Troxel makes NHRA history

Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals
Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.
Today's finals air at 4 p.m. (taped) on ESPN2
Funny Car: Melanie Troxel became the first female driver to top Funny Car qualifying in NHRA history Saturday night, covering a quarter-mile in 4.752 seconds at 327.27 mph in the ProCare Rx Dodge Charger. High temperatures and humidity produced a string of strong thunderstorms and at least one powerful tornado near the raceway, delaying the final round of qualifying. “Honestly, I'd never run a .70 before, so I wasn't really anticipating that we were going to take that No. 1 spot away," Troxel said. "But I knew the second I hit the throttle the car was on a seriously good run, and it was quite a handful out there. At the same time that I'm trying to wrestle it and keep it in the center of my lane, I see Tony (Pedregon) in the other lane going up in a ball of flames. It was a pretty wild ride.” Pedregon's Q Horsepower Chevy Impala burst into flames at the 1,000-foot mark during the final qualifying session, and the body was torn off while slowing against the retaining wall. He was not injured and ended up 10th.
Top Fuel: Five-time and defending POWERade Series world champion Tony Schumacher used his Friday night performance of 4.513 at 331.69 to grab the No. 1 spot heading into today's race, electing not to run in the final qualifying round after the strong storms moved through the area.
Pro Stock: Jeg Coughlin usurped Friday's top performer, Warren Johnson, to earn his first No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 13th of his career. “The conditions were great,” Coughlin said. “The clouds came in, which makes the track a little bit tighter, where the crew chiefs can get out there a little bit more.”
Pro Stock Motorcycle: Chris Rivas earned his first career No. 1 with a 7.027 at 187.29 on his G-Squared/S&S Racing Buell.

-- The Associated Press