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Troxel Hits High Gear With WSF10/19/2006By Melissa Murphy, Associated Press: NEW YORK -- Drag racer Melanie Troxel, the world's fastest female driver at 331 mph, got an early start hanging around the race track. Her father, the late Mike Troxel, was a Top Alcohol dragster world champion in the late 1980s. "There are pictures of me in my footy pajamas in the winner's circle, pictures with my dad when he'd get done at midnight," Troxel said. These days, Troxel needs little more than four seconds to reach her top speed. On Monday, she slowed down enough to accept the Women's Sports Foundation's individual sportswoman of the year award. Pro beach volleyball players Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh were selected in the team category. Troxel is the first motorsports athlete to win the award, outpacing finalists Annika Sorenstam and Amelie Mauresmo. "I kind of thought I was a long shot," Troxel said. "For drag racing to be recognized with other mainstream sports, it's a little different for us. Even among other motorsports, we kind of feel like we're a separate entity." Tennis great Billie Jean King participated in a breakfast ahead of Monday night's annual gala. Sheryl Crow is to perform at the event featuring more than 100 athletes. The Women's Sports Foundation, founded by King, is marking its 32nd anniversary. The awards dinner raises more than $1 million annually for education and grant programs for girls and women in sports. |
