By Chris Willson - Melanie Troxel is in an unfamiliar position as she watches the NHRA drag races from the sidelines. Just one year ago she was one of the busiest racers, often competing in both the Funny Car and Pro Mod class on raceday. But after being released by R2B2 Racing, Melanie has been forced to search for new sponsors, a new car and a new team. As one of the most likeable drivers on tour, it came as a surprise to many when her release from R2B2 Racing was announced following the 2011 season. But for Melanie, it was something that had been expected for some time. “The situation boiled down to In-N-Out Burger not coming back as a primary sponsor” Troxel explained. “My contract was somewhat tied to that sponsorship, and when we knew that they weren’t coming back in 2012, it put the entire operation up in the air. Long term I definitely didn’t see this happening. But in 2011, In-N-Out was debating some decisions that we were aware of over the course of several months, so we did have an idea of what direction they were going in. “What some people don’t know is that I did actually work with Roger Burgess’ team throughout the spring to get sponsorship on that car, but nothing ever came of it.” As a ‘free agent,’ Troxel noted that she is as busy, if not busier, now than she was with her jam-packed racing schedule last year. She even put all her belongings in storage and has been traveling all of 2012 in a motorhome so that when a race deal does come along, moving won’t be a hassle. “I never want to miss out on a racing opportunity, so I tend to shy away from committing to other things” stated Troxel. “I did actually vacation down in Puerto Rico with the girls during pre-season testing, but even then I waited until about the last minute to make the plans.” Troxel has been traveling to a lot of the races this season, and at the races her time is split between meeting sponsors, talking to fans and announcing in the tower with Bob Frey. Her hard work appears to be paying off, as she revealed that she is very close to getting back on the track later this summer. “Over the past few months I’ve started to work with Erica Enders sponsor GK Motorsports, and the team owner Gaston Kearby. Gaston has indicated that he wants to put a Top Fuel Dragster out on the track later this year, likely for the last 5-7 races of the 2012 season. “So both of us have been talking with our connections in the sport trying to get appropriate sponsorship on the car, and right now everything is looking promising. We’ve got a lot of interest from organizations who want to partner with us on a short term basis for the rest of the year.” Troxel also hinted at a possible alliance with another race team. “Right now we are planning on partnering with another race team, who I can’t reveal yet, but we are very confident that we can come right out and be a competitive race team.” Although Melanie’s racing career may be on hold right now, it is clear that her positive and optimistic attitude have allowed her to stay relevant in the racing world. Already holding an up to date Top Fuel Dragster license, it shouldn’t be long before we see Melanie Troxel back on the racetrack very soon.
