Veteran Top Fuel driver Shawn Langdon knows how it feels to run well like he did when he won at Norwalk in 2016, and he also knows how it feels when things aren’t going as planned. Unfortunately for the Kalitta Air Bounty Hunter team, the latter is teh prevalent trend at the moment, but it’s a trend that could change directions at any time. The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series resumes this weekend at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals June 23-25, 2023 in Norwalk, Ohio.
Despite the team’s constant, resilient effort, progress is not coming easily, but a bounty hunter only eats what it kills. This team will continue hunting its prey regardless of its current trend.
“It’s been a few races now that we’ve been out in the first round,” the Kalitta Air driver said. “We have a really good group of guys and a great team – we’re just kind of in a rut right now. We have to keep working at it. It’s the highs and lows of drag racing. Sometimes you’re on top, sometimes you’re not. We just have to keep working at it, and eventually, we’ll get the car back. We’ll keep at it until we get there.”
Perhaps a “home race” in front of dozens in attendance who work at nearby Kalitta Motorsports in Ypsilanti, Mich., combined with the huge, passionate Norwalk fans will be the elixir this team needs.
“It’s great – the hospitality is completely packed with a lot of Kalitta people so we have a ton of support,” Langdon said. “Norwalk is one of the most fan-friendly tracks, and personally, it’s one of my favorite tracks on the circuit. We’re always extremely excited to get there, and I know the guys spent the time since Bristol working really hard on our car so I can’t want to get to Norwalk this weekend and make some great runs.”
Race Information:
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
TV Schedule:
- Qualifying 1: 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, June 23 on FS1
- Qualifying 2: 7-9 p.m. Sunday, June 24 on FS1
- Finals: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 25 on FOX
2022 Norwalk Recap: Qualified No. 9 and lost to Trip Tatum in the first round.
Shawn Langdon Career Stats: 317 events, 337 round wins, 17 wins, 38 final rounds, 19 No. 1 qualifiers
2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series Results To Date:
Gainesville: Qualified 11th and lost to Antron Brown by two 10 thousandths of a second.
Phoenix: Qualified No. 8; defeated Antron Brown, Doug Kalitta and Leah Pruett; lost to Justin Ashley
Pomona: Qualified No. 7; defeated Tony Schumacher, lost to Brittany Force.
Las Vegas: Qualified No. 6; defeated Krista Baldwin and Clay Millican before losing to Steve Torrence and
Josh Hart in the semifinals.
Charlotte: Qualified 11th, lost to Leah Pritchett and Pat Dakin in the first round.
Chicago: Qualified No. 6; lost to Clay Millican in the first round.
Epping: Qualified No. 2; lost to Tony Schumacher in the first round.
Bristol: Qualified 14th; lost to Steve Torrence.
Point Standings: Langdon enters Norwalk in 10th place in the NHRA Top Fuel point standings. He trails his teammate, Doug Kalitta, by 37 points and leads 11th place Tony Schumacher by 10 points.
Kalitta Motorsports PR
