Returning to the site of her first career victory, Melanie Johnson is set to defend her Top Alcohol Dragster title at this weekend’s 20th Annual Cavalcade of Stars at Summit Motorsports Park. The event marks a pivotal Central Regional stop on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series tour.
Last year, in just her sixth career start in the category, Johnson drove the McPhillips Racing A/Fuel Dragster to a hard-earned victory at the Norwalk facility. While she has since secured multiple semifinal finishes, including standout performances at the U.S. Nationals and the Texas FallNationals, she is hungry to return to the Winner’s Circle at a track that holds immense meaning for her and the team.
“Winning Norwalk last year was an incredible milestone,” said Johnson. “We’ve had some great performances since then,but we are fully focused on getting the Speedmaster car to the Winner’s Circle this year.”
The McPhillips Racing team has spent the early part of the 2026 season refining their tune-up. The regional event kicks off a crucial two-week stretch at Norwalk, with the prestigious Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals taking place the very next weekend.
With the NHRA celebrating its historic 75th season, drivers have the unique opportunity to compete for special edition diamond Wally trophies. For Johnson and the McPhillips team, these consecutive races in Ohio represent a perfect opportunity to build momentum and collect vital points for the championship chase.
“Rich, Richie, and the guys have been working hard on our combination to find the consistency and power we need,”Johnson noted. “Norwalk is one of the best tracks on our schedule so I’m looking forward to racing there two weekends in a row and I’m confident that all the things we’ve been working on so far this season will start to pay off.”
Johnson and the McPhillips Racing team proudly represent Speedmaster, Alan Johnson Performance Engineering (AJPE), NGK Spark Plugs, Lucas Oil, and ARP.
Competition at the 20th Annual Cavalcade of Stars begins Saturday, June 20, with qualifying sessions, followed by eliminations on Sunday, June 21.
