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Melanie Johnson Charges to Thrilling Runner-Up Spot at NHRA Brainerd Nationals
Highlights
- Melanie Johnson earned first career runner-up in Top Alcohol Dragster.
- Qualified third with a season-best 5.193-second run at Brainerd.
- Reached final but lost to teammate Anthony Troyer at Brainerd Nationals.
- Father Alan Johnson won Top Fuel title with Doug Kalitta same day.
- Team improved car performance after testing during seven-week break.
- Next race is NHRA Regional at Beech Bend Raceway in August 2026.
Melanie Johnson records her first Top Alcohol Dragster runner-up at Brainerd International Raceway, falling to teammate Anthony Troyer in the final at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals after a seven‑week reset.
The Speedmaster A/Fuel dragster shows renewed pace, with Johnson qualifying third on a season-best 5.193. That baseline frames a consistent elimination-day profile and underlines progress within McPhillips Racing.
Qualified third with a season-best 5.193 to headline her best NHRA weekend yet.
She opens eliminations with a 5.265 at 272.23 mph to defeat Jim Lamb, then advances past Todd Bruce with a 5.305 at 267.69 mph in the quarterfinals.
A semifinal red light from Angelle Sampey hands Johnson lane choice, yet she still posts a tidy 5.319 at 269.89 mph, reflecting a car behaving predictably under pressure.
Career-best finish capped by a 5.250 at 274.00 mph in the final against teammate Anthony Troyer.
The final tilts Troyer’s way by 0.03 seconds, his 5.220 at 276.63 mph edging Johnson’s 5.250 at 274.00. McPhillips Racing locks out the final, validating its midseason development path.
The day carries resonance as her father, 14-time Top Fuel championship crew chief Alan Johnson, helps Doug Kalitta to the Top Fuel title. It underscores a family thread of execution.
Testing in Indianapolis during the seven-week break refines the setup and stabilizes performance.
That break proves pivotal. Work by Alan Johnson and Richie McPhillips in Indianapolis straightens the car, improves application, and narrows the operating window across conditions and clutch wear.
Partners Speedmaster, Alan Johnson Performance Engineering, ARP, NGK Spark Plugs, and Lucas Oil support the push as Johnson targets a breakthrough win at Indianapolis later this season.
Momentum now shifts to Bowling Green, with the team set for the NHRA Regional at Beech Bend Raceway from August 28–30, 2026, where repeat execution becomes the metric.
Visual Summary
RUNNER-UP
Melanie Johnson rockets to first-ever Top Alcohol Dragster runner-up at Brainerd!
Q3
Season-best qualifying:
5.193s
E1
Defeated Jim Lamb
5.265s @272.23mph
5.265s @272.23mph
QF
Beat Todd Bruce
5.305s @267.69mph
5.305s @267.69mph
SF
Advanced vs. Angelle Sampey
5.319s @269.89mph
5.319s @269.89mph
F
Runner-up to Troyer
5.250s @274.00mph
Troyer: 5.220s @276.63mph
5.250s @274.00mph
Troyer: 5.220s @276.63mph
1
Alan Johnson
Top Fuel Crew Chief
2
Melanie Johnson
Top Alcohol D/S
“We’ve made big strides, and Indy’s next. Getting both cars to the final is a huge team win.”
— Melanie Johnson
Supported by Speedmaster, Alan Johnson Performance Engineering, ARP, NGK Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil
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.
