NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

The last time Shawn Langdon was at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he was mired in a frustrating early-season slump that included five straight first-round losses to open the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Much has changed since that March race and Langdon is now in the midst of an impressive finish to his year. The 2013 Top Fuel world champion has posted three victories, including one in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, and sits in third place in his 10,000-horsepower Red Fuel/Sandvik dragster heading back to Las Vegas Oct. 27-30 for the 16th annual NHRA Toyota Nationals.

“What we did at the beginning of the year, nobody was hanging their heads,” said Langdon, who is 172 points back of teammate and points leader Antron Brown. “You’re just going to go through struggles once in a while. But what we’ve done since is what we’re capable of. I’m very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in my first full year as a driver with the team. We’ve got a great car, a great team and everyone’s done a great job.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will for the first time be aired on FOX Sports 1 this October. On Sunday, FS1 will televise three hours of live finals coverage starting at 4 p.m. (ET).

The race is the fifth of sixth races in the Countdown to the Championship and the penultimate event of the 2016 NHRA season. Langdon has his sights set on a big finish and capitalizing on his victory in St. Louis.

“Starting the Countdown in seventh, we’ve made a really good move and have a great chance to finish second,” said Langdon, who trails Kalitta by just 22 points. “We still have a very, very outside chance to win a championship, but second place is nothing to hang your head about in this class. There’s so many tough, competitive teams and we’re just going to continue to try and win races.” 

Langdon’s late-season surge is even more impressive considering his first-round loss at the Countdown opener in Charlotte. The team, led by crew chiefs Phil Shuler and Todd Okuhara, has responded with a victory and two semifinal finishes, and Langdon hopes to dial it up even more in Las Vegas and then the finale in Pomona.

“This a great race at a great facility and one of the races you definitely look forward to every year,” Langdon said. “It’s obviously a big race and it would be really good to end the year on a good note. Being one of the races for your sponsor and knowing you’ll have a lot of friends and family there, you definitely get up for these kinds of races.”
 
Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying feature two rounds at 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, and two final rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 11:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 800-644-4444 or 702-644-4444. Tickets available online at www.lvms.com.  Kids 12 and under are free in general admission areas with a paid adult.