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McPhillips Racing Event Recap for the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals – JOHNSON WINS!

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Top Alcohol Dragster Las Vegas Nationals Winner: Melanie Johnson

Melanie Johnson

Speedmaster McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster
NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series
MOPAR NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge
Oct. 29-Nov. 2 | Las Vegas

Event Recap

Melanie Johnson, driver of the Speedmaster McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster:
  • Earned No. 1 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (5.205 ET at 273.55 mph)
  • Maintained No. 1 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. In Q2 on Friday, Johnson ran a 5.230 ET at 273.55 mph.
  • Secured No. 1 qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Johnson ran a 5.214 ET at 273.05 mph.
  • Advanced to the Finals on Monday:
  • Round 1: 5.278 ET at 274.39 mph, defeated Angelle Sampey (5.551 ET at 253.71 mph)
  • Round 2: 5.262 ET at 272.72 mph, defeated Randy Eakins (5.359 ET at 257.58 mph)
  • Semifinals: 5.276 ET at 268.22 mph, defeated Nick Januik (7.718 ET at 118.31 mph)
  • Finals: 5.201 ET at 274.50 mph, defeated Jackie Fricke (5.268 ET at 272.72 mph)

Notes of Interest

  • The NHRA Las Vegas Nationals marked Johnson’s first NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series National win. It was her second final-round appearance with her previous final round taking place at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals earlier this season.
  • Johnson’s 5.201 ET (elapsed time) in the Final marked low ET of the race and her 274.50 mph run was also top speed of the event.
  • Johnson’s average reaction time over four rounds of eliminations was .034-seconds (Round 1: .008-seconds, Round 2: .038-seconds, Semifinals: .030-seconds, Finals: .060-seconds).
  • Johnson also earned a victory at the previous NHRA event in Dallas, winning the NHRA JEGS Allstars, where she had a holeshot win over Jackie Fricke.
  • The NHRA Las Vegas Nationals marked the third win this season for McPhillips Racing. Their two previous wins came at the NHRA Brainerd Nationals with Anthony Troyer and the NHRA JEGS Allstars in Dallas with Johnson. It marked the team’s second victory at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with the first win coming in 2023 with Tony Stewart behind the wheel.
  • The victory marked a special weekend for Johnson, as she earned a double-up win with her dad, Alan Johnson. Alan is a 14-time Top Fuel champion tuner, who earned the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals win with Doug Kalitta.
  • The Top Alcohol Final was contested on Monday in Las Vegas, due to adverse weather conditions on Sunday evening.
  • Johnson represented Speedmaster on her Top Alcohol Dragster. Founded in 1979, Speedmaster designs, engineers, and manufactures performance and aftermarket parts across three continents. From individual components to complete assembled systems and built-to-order vehicles.

Melanie Johnson, Driver of the Speedmaster McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster

“This win feels so special. My guys have been working incredibly hard all year to get this car where it’s at right now. It felt like it was only a matter of time before it all came together. And despite running the final on Monday, it’s still a double-up with my dad and Doug (Kalitta)! I will definitely remember this first National event win forever!”

Rich McPhillips Sr., Team Owner

“The Speedmaster team had a great weekend in Las Vegas. Melanie was able to maintain No. 1 qualifier after each session and ran low ET and top speed in the Final. I’m proud of Melanie and how well she drove. Her lights were great all weekend. Thank you to Speedmaster, Alan Johnson Performance Engineering, NGK Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil, ARP, Boninfante Friction, VP Racing Fuels, Goodyear, the Kessler family, and all of our partners for their continued support. Hopefully we can close out the season with two more great weekends at the Las Vegas divisional event and at the finale in Pomona.”

(Photo Courtesy McPhillips Racing)

Next Up

Johnson will be back behind the wheel of the Speedmaster McPhillips Racing Top Alcohol Dragster in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Division 7 event November 5-8 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.

-McPhillips Racing-