Shift Up Now fans and supporters, it's time for another round of our “Meet the Athlete” series!
Our goal is to tell the Athletes’ stories in a fun Q&A format, so you can get to know each one. That way, you’ll have even more reason to cheer for them, and show your support by being a Shift Up Now Member.
So without further ado, meet Melanie Johnson!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
For the longest time I wanted to be an engineer, then for a short period I wanted to be an interior designer (neither of which I'm doing now.. although I do love the DIY home improvements my husband and I have done!)
Where and how did you get started in racing?
My family has a rich history in the sport, my grandfather on my dad's side raced stock cars back in the 1950s so I think that hobby was passed on to my dad and uncle. They made a career out of it and my dad has been racing (tuning cars) my entire life. I grew up going to races pretty often and have always loved being at the track. I didn't start racing until my mid-twenties though, I pursued sports and a college education, but always felt like drag racing was where I really wanted to be.
Describe how you progressed through your early days to where you are now.
When I set out to get my license in a Super Comp car (8.90 seconds at ~ 175 mph to the 1/4 mile), I really just wanted to dip my toes in to see if: 1) I liked driving, and 2) I was any good. I had never even driven down a race track on a golf cart or anything before I hopped in a race car but I felt confident because of how much attention I've always paid to procedures and the mechanics behind racing. I'm such an observer of the sport and have luckily picked up a lot of knowledge and experience before I started driving.
After the two days of making licensing runs, I was hooked. I proved to myself that I could do this. The main things you have to be able to do in drag racing are have good reaction times and drive the car straight. I knew I wanted to race and started thinking even bigger. I really wanted to race a Top Alcohol Dragster (what I'm currently racing) but it takes seat time to move up from a car that goes ~175 to a car that goes 275+.
I spent a year racing in Super Comp and really started to feel the speed slow down quickly and felt like I was ready for the next step. The other part of it is being able to prove you are in control of yourself and the car so that people will trust you to drive their car. I was able to prove that during my 2024 season and had the opportunity to license in a Top Alcohol Dragster in August 2024 with McPhillips Racing (the team I'm driving for now). I immediately felt comfortable in the car, cut pretty good reaction times during my licensing runs, and had a strong foundation with my driving procedures. The rest of it just kind of came together naturally after that. Thankfully the timing worked out to where I was able to drive for McPhillips full-time in 2025.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
The mental side of drag racing is one of the most difficult things I've encountered so far. We don't have any simulators where we can practice driving like other motorsports. Our practice is all mental, you have to visualize every step in your procedure and every part of the run so that when you get in the car it's all muscle memory. You get one shot at a time and it can be hours or a full day between runs so that's a lot of time to analyze and process what you did in the car during the 5.2 seconds you went down the track. It takes a lot of mental strength to block out any thoughts about previous runs or the doubts or just the small mental distractions when you're sitting in the car, strapped in, ready to go.
If you make a mistake, especially on race day, you might have to wait a week or a month until the next race to get back in the car and kind of override that last run. In other motorsports, it seems like if you have a bad lap, you are able to recover or at least make another lap right away to fix that mistake.
What are some of your greatest achievements so far, or the things you’re most proud of?
My first race win will always be at the top of the list, along with being recognized for the Drag Illustrated “30 Under 30” and a top-10 finish in my rookie season of Top Alcohol Dragster in 2025. But I think above all that, is the semifinal finish at the NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis in 2025. For Top Alcohol Dragster racers at that event, making it to the semifinals means racing on Monday (Labor Day). It's a long, grueling weekend of racing and it's the biggest event of the year. It's also the race where my uncle Blaine lost his life in an on-track accident 30 years ago (exactly a month before I was born) so that track has always been a special place for us. To finish in the semifinals the first time I ran that race is such an accomplishment and meant so much to my family and I.
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?
In my sophomore season, I'm looking forward to more on-track success. I definitely made my share of rookie mistakes last year and was able to learn so much about driving and competing that I have more experience under my belt to work with. I know what those high-pressure situations feel like and am excited to tackle them with confidence this season.
What’s your favorite hobby, or way to spend your free time, outside of racing?
I am an avid weightlifter, I recently took up sourdough baking, and I fill my "extra" spare time with playing golf! I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family on the rare off-weekend. Drag racing is a long season, stretching from March to November and I'm usually traveling 15-20 weeks so I try to spend as much time as I can with family.
What’s your “cheat meal” of choice?
Pizza. I don't really consider it a "cheat" though, I just work it into my diet regularly and strike a balance!
Where are you racing next?
My next event is Charlotte, NC on April 24-26.
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Follow Melanie on Instagram @MelanieJohnsonRacing and check out her website at https://www.melaniejohnsonracing.com/
