McPhillips Racing has announced that Melanie Johnson will pilot their Top Alcohol Dragster (TAD) during the 2025 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season, focusing on the North Central Region for points.
Melanie Johnson, a third-generation racer and daughter of 13-time Top Fuel champion tuner Alan Johnson, made her TAD debut driving for McPhillips Racing at the 2024 fall regional event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After competing in Super Comp, she earned her Top Alcohol license at Brainerd International Raceway in August. During testing, she recorded her quickest pass to date in the Alcohol Dragster with a time of 5.289 seconds and achieved a best speed of 274.11 mph during qualifying at the Las Vegas regional event. Johnson will drive the “Green Machine” chassis, a car that has secured numerous victories for McPhillips Racing over the past 16 years. She will receive support from Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE) for the 2025 campaign and plans to announce additional partnerships soon. Johnson aims to follow in the footsteps of her father and late uncle, Blaine Johnson, who collectively won four consecutive TAD titles from 1991 to 1994.
“I’ve dreamed of competing in Top Alcohol Dragster for the past six years, and I couldn’t be more eager to get out on the track and race this season,” Johnson said. “TAD is an incredibly competitive class, and with Rich (McPhillips) and Richie (McPhillips Jr.) handling the tuning and the strength of AJPE power, I’m confident we can achieve great success this season.”
McPhillips Racing, formed in 1969, was initiated by team owner Rich “Pops” McPhillips Sr., who began his career with a Bracket Class Altered drag car before progressing through various classes, including Alcohol Funny Cars and Top Alcohol Dragsters. The Pennsylvania-based team has nearly 100 wins and nine regional/divisional championships across its 56 years in the sport, with notable drivers such as Peter Gallen, Skip Gladstone, Matt Cummings, and Tony Stewart. The team is aiming for its first national championship in 2025.
“We’re really excited to have Melanie and the Johnson family join McPhillips Racing,” Rich McPhillips Sr. said. “Their family has racing in their DNA like we do. Melanie is a former collegiate athlete with a fierce competitive mentality. We’re looking forward to being part of the start of her professional racing career and can’t wait to accomplish great things together.”
The 2025 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series season will commence March 6-9 at the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida.
