NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season marks the 30th season of racing for Pro Stock Motorcycle (PSM) veteran Steve Johnson.

But even as the longtime rider enters his third decade in the class, Johnson fully admits there is still plenty to learn. The never-ending process to improve continues at this weekend’s 36th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, where Johnson will hope to get on track after suffering a pair of first-round losses to open the season.

“I feel like I’m getting better as an owner,” Johnson said. “I want to get better as a rider. The area where I’m learning is race team ownership. The areas where I want to improve are my riding and my decision-making process at the racetrack. The decision-making process is something I struggle with when it comes to tune-up calls. I really want to get better at making quicker decisions, and at the same time, I do want to work on my riding. But I feel like I’m getting better as a team owner.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock), and Hector Arana Sr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event. The race will be televised on FOX Sports 1 with qualifying shows Friday and Saturday and three hours of finals coverage Sunday. The race also marks the third of 16 events in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class in 2016.

For Johnson, it’s the next chance to move forward and continue to make improvements on his Steve Johnson Racing Suzuki. He feels ready heading into Atlanta, working hard on all areas following an early exit at the most recent PSM race in Charlotte. He joked, “Everything I learned in racing, everybody already knows,” but the preparation process has been a major focus for him in 2016.

Being a rider as well as a team owner is an all-encompassing task, but Johnson, who has six victories, gladly accepts that role and believes he is on a good path heading to Atlanta.

“We tried to prepare really, really well,” Johnson said. “Making sure your rolling race shop is prepared is really just another job. Not only is the motorcycle ready, I think our truck and trailer is ready as well.

“Even when you’re caught up, you’re preparing for the next race. I always talk about being all in. Everything I do is for this racing company.”

That means constantly looking for ways to improve, both on and off the track. Johnson diligently searches for ways to better the team, whether through sponsorship, outside-the-box thinking, or simply getting his motorcycle running well.

Following the slow start in Gainesville and Charlotte, Johnson has focused on making sure the bike is ready to compete against a loaded field in Atlanta. That’s where preparation before the race comes into play, an aspect Johnson has tried to improve on early in the 2016 season. He hopes that pays off in Atlanta, as well as down the road this year.

“I’m always amazed at how much I’ve learned now in my 30th year of racing,” Johnson said. “It’s amazing how you can do something this long and still learn. Having said that, I’m still extremely excited about where we can go. I don’t know if we can win a championship this year, but I feel like we can win some races and compete and be a threat.”

To have success in Atlanta, Johnson will have to be in top form against another big field boasting plenty of championship-level talent. It starts with current points leader Eddie Krawiec and reigning world champion Andrew Hines, a two-time Atlanta winner who won in Charlotte. But with 25 participants in the field this weekend, a host of competitors are gunning for the Wally, including four-time Atlanta winner Angelle Sampey, Jerry Savoie, 2011 event winner LE Tonglet, Hector Arana Jr., Chip Ellis, Hector Arana Sr., and 21-year-old rookie Melissa Surber.

It’s a meaningful race for Johnson in that it’s the closest event to his race shop in Birmingham, Ala., meaning plenty of friends will be on hand. But with another massive field, it’s the latest example of why Johnson loves the direction the class is headed.

“For me, I’m proud that others would invest their time and money into our sport and especially our category,” Johnson said. “It is so fulfilling to put a professional team together, race with the largest sanctioning body on the planet, and be able to do it with FOX coverage to legitimize what we’re doing. You can have all this fun and turn it into a career as well. I’m so proud that people would choose to be involved in our class. When I see 25 motorcycles coming to Atlanta, I’m just so proud, and it’s really exciting.”

Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta will feature two rounds at 4 and 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 13, and the final two rounds of qualifying Saturday, May 14, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, May 15.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or log on to NHRA.com/tickets. Kids 12 and younger are admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.