Shawn Langdon and the Global Electronic Technology Toyota Camry will be looking to the NHRA FallNationals this weekend as a chance to jump back into the Mello Yello championship hunt. The have collected one win in the Countdown, a tough win over teammate J.R. Todd in St. Louis, but they were unable to go back-to-back earlier this week at the NHRA Carolina Nationals. Langdon was racing to become the first Funny Car driver to win both the spring and fall event at zMAX Dragway and also win two Countdown races in a row. An early exit set the team back but with the competitive landscape of the Funny Car class the former Top Fuel world champion is definitely still in contention.
“The Carolina race set us back a little but if you look at the points no one is running away with the class,” said Langdon. “I still have a lot of confidence on our chance to win the championship. There has been a different winner of every Countdown race in the Funny Car class so far this season. That shows you how competitive and wide open this class is.”
Langdon can lean on his Top Fuel success heading into this weekend’s NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex. Two years ago he was the Top Fuel runner-up which was one of his three runner-up finishes in that category at the north Texas super-track. He has also collected two No. 1 qualifiers in Top Fuel starting the race from the top spot in 2012 and 2013.
“I really think the Top Fuel versus Funny Car comparisons only go so far,” said Langdon. “The race cars are very different to driver but I do think I am very comfortable racing at the Texas Motorplex. It is a great race track. The Texas fans are great and there will be a lot of them there.”
In just his second year racing Funny Car Langdon has shown this season he has great command over his 11,000 horsepower Toyota Camry race car. He has raced to three final rounds and picked up a win at the Carolina Four-Wide event and a Countdown win two races ago in St. Louis. With every lap Langdon’s confidence in the process grows.
“When you make the switch from Top Fuel to Funny Car you have to unlearn and relearn a lot of information and habits. I feel better every time I strap into this Global Electronic Technology Camry Funny Car. My team has given me a great race car and I just have to go out there and keep it in the groove. We are ready to take on these next three races but our championship race starts this weekend at the Motorplex,” added Langdon.
2018 NHRA FallNationals Highlights: Qualified No. 9; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Last Event Recap (2019 NHRA Carolina Nationals): Qual. No. 10; Lost to Tim Wilkerson
Quotable: Langdon on heading to Texas Motorplex: “You can set some records at the Texas Motorplex if the conditions are right. This Global Electronic Technology Camry will be looking to get some of those qualifying bonus points and clawing our way back up the point standings. The Motorplex is a great track to get on a roll.”
Career Stats: 253 events, 250 starts, 285 round wins, 16 wins, 33 finals, 18 No. 1 qualifiers; in Funny Car: 45 events, 45 starts, 35 round wins, 2 wins, 3 finals, 0 No. 1 qualifiers
2019 Season:
Winternationals: Qual. No. 6; Beat Jim Campbell; Lost to Tommy Johnson Jr.
Arizona Nationals: Qual. No. 7; Beat Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Matt Hagan
Gatornationals: Qual. No. 10; Lost to Cruz Pedregon
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Tim Wilkeron and Jeff Diehl
Houston: Qual. No. 10; Beat Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Ron Capps
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 5; WINNER; Beat Jeff Diehl and Terry Haddock; Beat J.R. Todd and Tommy Johnson Jr; Beat Robert Hight, John Force and Matt Hagan
Atlanta: Qual. No. 6; Lost to Ron Capps
Richmond: Qual. No. 5; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to J.R. Todd
Chicago: Qual. No. 4; Lost to Jeff Arend
Topeka: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Robert Hight
Bristol: Qual. No. 2; Beat Jeff Diehl; Lost to Ron Capps
Norwalk: Qual. No. 12; Beat Blake Alexander; Lost to Jack Beckman
Epping: Qual. No. 5; RUNNER-UP; Beat Jim Campbell, Robert Hight, Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Matt Hagan
Denver: Qual. No. 9; Beat Tim Wilkerson; Lost to Robert Hight
Sonoma: Qual. No. 2; Beat Terry Haddock; Lost to John Force
Seattle: Qual. No. 6; Beat Cruz Pedregon; Lost to Matt Hagan
Brainerd: Qual. No. 6; Beat Paul Lee, Bob Bode; Lost to Ron Capps
Indianapolis: Qual. No. 7; Beat Tommy Johnson Jr.; Lost to Matt Hagan
Reading: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Matt Hagan
St. Louis: Qual. No. 10; WINNER; Beat Tommy Johnson Jr., Jim Campbell, Bob Tasca III and J.R. Todd
Charlotte2:Qual. No. 10; Lost to Tim Wilkerson
Kalitta Motorsports PR
