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Steve Johnson Excited to Launch NHRA Drag Racing at Maryland International Raceway
Highlights
- Steve Johnson races 40th NHRA season at Maryland International Raceway
- NHRA Potomac Nationals run May 29-31, debuting new track
- Johnson enters event ranked 10th in NHRA Mission Foods standings
- This marks Johnson’s 524th NHRA national race, record in class
- Longtime sponsor Robert A Tull Inc. supports Johnson in Maryland
- Event highlights NHRA’s 75th anniversary and regional racing growth
Steve Johnson will contest his 40th NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle season at Maryland International Raceway, May 29-31, as the NHRA Potomac Nationals debut on the 75th anniversary Nitro tour.
He arrives 10th in Mission Foods standings, chasing recovery after Gainesville’s semifinal promise gave way to early exits triggered by unusual parts failures.
This start will be his 524th NHRA national race, a Pro Stock Motorcycle record that reflects the durability of his independent, 200-mph Suzuki operation.
This is Johnson’s 524th NHRA national race, the most in Pro Stock Motorcycle history.
The weekend is Johnson’s first competitive outing at Maryland International Raceway, long associated in paddock lore with Budd’s Creek stories and famed Wednesday night Pro Stock shows.
He expects a sharp, engaged crowd and a steep learning curve typical of a new surface during its national-event debut.
Johnson marks his 40th NHRA season as the series debuts at Maryland International Raceway, May 29–31.
Longtime partner Robert A Tull Inc., a Maryland home builder, anchors local support, giving the Alabama-based rider a regional link despite never having a true hometown race.
Johnson highlights how elevation, concrete-to-asphalt transitions, bumps, and sun angles can tilt performance, with locals often banking small but decisive advantages in staging and launch consistency.
His target is clear: stabilize reliability, convert qualifying pace, and execute cleanly to turn incremental improvements into Sunday progress.
“We are very excited about NHRA’s first race in the Northeast this season and we’ll be up for the task.”
The Potomac Nationals extend NHRA’s Northeast footprint, reinforced by recent community engagement around the St. Mary’s County FanFest, which underlines strong regional appetite for national-level drag racing.
Further storylines, including the Funny Car outlook with Alexis DeJoria, add depth to the weekend as teams adapt to a new facility.
Industry conversations about a potential drag racing capitol mirror the sport’s infrastructure ambitions, aligning with NHRA’s strategy to broaden access in key markets.
For Johnson, the competitive equation is simple: qualify strongly, avoid mechanical setbacks, and convert opportunities. A clean weekend can lift his top-10 campaign at a pivotal new venue.
Visual Summary
40
YEARS
YEARS
NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle
524th Start
? NHRA Potomac Nationals
Steve Johnson’s Four-Decade Ride
Arrives in Maryland for the First Time
Arrives in Maryland for the First Time
“Now, 38 years later, I actually get to race there.
The fans are known for being very smart—should be a great atmosphere.”
The fans are known for being very smart—should be a great atmosphere.”
#10
in Championship
in Championship
200
MPH Suzuki
MPH Suzuki
Semifinal
in Gainesville opener
in Gainesville opener
Battling setbacks (parts failures), chasing points surge
May 29–31, Maryland International Raceway
Supported by Robert A Tull Inc. – Four decades, but first time with a hometown crowd!
Nicholas Rivera delivers NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car news, including eliminator-round results and reaction-time stats. He brings track-side interviews, contender profiles, and championship-point breakdowns straight from drag-racing’s biggest national events.
