Troxel makes presence felt

She is married to funny car driver Tommy Johnson Jr., and when she made the off-season transition from top fuel dragsters to the class in which her husband competes, much was made of Melanie Troxel’s marriage.

The built-in angle was all about four years of wedded bliss, or whether someone would end up sleeping on the couch if the two competed against each other.

No one was writing about Troxel’s being a competent funny car driver in the National Hot Rod Assn.’s Powerade Drag Racing Series, though she had 86 races and four victories in top fuel.

But on Saturday in the 48th Carquest Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Pomona Raceway, Troxel was No. 1 through three rounds of qualifying and finished No. 3 after the fourth round. She enters final eliminations slotted behind Tim Wilkerson (325.22 mph) and Jerry Toliver (320.51 mph). Both clocked 4.790 seconds, but Wilkerson is No. 1 based on speed.

Another rookie driver in his class emerged No. 1 also. Antron Brown, a 16-time winner in Pro Stock Motorcycle making his top fuel debut, had his 4.495-second, 330.07-mph run from Friday withstand an early-evening assault from two-time champion Larry Dixon, who clocked 4.497. Four-time defending champion Tony Schumacher is third.

Most impressive about Dixon’s time was that it came in what was considered the inferior right lane.

But Troxel is the one who opened eyes Saturday. Replacing owner Mike Ashley on a team that qualified for the Countdown to the Championship last season, Troxel’s Dodge Charger clocked 4.810 seconds. At 327.90 mph, hers was the fastest speed of the weekend.

When it came to pure speed, it was Ladies’ Day. Fifth-place qualifier Hillary Will’s 334.65-mph run was the fastest in the top fuel field.

“National Girls and Women in Sports Day was Friday, so it would be great for both of us to win for all the women out there who compete,” Will said.

When it comes to gender competition, it’s tough to beat Troxel’s story. She is married to Johnson, who had raced seven complete seasons for Don Prudhomme. In his first race for owner Kenny Bernstein, he was 19th among 23 drivers and failed in his bid to be one of the top 16 qualifiers who will start today. His time of 4.917 seconds was short of Gary Densham’s 4.866.

“It’s not the story we want to be out there talking about,” Troxel said. “This is what we knew would be tough about me switching over to funny car. It would have been tough if I was still in dragster and Tommy hadn’t qualified. He still would have been frustrated. It kind of complicates matters a little bit.

“We’re all grouchy when we don’t make the field, and he’s no exception. He’s a serious competitor, very competitive personality.”

Troxel said she lacked confidence going into the weekend after failing to make a complete full-power pass in 15 test runs. She gave a lot of credit to her husband.

“What’s funny is he probably helped me more in times when he didn’t even know he was,” Troxel said. “Just hearing him talk about driving the cars over the years has put a lot of information in my head.

“But no matter how much somebody tells you, I think you have to experience it for yourself.”

martin.henderson@latimes.com