Vegas Four-Wide Win Priority for Shawn Langdon and DHL Top Fuel Team

Gary Nastase Photo

The last time Shawn Langdon wheeled a Top Fuel dragster to the starting line  was three years ago but the 2013 NHRA Top Fuel champion isn’t worried about getting back into the four-wide groove. Last year four-wide racing was a casualty of the pandemic and the previous two seasons Langdon was battling it out in the Funny Car category. This weekend at the NHRA Vegas Four-Wide Nationals Langdon and his DHL/Kalitta Air Top Fuel team will be looking to add a Top Fuel four-wide win to his resume.
 
“I am glad to be getting back to racing,” said Langdon. “This was a long lay-off but I am looking forward to getting back to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Four-Wide Nationals. I like four-wide racing because it is different. There are some guys that I think it bothers but I am fine with it. I don’t change anything when I am inside the race car.”
 
Langdon picked up his first career Funny Car win at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals in 2019 and followed that up with another Funny Car win later that season in St. Louis. There isn’t much the reigning U.S. Nationals champion hasn’t done behind the wheel of a race car. He hasn’t picked up a four-wide Top Fuel victory and that is definitely on his mind heading into race weekend considering he had a strong car at the season opening Gatornationals.
 
“We got off to a good start in Gainesville and I know this DHL dragster will keep running good,” said Langdon. “You always feel better when you get off to a good start.  Vegas is a track I would definitely like to pick up a win just like any track on the tour. We were runners-up at the last race and we will be trying to get the win this weekend for sure.”
 
In Florida last month Langdon drove his DHL dragster to his 32nd career final round on the strength of consistent runs and timely driving. During the Four-Wide Nationals the team will need that combination to have success on Sunday. Three qualifying runs will lead up to race day and then Langdon just needs to be a top two finisher in each of the first two rounds to have a shot at winning his first four-wide Top Fuel race.
 
“We want to make good qualifying runs for sure and also share info with Doug Kalitta’s team since there will be one lane we won’t get to make a pass in,” said Langdon. “I am glad we have some great teammates and crew chiefs. This Kalitta Motorsports team does a good job or working together to get the job done.”
 
2019 NHRA Vegas Four-Wide Highlights (event not contested in 2020): In Funny Car:  Qual. No. 8; Lost to Tim Wilkerson and Jeff Diehl   
 
Last Event Recap (2021 NHRA Gatornationals: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 6; Beat Doug Foley, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown; Lost to Josh Hart
 
Career Stats: 268 events, 265 starts, 300 round wins, 17 wins, 35 finals, 19 No. 1 qualifiers; in Top Fuel: 220 events, 217 starts, 15 wins, 32 finals, 261 round wins, 19 No. 1 qualifiers
 
2021 Season: 
Gatornationals: RUNNER-UP; Qual. No. 6; Beat Doug Foley, Leah Pruett, Antron Brown; Lost to Josh Hart.

Kalitta Motorsports PR

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