POMONA, CA – This weekend at the NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, Top Alcohol Dragster driver Melanie Johnson will pay tribute to her family’s deep agricultural roots with a special Johnson Farms decal on the side of her dragster.

The moment carries extra meaning, not only does it mark the final race of the 2025 season, but also 30 years since her uncle, Blaine Johnson, earned his first Top Fuel win at the same event in Pomona back in 1995.

Blaine Johnson (in cockpit) and his brother Alan, won for the first time in Top Fuel 30 years ago at the NHRA Finals, photo credit NHRA/National Dragster

“My family has been farming on the Central Coast of California for four generations,” said Johnson. “My great-grandfather immigrated from Denmark and bought land in Santa Maria to start a dairy farm. Over time, the family transitioned to growing produce, most notably strawberries, and we’re proud to continue being stewards of the land today.” Continue reading →

ENNIS, TX — Melanie Johnson and the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster team continued their strong late-season momentum with a semifinal finish at the Texas NHRA FallNationals during the Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex.

With 20 cars vying for 16 qualifying spots, Johnson opened qualifying with a solid 5.312-second pass at 273.76 mph on a hot track. In the second session, she improved to a 5.265-second at 275.89 mph, her best of qualifying to secure the 7th position. The team made a setup change for the final session, but the car shook the tires just past 60 feet, resulting in a 10.626-second run.

Johnson entered eliminations with confidence and carried that momentum into race day. In round one against Matt Cummings, she took the starting line advantage and never looked back, posting a 5.231 at 271.08 mph while Cummings went up in tire smoke.

Round two saw Johnson make her quickest run of the weekend, a 5.222 at 275.87 mph, to defeat Kirk Wolf’s 5.380 at 265.50 mph. Her run earned low E.T. of the round. Continue reading →

Indianapolis, IN – In her debut at the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Melanie Johnson delivered a standout performance behind the wheel of the McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster, advancing to the semifinals and showcasing her growing strength in the category.

Johnson qualified solidly in the top half of the field, improving every pass with runs of 5.330 seconds, 5.293 seconds, and a best of 5.241 seconds at 272.23 mph to lock into the No. 6 qualifying position.

In eliminations, Johnson showed poise and driving skill, beginning with a first-round win against McKenna Bold. Both drivers battled early tire shake, but Johnson successfully pedaled her car and got it hooked up to run a 5.556 at 268.22 mph.

The second round provided one of the closest finishes of the event, with Johnson edging out Will Smith by just 0.0007 seconds (approximately three inches). Johnson had a slight starting line advantage with a 5.279 second E.T. against Smith’s 5.262. Continue reading →

Norwalk, OH – In just her sixth career start in Top Alcohol Dragster competition, Melanie Johnson drove to a hard-earned first victory at the University Hospitals 19th Annual Cavalcade of Stars, held at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio. The event marked a North Central Regional stop on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series tour and featured a competitive 8-car field.

Johnson, piloting the McPhillips Racing A/Fuel Dragster, qualified third with a best run of 5.241 seconds at 273.61 mph, which was the quickest pass of the second qualifying session.

She kicked off eliminations with a decisive first-round victory over Jared Dreher, laying down a 5.254 at 274.66 mph with a .064 reaction time. In the semifinals, Johnson delivered a clutch performance against seasoned competitor Matt Cummings, running 5.283 at 275.96 mph with a .043 light to advance to her first regional final. Continue reading →

Gainesville, FL – Melanie Johnson made a memorable National Event debut in Top Alcohol Dragster this past weekend at the NHRA Gatornationals, piloting the McPhillips Racing A/Fuel dragster. The event marked a significant milestone in Johnson’s racing career, as she showcased strong performances and set new personal bests despite challenging weather conditions.

Qualifying kicked off on Thursday, March 6, where Johnson ran a personal best of 5.243 seconds at 279.85 mph. The run secured her the provisional number four qualifying spot in a competitive 12-car field. She followed up with an even stronger pass on Friday, clocking a 5.177 at 279.21 mph, setting a new personal best E.T. and moving up to the number two position. Unfortunately, due to several on-track delays, the third qualifying session scheduled for Friday evening was canceled, setting the field for Saturday eliminations.

Mother Nature posed significant challenges, with rain washing out Saturday’s elimination rounds and delaying Sunday’s start. After multiple rain delays, Johnson finally made her first national event elimination pass on Sunday afternoon. Her would-be opponent, Sarah Allen, broke during qualifying, resulting in solo run for Johnson. She seized the opportunity, laying down a 5.218 at 277.37 mph—the low E.T. of the round—earning lane choice for the second round. Continue reading →

LAS VEGAS – Melanie Johnson, daughter of 13-time Top Fuel world champion tuner Alan Johnson, made her competitive debut in the Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) category at the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series regional event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past weekend.

Johnson qualified fifth in the 8-car field during the second qualifying session, running a 5.291-second pass at 274.11 mph among 15 competitors. In the first round, she faced 5-time TAD world champion Joey Severance, gaining a starting line advantage but losing traction just past the 60-foot mark. She ultimately had to shut off as Severance pulled ahead with a 5.309-second run at 273.44 mph.

Reflecting on the weekend, Johnson said, “I’m still wrapping my head around achieving my goals of licensing and racing a Top Alcohol Dragster this year. Huge thanks to Rich McPhillips Sr. and Rich McPhillips Jr. for giving me the chance to drive their ‘green car’ and guiding me through the driving procedures. I couldn’t ask for a better group of racers to work with and learn from.  Although I would have loved to go more rounds, I’m proud of how I handled the car and all the seat time, learning something from each run.”

Ahead of the event, Johnson completed two test runs on Thursday, experiencing severe tire shake on both. However, she managed to step off the gas quickly and maintain control. In Friday’s first qualifying round, the car, set up aggressively, ran a 0.919 sixty-foot time—one of the event’s quickest—but drifted out of the groove, leading her to coast to a 6.759-second pass at 132.99 mph. The second and third qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday allowed Johnson to make smooth passes down the quarter mile, clocking a 5.291 in Q2 and a 5.335 in Q3, securing her the fifth qualifying position. Continue reading →