Shawn Langdon and the Global Electronic Technology team earned their second final round appearance in the last three races of the season today at the Auto Club Finals.
Langdon and the Global Electronic Technology team did not have the start to qualifying that they would have liked as they started the Saturday’s qualifying session not qualified. However, Connie Kalitta and Rob Flynn had the right tuneup on Saturday and had two solid passes to get the Global Electronic Technology machine qualified in the 11th position.
However, that forced Langdon to have a a tough draw to start eliminations as the Global Electronic Technology driver faced Tony Schumacher in the first round. Langdon was ready as he got a hundredth of a second on the starting line and took that advantage to stripe to defeat Schumacher on a holeshot.
That advanced Langdon to face another Don Schumacher Racing machine, Leah Pritchett. Langdon took advantage at the starting line and never trailed as the Global Electronic Technology dragster was ahead the whole way and Langdon would record his best elapsed time of the season, a 3.683, to easily defeat Pritchett.
In the semifinals, Langdon took on his teammate Doug Kalitta. Langdon moved first and earned his second holeshot win of the day as he took out Kalitta in a close race to advance Langdon to his second final round of the season and 30th of his career.
Langdon faced the same driver he faced in the Dallas final: Brittany Force. Langdon had a huge jump at the line, but the Global Electronic Technology machine hit near immediate tire smoke. Langdon pedaled once, but Force made a clean pass to take the win.
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 11 (3.784 sec., 315.56 mph)
E1: Langdon defeated Schumacher – 3.725 sec., 328.38 mph to 3.724 sec., 328.38 mph
E2: Langdon defeated Pritchett – 3.683 sec., 321.81 mph to 3.714 sec., 320.20 mph
E3: Langdon defeated Kalitta – 3.718 sec., 318.54 mph to 3.703 sec., 331.04 mph
Final: Langdon defeated by B. Force – 9.818 sec., 89.16 mph to 3.668 sec., 330.07 mph
Quotable: “I really wanted to end my Top Fuel time with a win; these Global Electronic Technology guys really deserved it. I am so proud on how they came together and what we achieved in such a short time. It is going to be a short offseason, and I am really looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Final Point Standings: Seventh
Kalitta Motorsports PR/Photo Gary Nastase Photography
