A speed of her own

MORRISON, Colo. – No matter where she races, Melanie Troxel gets the same question: “What do you think of Danica Patrick?” “It’s natural for people to get caught up in the female thing,” said Troxel, a Top Fuel drag racer. “It’s always been an interesting story.”
Troxel realizes the comparisons with Patrick are inevitable. Both are articulate, charismatic, media savvy and drive fast cars with powerful engines.
But the similarities end there.
Whereas Patrick has yet to win on the IRL scene, Troxel is second in the POWERade points race. She’s won two races this season and can boast of being the fastest female racer in the world with a top speed of 331.04 mph.
And while the 24-year-old Patrick struggles to gain full acceptance in her racing circles, Troxel at 33 already has earned approval. That she’s a woman is not that big a deal.
Drag racers such as Shirley Muldowney paved the way for Troxel. Muldowney won the Top Fuel category in 1982, the last time a woman has won.
Troxel is trying to update that mark. After losing in the elimination round of the Mopar Mile-High Nationals last Sunday, Troxel lost her hold on the points lead to Doug Kalitta. She had led through the first 12 events of the season.
Don Schumacher – owner of the Don Schumacher Racing team that sponsors the car – hired Troxel not for her gender but her skill. Troxel was out of racing for nearly two years before Schumacher came calling midway through last season. Troxel also raced part-time with Schumacher in 2000.
“I hate to see a talented racer sitting on the side,” Schumacher said. “It’s always going to be there, but she isn’t just a female figure.”
Patrick’s popularity, in fact, has become a double-edged sword for Troxel.
“It’s brought new attention to women in motor sports and that’s not a bad thing,” said Troxel, who attended the ESPY awards last week after being nominated for best driver and best female athlete. “But we’ve got to keep reminding people that we’re not just a novelty story and that we’re out here winning races.”
Troxel has been tinkering with cars since she was 8. In high school, Troxel built an engine from scratch. She even used the engine to win her first race at 16.
She owes that interest to her father, Mike Troxel, a Top Alcohol Dragster world champion in the late ‘80s. He died of cancer in 2000. To honor his memory, she races under his old number, 507.
“The majority of the reason I’m involved in the sport was watching him race,” she said.
The father did see his daughter race Top Fuel before he died. Melanie Troxel finished second at O’Reilly Fall Nationals in Dallas in 2000.
“I’m sure he’s up there watching me race right now,” Troxel said. “I still think about him every day.”