Three-time U.S. Nationals winner and defending Top Fuel event champion Shawn Langdon is going to make the most of the Labor Day weekend race at Indianapolis Motorsports Park. The two-time Top Fuel winner will be racing the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster as well as his Super Comp dragster at the biggest drag race of the season. Pulling double duty will keep the 2013 Top Fuel world champion laser focused on the racing action.
“I am going to be running Super Comp and Top Fuel this race so that will keep me busy,” said Langdon, who also won Super Gas at the U.S. Nationals in 2010. “I like running the extra class because with only one nighttime pro session on Friday I can get my mind into race mode all day running my Super Comp dragster. I think it makes me a better racer because I am thinking about driving better, having good reaction times and I am focusing on all the small details. Keeping your mind active and focused is a big deal when you have a race as important as the U.S. Nationals.”
The prestige of winning the U.S. Nationals is not lost on Langdon who last year was thrilled to win again racing for drag racing legend Connie Kalitta.
“It is always exciting to get back to Indy for the U.S. Nationals,” said Langdon. “Getting the win last year was big with Connie Kalitta as my crew chief. I really wanted to get a win with him and the DHL team. It is the last race of the regular season and teams are trying to get into the Countdown or get ready for the playoffs so there is a lot of attention on this race.”
Langdon’s win last year started a Top Fuel winning streak for Kalitta Motorsports that he would like to extend. In 2019 his teammate Doug Kalitta won his first Top Fuel title at the U.S. Nationals. It has been over a decade since a driver won back-to-back U.S. Nationals, but Langdon feels like the DHL Kalitta Air Top Fuel dragster could get the job done. Two races ago Langdon grabbed a semifinal finish in Topeka and this season he has two more semifinals and a runner-up finish at the season opening Gatornationals.
“I feel like this DHL Top Fuel dragster can run with anyone out here,” said Langdon. “We need to make the most of our three qualifying runs on Friday and Saturday. That will set us up for success on Sunday.”
2020 NHRA U.S. Nationals Highlights:WINNER; Qual. No. 1; Beat Joey Haas, Cory McClenathan, Justin Ashley and Leah Pruett
Last Event Recap (2021 NHRA Brainerd Nationals): Qual. No. 7; Lost to Antron Brown
Career Stats: 279 events, 276 starts, 309 round wins, 17 wins, 35 finals, 19 No. 1 qualifiers; in Top Fuel: 231 events, 228 starts, 15 wins, 32 finals, 270 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
Las Vegas1: Qual. No. 6; Beat Troy Buff and Rob Passey; Lost to Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence
Atlanta: Qual. No. 11; Beat Leah Pruett, Mike Salinas; Lost to Steve Torrence
Charlotte1: Qual. No. 11; Lost to Antron Brown and Krista Baldwin
Houston: Qual. No. 7; Beat Josh Hart, Justin Ashley; Lost to Doug Kalitta
Epping: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Doug Kalitta
Norwalk: Qual. No. 16; Lost to Steve Torrence
Denver: Qual. No. 8; Lost to Clay Millican
Sonoma: Qual. No. 9; Beat Clay Millican; Lost to Antron Brown
Pomona1: Qual. No. 5; Beat Jim Maroney; Lost to Antron Brown
Topeka: Qual. No. 7; Beat Antron Brown, Billy Torrence; Lost to Clay Millican
Brainerd: Qual. No. 7; Lost to Antron Brown
Kalitta Motorsports PR
