. 5. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 7.397, 181.15, vs. 12. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 7.445, 177.67. 6. Matt Guidera, Buell, 7.402, 178.47, vs. 11. Craig Treble, Suzuki, 7.425, 182.01. 7. Angelle Sampey, Suzuki, 7.403, 179.42, vs. 10. Chris Rivas, Buell, 7.417, 178.35. 8. Eddie Krawiec, Harley-Davidson, 7.405, 182.28, vs. 9. Peggy Llewellyn, Buell, 7.416, 177.39.
