Main Story

Melanie Johnson earned her first NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national event victory, winning Top Alcohol Dragster at the Las Vegas Nationals. She capped a standout weekend by beating Jackie Fricke in the final, while her father, Alan Johnson, celebrated a Top Fuel win with Doug Kalitta. The Las Vegas victory was a full-circle moment: Johnson made her Top Alcohol Dragster debut at the same track in November 2024.

By the Numbers
  • Final: Johnson ran 5.201 seconds at 274.50 mph; Fricke ran 5.268 seconds at 272.72 mph.
  • Johnson qualified No. 1 with a 5.214-second pass at 273.05 mph.
  • She won four rounds, defeating Angelle Sampey, Randy Eakins, Nick Januik and Fricke.
State of Play
  • Johnson’s Las Vegas win followed a runner-up finish at the Brainerd Nationals and a JEGS Allstars victory in Dallas.
  • She plans to return to Las Vegas for a Lucas Oil Regional event Nov. 6-7, then close out the 2026 season at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, Calif., Nov. 12-15.
Bottom Line

Johnson has turned a strong season into her first national event crown—and delivered a family double-up in Las Vegas alongside her father and Doug Kalitta.