Thursday, March 17, 2005 | 10:17 a.m.
Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. His motor sports notebook appears Friday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4089.
After racing a limited schedule during the past three seasons, Top Fuel driver Melanie Troxel has a new team. Now all she needs is a sponsor.
Don Prudhomme announced Sunday night he has signed a development contract with Troxel and will seek sponsorship to field Troxel in the NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series. It is believed to be the first time an NHRA team owner has signed such an agreement with a driver before having sponsorship in place.
"It's no secret that we are very high on Melanie's talent as a driver and we are very excited about having her as part of our team," Prudhomme said. "She has all the characteristics needed to be successful on the track, as well as the unique qualities required to play an integral role in a sponsor's marketing efforts."
Troxel, a two-time national-event winner in the Top Alcohol Dragster class before moving up to Top Fuel, will be a teammate to two-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon once sponsorship is secured. Troxel is married to Tommy Johnson Jr., who drives the Skoal Racing Funny Car for Prudhomme.
Troxel, 32, has not driven a Top Fuel dragster since the 2003 season. She set her personal-best speed (326.08 mph) and elapsed time (4.576) during her rookie season in 2000, when she advanced to her first career final round at the Texas Motorplex.
Prudhomme said Troxel would be a perfect fit for a sponsor looking to get into motor sports.
"In today's world, drivers and teams are asked to assist sponsors achieve specific goals by participating in multi-tiered programs such as lead generation, data collection and product sampling, that can all produce tangible results," Prudhomme said.
"Not only has Melanie shown that she has what it takes behind the wheel, but I feel that she is the ideal candidate to serve as a spokesperson for a company that is looking at motor sports sponsorship as part of its marketing strategy. She is very articulate, attractive and savvy enough to learn about a company's goals and send that message effectively."
ON THE MOVE: After a disappointing mechanical failure prior to the first round of eliminations at the season opener at Pomona, Ron Capps rebounded by advancing to the final round at Firebird International Raceway and is fourth in NHRA Funny Car points going into this weekend's Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.
Although he lost to John Force in the finale at Firebird, Capps said the weekend proved to be a huge confidence booster for his team. Capps joined Don Schumacher Racing during the winter -- and was reunited with crew chief Ed "Ace" McCulloch -- after spending eight seasons with Don Prudhomme Snake Racing.
"We sat down after Pomona and we talked about bouncing back and showing what this team can really do," Capps said. "And we were able to prove that in Phoenix, even though we came up a little bit short. Ace and (co-crew chief) Dan Olson gave me a lot of confidence in Phoenix.
"It was huge for me in Phoenix to go some rounds. We talked about getting back up in the points and just being in the mix and we are now."
FOUR TO GO: Gary Scelzi, Capps' teammate, has won at 17 of the 21 drag strips on the NHRA schedule, but he still is looking for his first victory at Gainesville Raceway.
Scelzi, 44, has 29 national-event victories in Top Fuel and Funny Car and said he would like to retire having won a race at every quarter-mile on the circuit.
"Gainesville is one of only four race tracks that I've never won at, and winning here in Gainesville would mean a lot,' Scelzi said. "You only get so many attempts in a lifetime, and my attempts are getting fewer as my career progresses."
Scelzi checked off The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on that list last October when he defeated John Force in the Funny Car final.
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