Melanie Troxel said in an interview with Competition Plus Thursday she will not be driving in any capacity for Roger Burgess’ R2B2Racing team in 2012.

“As a driver here for the team (R2B2 Racing) I was told the Funny Car operation is going to be shutdown as of Friday (Jan. 27) and everything will be sold,” Troxel said. “From a driver standpoint, that is what I was told. I’m continuing to look for other deals which I had been doing for the last several months. I was working on possible deals to try to bring to this team (R2B2 Racing) and things to do in other places and I’m going to continue to work on that stuff. That is not to say that I wouldn’t love the opportunity if we were able to put something together and come back here and work for Roger, but at this point we do not have any plans to work together this year.”

Troxel has raced the last four seasons for R2B2 Racing, driving a nitro Funny Car off and on, and a Pro Mod car. Troxel claimed her lone career NHRA nitro Funny Car national event win with the team when she beat Mike Neff in the final round at Bristol, Tenn., in 2008.

“I was hired on as the Funny Car driver, and the Pro Mod I just kind of did that because it was something fun to do and Roger (Burgess) gave me the opportunity, which I very grateful for,” Troxel said. “But, that wasn’t really ever part of my original agreement and it wasn’t something we ever really discussed for this year.”

Melanie Troxel said in an interview with Competition Plus Thursday she will not be driving in any capacity for Roger Burgess’ R2B2Racing team in 2012.

“As a driver here for the team (R2B2 Racing) I was told the Funny Car operation is going to be shutdown as of Friday (Jan. 27) and everything will be sold,” Troxel said. “From a driver standpoint, that is what I was told. I’m continuing to look for other deals which I had been doing for the last several months. I was working on possible deals to try to bring to this team (R2B2 Racing) and things to do in other places and I’m going to continue to work on that stuff. That is not to say that I wouldn’t love the opportunity if we were able to put something together and come back here and work for Roger, but at this point we do not have any plans to work together this year.”

Troxel has raced the last four seasons for R2B2 Racing, driving a nitro Funny Car off and on, and a Pro Mod car. Troxel claimed her lone career NHRA nitro Funny Car national event win with the team when she beat Mike Neff in the final round at Bristol, Tenn., in 2008.

“I was hired on as the Funny Car driver, and the Pro Mod I just kind of did that because it was something fun to do and Roger (Burgess) gave me the opportunity, which I very grateful for,” Troxel said. “But, that wasn’t really ever part of my original agreement and it wasn’t something we ever really discussed for this year.”  

The R2B2 Racing team is expected to continue racing in the Pro Mod ranks this season, but it is unknown in what capacity or who the driver or drivers will be.

“Basically what I believe it boiled down to here (at R2B2Racing) was that there was no sponsorship to run the Funny Car,” Troxel said. “That’s the way it was expressed to me is that it boiled down to lack of sponsorship and everybody who works on the Funny Car is no longer working here (R2B2Racing) as of Friday (Jan. 27).”

The timing of the R2B2Racing team to close its Funny Car operation surprised Troxel somewhat. The NHRA national event season begins Feb. 9-12 at the Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

“We knew at the end of last season that the Funny Car would not run the full season (in 2012) without sponsorship coming in,” Troxel said. “We were working hard trying to bring in sponsorship and trying to get out there by Pomona. Everybody knew that the car (the Funny Car) was not going to Pomona unless we put a major sponsor together. It is not like a shock to everybody that we are not going to Pomona, but I do not think anybody really saw this specifically coming, but at the same time we knew that sponsorship was a big issue.”
 
Last season, Troxel competed in a full season in nitro Funny Car with In-N-Out Burger as her car’s primary sponsor. Troxel finished 15th in the point standings.

“We weren’t fully funded last year with In-N-Out Burger, that only covered a part of the season yet we ran all of the events,” Troxel said. “I understand the financial side of it. It is a lot of money to run these cars and I’m very grateful that Roger (Burgess) has put forth a lot of his own money and a lot of effort over the past four years that I have driven for him. I can totally understand making a financial decision like this. I’m grateful for the opportunity that he has given me over the past four years. We leave in a very good working relationship with Roger, no hurt feelings or anything. I would love the opportunity to come back and work for him in the future. In this economy it becomes really tough to find sponsors and keep cars out there right now.”    

Troxel remains realistic about her search for a new ride. Troxel competed in Top Fuel from 2000-2007, winning four total nationals events. Her best season was in 2006 when she finished fourth in the point standings, thanks to winning two races and appearing in nine final rounds.

“I have some deals moving along, but never quite at the pace that we racers want them to work on,” Troxel said. “I do not have anything to be back out on the track at Pomona at this point, but I’m still working on some stuff. I’m completely open to driving just about anything, but specifically the opportunities that seem to be available right now are in Top Fuel dragsters, so that is kind of what I’m looking at, but I’m not against driving a Funny Car or a Pro Mod. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of hired drivers in the Pro Mod classes, so I’m not sure what kind of opportunities I will find there in the future. I’m keeping all my options open trying to put something together. I’m thinking I will probably be at the Winternationals as a fan, staying out there and staying in the middle of everything. Drivers hate to go to races and have to stand around and not do anything, but I know from a career perspective it is the right thing to do.”