The DHL Toyota Top Fuel dragster and Shawn Langdon raced into the quarterfinals today at the 33rd Menard’s NHRA Nationals presented by Pet Armor before No. 1 qualifier Mike Salinas ended his bid for a second victory at Heartland Motorsports Park.
Langdon, who won the Menard’s Nationals in 2013, took out Clay Millican in a virtual dead heat first round decided by one ten thousandth of a second before his yellow dragster lost traction against Salinas.
When qualifying begins for the Brainerd Nationals this Friday at Brainerd, Minn., the former world champion will start 27 points out of fifth place with just two races remaining before the totals are adjusted for the Countdown to the Championship.
“Tough conditions to run a fuel car,” Langdon said, “but that was a great race with Clay in round one. I don’t think either of us knew who won it. I just wish we had had a little more for Salinas. We need to make up as much ground as we can at Brainerd and Indy (the Labor Day US Nationals) to give use the best starting spot in the playoffs. We’re not that far out of fifth so we’ll be trying to close that gap this week.”
Statistics:
Qualified: No. 8 (3.817 sec, 313.22 mph)
Bonus points: 0
Race Details:
First Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
9 Shawn Langdon .062 3.814 314.68 W
8 Clay Millican .057 3.819 318.09
Second Round
Qual Driver RT ET MPH
9 Shawn Langdon .063 4.544 171.51
1 Mike Salinas .009 3.802 324.83
Kalitta Motorsports PR
