USA NHRA star Melanie Troxel to race at Santa Pod's Main Event

Europe cheered when US team owner Roger Burgess “borrowed” Michael Gullqvist to drive for him at NHRA’s Southern Nationals, with historic, winning results. Just two weekends later, Burgess will return the favour when he deploys a crack NHRA squad to challenge Europe’s finest Pro Mod racers at The Main Event. And Europe’s elite gentleman racers will really need to be on their mettle.

Things have moved swiftly and decisively, as they usually do with Mr. Burgess. The 1968 Chevrolet Camaro that Michael Gullqvist drove to a Gatornationals runner-up finish in March, with clockings of 5.827 seconds and 248.84mph, is being airfreighted to Santa Pod and subject to customs clearance will compete this week. Its driver at The Main Event will be blue-chip American superstar Melanie Troxel. An NHRA national event winner in Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Fuel Dragster and Funny Car who once topped 332mph in Top Fuel mode, Ms. Troxel began applying her driving talents to Pro Mod for Burgess’s R2B2 team last year. Just 14 drivers have won NHRA national events in both Top Fuel and Funny Car; Troxel is the only female among them.

In 2006, she was elected Sportswoman Of The Year by the USA’s Women’s Sports Foundation, joining past winners such as Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and golf’s Annika Sörenstam, and was nominated as both Driver and Female Athlete Of The Year in ESPN’s ESPY Awards.

Heading the crew will be ace Canadian tuner and ex-Pro Mod driver Al Billes, supercharger king Darren Mayer and team manager Travis Rice.

Pro Mod at The Main Event just got seriously serious.

The FIA Main Event - 28th to 31st May 2010
FIA European Pro Modified Championship – Round 1
MSA British Drag Racing Championship – Round 2

Full Main Event details at santapod.com.