Drag Racing's Fastest Couple

Words by Ted Yerzyk
Photos by Zak Hawthorne and Ron Lewis
10/18/05

hen Tommy Johnson’s work day ends before the clock strikes noon on a Sunday, wife Melanie Troxel knows better than anyone of the competitive fire breathing inside the veteran Funny Car driver and understands that a bit of space and time is the best cure for an early defeat. Troxel also can relate to the frustration and disappointment of an early exit, as the 33-year-old racer is another driven driver with a deep desire to win and succeed at this drag racing game. Neither Johnson nor Troxel wants to hear, “Honey, I’m home,” before, say, 4:30 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon.

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“Somebody that doesn’t race doesn’t understand the emotions, the highs and lows,” Johnson said. “If we both win first round, I don’t see her. We’re both busy doing things with our teams. If we’re out, I give her time to cool off and she does the same for me. It’s a tough deal when you lose; sometimes you want someone to talk to and other times the only thing that makes it better is time and we understand that.”

Many factors come into play in a successful marriage, but understanding and a necessary distance may be two of the more overlooked elements of making it last. For the pair of second generation racers that tied the knot on December 31, 2003, racing not only provides a comforting bond for both Johnson and Troxel, but a common interest that allowed them to be friends for many years that dates back to Johnson’s days as a Top Alcohol Funny Car driver in the late 1980s.

Dateline Hebron, Ohio. Location National Trail Raceway circa 1988. Then 20-year-old Tommy Johnson Jr. is piloting his Superwinch-backed Pontiac Firebird to his first career NHRA national event victory defeating Top Alcohol Funny Car stalwart Pat Austin in the final round at the storied Columbus track. In the background standing alongside the timing tower at ‘Trails’ is Johnson’s younger sister Wendy and 15-year-old fellow Division Five up-and-comer, Melanie Troxel.

Troxel openly admits she had a crush on the future nitro-category star. Glasses, mullet, and all, Troxel was into T.J. and even claims she was a bit jealous of all the girls that would hang around the Iowa native.

“She was 13 or 14 at the time,” Johnson said. “I guess I was 18 or 19 when she had the crush on me.”

Fast forward some 15 years and this time it’s Johnson playing the role of the pursuer. Troxel, now all grown up, went from tomboy/wannabe race car driver into a model-attractive race car driver. Johnson eventually got his wish and the two went to dinner during the Mile-High Nationals near Denver.