McPhillips Racing
Anthony Troyer, Fendt McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster, Wins at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
Brainerd, MN – The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals marked Troyer’s second Top Alcohol Dragster victory. His first win came earlier this season at 
the 65th NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California.
“This weekend wasn’t perfect, but there was a lot of luck and great teamwork that got us into the Winner’s Circle. Without my team, Fendt, Troyer Brothers, and all the support of my family and friends, I couldn’t have done this. I can’t wait for Indy. We’ll be ready and aiming for success,” explained Troyer
Rich McPhillips Sr., Team Owner, offered his thoughts. “The Fendt team had a great weekend in Brainerd. I’m proud of how Anthony wheeled the car, earning holeshot wins in the Semifinals and Finals. Thank you to Troyer Brothers Florida Inc., NGK Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil, ARP, Boninfante Friction, VP Racing Fuels, and all of our partners for their continued support. This win is in memory of Chris Raschke from ARP. He was a great land speed racer, partner and friend that will be missed. We’re looking forward to heading to Indianapolis for the U.S. Nationals.” Continue reading
McPhillips Racing Duo Rich Sr. and Rich Jr. Named to National Dragster’s Annual ‘Movers, Shakers, and Deal Makers’ List
Rich McPhillips Sr. and Rich McPhillips Jr. Selected for the National Dragster’s Annual List of 18 Individuals Whose Impact Is Helping to Redefine the Future of NHRA Drag Racing
BROWNSBURG, IN – Rich McPhillips Sr. and Rich McPhillips Jr. from McPhillips Racing have been named to the National Dragster’s 2025 
‘Movers, Shakers, and Deal Makers’ List. The magazine’s third annual list highlights 18 individuals that are recognized for their work behind-the-scenes in the National Hod Rod Association (NHRA).
Hailing from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Rich McPhillips Sr. formed McPhillips Racing in 1969. Since then, the team has earned nearly 100 wins and nine regional/divisional championships during their 56 years in competition (Rich McPhillips Sr. – 3, Troy Coughlin Jr. – 2, Matt Cummings – 2, Mike Coughlin – 1, Tony Stewart – 1).
Today’s drag racing landscape is about more than just reaction times and win lights; it’s a dynamic blend of strategy, business acumen, innovation, and passion. Success is now just as dependent on partnerships, planning, and promotion as it is on raw horsepower.
As the sport’s audience grows at a record pace, some of the biggest influencers in drag racing aren’t found behind the wheel. So who are the visionaries guiding the sport into its next era? Read the full story below on Rich Sr. and Rich Jr., written by Phil Burgess for National Dragster. Continue reading
STRONG SHOWING FOR MELANIE JOHNSON & MCPHILLIPS RACING AT LAS VEGAS 4-WIDE NATIONALS
LAS VEGAS — Melanie Johnson and the McPhillips Racing team made a bold statement at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las 
Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend, April 11–13. In her debut at the unique 4-Wide format, Johnson delivered a performance that showcased both her growth as a driver and the strength of the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster program.
Johnson started the weekend strong, racing to the top of the qualifying charts on Friday with back-to-back low E.T. and top speed runs of 5.260 seconds at 273.00 mph and 5.270 at 275.00 mph, respectively. While her first run was later disqualified due to a marginally over-limit fuel mixture (0.2% above the 95% threshold), Johnson and the McPhillips team responded immediately with a nearly identical performance in the next session to reclaim the provisional number one spot.
Melanie Johnson raced to the second round of the Las Vegas 4-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, photo courtesy of Melanie Johnson
On Saturday, Johnson slowed in the third qualifying session to a 5.369 at 265.43 mph but posted a solid 5.285 at 271.95 mph in the final qualifying session to secure the No. 3 qualifying position heading into eliminations. Continue reading
Anthony Troyer, Fendt McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster Win Winternationals
Pomona, CA – The 65th NHRA Winternationals marked Troyer’s first Top Alcohol victory. It was his second national start in the Lucas Oil 
Drag Racing Series. His previous start came at the 56th NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. Prior to competing in the Top Alcohol Dragster class, Troyer raced in the NHRA’s Factory Stock Showdown.
Troyer had a .049 RT (reaction time) in Round 1, a .022 RT in Round 2, a .010 RT in the Semifinals and a .050 RT in the Finals, besting his opponent in three of the four rounds.
McPhillips Racing will visit Fendt’s parent company, AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) in Duluth, Georgia ahead of the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte, North Carolina. AGCO is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology. AGCO delivers customer value through its differentiated brand portfolio including core brands like Fendt®, GSI®, Massey Ferguson®, Precision Planting® and Valtra®. Powered by Fuse® smart farming solutions, AGCO’s full line of equipment and services help farmers sustainably feed our world. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, USA, AGCO had net sales of approximately $11.7 billion in 2024. For more information, visit www.AGCOcorp.com. Continue reading
Anthony Troyer Joins McPhillips Racing For 2025 NHRA Season With Support From Fendt
Third-Generation Potato Farmer To Pilot The Team’s Second Top Alcohol Dragster In The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
BROWNSBURG, IN – McPhillips Racing has announced that Anthony Troyer will pilot their second Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) during the 
2025 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season. Troyer is slated to participate in seven events, with the possibility of adding more races throughout the season.
Hailing from Ft. Myers, Florida, Troyer began racing in 2020 behind the wheel of a Factory Stock Showdown COPO Camaro, powered by Ray Barton Racing Engines. Together, they achieved much success. In 2022, Troyer advanced to the final round at the Gatornationals and finished runner-up. He completed the 2022 season in the Top 10 in points out of 38 competitors in his class. In 2023, Troyer made the switch to Stanfield Racing Engines. He most recently earned a sixth-place finish in the Factory Stock Showdown championship standings in 2024.
Troyer is new to the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks, having recently completed his license with McPhillips Racing in Bradenton, Florida. While Troyer is the first drag racer in his family, he will be keeping their history alive on the racetrack with sponsorship from Fendt. Troyer is a third-generation potato farmer that utilizes Fendt equipment on their farms in Florida and Pennsylvania. Troyer Brothers began in the 1940s when two brothers, Vernon and Clayton Troyer, traveled from Nebraska after the rough years of The Dust Bowl to Ohio. A few years later, they eventually settled in Pennsylvania in search of a better life and more opportunities. Today, Troyer Brothers is proud to bring non-GMO-certified products to your family’s table. Continue reading
McPhillips Racing Signs Melanie Johnson For 2025 NHRA Season
Third-Generation Racer To Pilot Top Alcohol Dragster In The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
BROWNSBURG, IN – McPhillips Racing has announced that Melanie Johnson will pilot their Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) during the 2025 
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season. Johnson will claim the North Central Region for points.
Melanie Johnson is a third-generation racer and the daughter of 13-time Top Fuel champion tuner Alan Johnson. She made her debut in Top Alcohol driving for McPhillips Racing during the 2024 fall regional event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After competing in Super Comp, Johnson earned her Top Alcohol license at Brainerd International Raceway last August. During testing, she completed her quickest pass thus far in the Alcohol Dragster, with a run of 5.289-seconds. Her fastest speed is 274.11 mph during qualifying at the Las Vegas regional event. Johnson will pilot the famed “Green Machine” chassis, which has collected numerous victories in the 16 years McPhillips Racing has entered the car in competition. She will have support from Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE) for the 2025 campaign and will be announcing additional partnerships soon. Johnson’s goal is to become a Top Alcohol Dragster World Champion, following in the footsteps of her father and her late uncle, Blaine Johnson, who together won four consecutive TAD titles from 1991 to 1994. Continue reading
Tony Stewart, McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster, Clinch NHRA Division 3 TAD Title
St. Louis -By advancing to the Finals at the NHRA North Central Division race at St. Louis and defeating Gary Pritchett, Stewart clinched his 
championship title in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 3. Coming into St. Louis, Stewart was 21 points behind Pritchett, so if the two met in the Finals, Stewart had to earn the win to claim the title.
This marks Stewart’s first divisional championship in the Top Alcohol Dragster class in two years of competition. He finished second in both the NHRA North Central Division and World Championship in 2023.
Stewart earned low ET (elapsed time) during each round of eliminations on Sunday.
Stewart had a .013 RT (reaction time) in Round 1, a .020 RT in Round 2 and a .023 RT in the Finals, besting his opponent in each round.
Tony Stewart, Driver of the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster
“It was a pretty cool deal today. This is redemption from last year at this same event. When we were here a year ago, all we had to do was get through the first round and we would have clinched the division championship. Obviously, we were also racing for the world championship points as well. But, we had a problem. The car shook and the competitor we ran against had their best run of the season against us. It was a bitter pill to swallow. We were having to come from behind today. Even with two wins and a runner-up coming into today, if he (Gary Pritchett) made it to the finals, we had to beat him to win this thing. Continue reading
Mobil 1 McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster Wins at Maple Grove
Reading, PA – Stewart earned his fourth win in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. His three previous wins came at the NHRA Four-
Wide Nationals in Las Vegas, the North Central Division Race in Indianapolis, Indiana and the Northeast Division Race in Reading, Pennsylvania.
With the Pep Boys NHRA Nationals win at Maple Grove Raceway, Stewart took over the Top Alcohol Dragster championship standings.
In addition to a national championship, Stewart is also vying for a regional championship in the North Central Region. He’s leading the North Central Region championship point standings with a total of 309 points, 75 points ahead of teammate Mike Coughlin.
“I’ve raced a lot on Mondays in the past with NASCAR, IndyCar, or sprint car races. It’s different when you are drag racing. You get into a cadence and rhythm of the day because you have your adrenaline going up and down all day long. The rain that we had yesterday interrupts everything and gets you out of sync. This morning, you wake up, take a shower, and come warm up the car. Then you get dressed and run in the Final. It’s definitely not the way you want to have to go into Monday, but I’m glad we made it to Monday and I’m glad we pulled this off.
TONY STEWART AND MOBILE 1 MCPHILLIPS RACING T/A DRAGSTER WIN AT MAPLE GROVE
Reading, PA – Tony Stewart earned his third win in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series. His two previous wins came at the NHRA Four-
Wide Nationals in Las Vegas and the North Central Division Race in Indianapolis, Indiana.
With the Northeast Division Race win at Maple Grove Raceway, Stewart takes the lead in the Top Alcohol Dragster championship standings.
In addition to a national championship, Stewart is also vying for a regional championship in the North Central Region. He’s leading the North Central Region championship point standings by a healthy margin with a total of 266 points.
Tony Stewart, Driver of the Mobil 1 Top Alcohol Dragster, talks about Maple Grove. “The weekend was a polar opposite compared to what happened last race in Columbus (Ohio). The whole team made a conscious decision to try and be on the other side of it. Even though we made it to the Finals, we felt like we were a little too aggressive in Columbus and it bit us. We came into Reading with a plan to make sure we made a solid lap the first round of qualifying and we could press from there. We kept it in a good, safe zone.
My teammate, Matt Cummings, had the fastest car. He was just a little quicker than us all weekend. I was able to have really good reaction times both days and that was a big key to getting us here. You hate to win a race at the end against your teammate due to a mechanical failure, but unfortunately it happens. Being able to win the race and take over the national points lead is something we’re extremely proud and happy about. You don’t want to beat your teammate with misfortune like that, but it could happen to us too. I was really proud of the McPhillips Racing team. They did a great job of giving Matt and I two cars that were dominate all weekend. It came down to the two of us. We’re gelling with this team and now that we have the points lead, the plan is to keep it. We don’t want to let it get away from us. We’ll stick to the plan and stay the course. We’ll keep executing run after run.”
Qualifying:
Earned No. 3 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (5.331 ET at 272.67 mph)
Earned No. 2 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (5.272 ET at 270.86 mph)
Secured No. 2 qualifying position in Q3 on Friday (5.266 ET at 273.16 mph)
Elimination results:
Round 1: 5.294 ET at 273.72 mph, defeated Mike Hepp (5.519 ET at 258.52 mph)
Round 2: 5.276 ET at 272.39 mph, defeated Dan Page (5.739 ET at 216.13 mph)
Finals: 5.291 ET at 271.90 mph, defeated Matt Cummings (Didn’t cross the finish line due to a sheared fuel pump drive)
Currently leading the Top Alcohol Dragster national championship standings, 32 points ahead of Julie Nataas
STEWART AND MOBILE 1 MCPHILLIPS RACING TAKE GOLD IN VEGAS TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER
Las Vegas – Tony Stewart earned his first win in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in his fifth start. It marks the 43rd consecutive 
season he has earned a motorsports victory. Stewart has now won an event on all tracks at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway property:
He won his first USAC Silver Crown event at the Las Vegas dirt track on October 18, 1997. Captured his 1997 IndyCar championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Won in a USAC midget in 2002 at the Las Vegas Bullring pavement short-track also won in a sprint car in the same night. Won the 2010 Las Vegas Sprint Car Nationals at the Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Earned the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series event win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway oval track.
Stewart also earned a victory as team owner with Funny Car driver Matt Hagan for Tony Stewart Racing in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.
