NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Shawn Langdon might not have won a year ago at Brainerd Int'l Raceway, but the former Top Fuel world champion fondly recalls what took place thanks to stellar conditions during eliminations.

Langdon ran an incredible 3.662 at 321.12 mph, setting a massive career-best elapsed time en route to a semifinal finish on a day that featured multiple runs in the 3.60s from Top Fuel standouts.

Now feeling even more comfortable driving his Red Fuel dragster as part of the Don Schumacher Racing team, Langdon, who won back-to-back races earlier this year, is hoping for similar conditions and results when he returns to Brainerd for the 35th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Aug. 18-21.

“Last year was my favorite year racing at Brainerd with those cool temperatures and great conditions,” said Langdon, who is seventh in the Top Fuel points standings. “We ran a 3.66 there, and you just look at what took place in Seattle with the cooler temperatures. You see how good the racing is with those types of conditions, and that’s what I live for.

“Brainerd is always a fun event with the fans there, and we always enjoy it. But there’s a lot of good-running cars right now, so a lot of times, it comes down to the driver. If you stink off the line, there’s a good chance you’re going to lose. I like that tight, competitive racing where every little thousandth of a second counts, and hopefully we’ll have another year like we did last year in Brainerd.”

Richie Crampton (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock), and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the pivotal NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event that will be broadcast on FS1 for the first time. The race is also the 17th of 24 events in the 2016 season and, more important, the penultimate race of the regular season before the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship begins.
 

It comes at an important time for Langdon, who is looking to build momentum and possibly gain a top-five starting point when the six-race NHRA playoffs begin. That will take another impressive performance in Brainerd, but regardless of what position Langdon is in when the Countdown starts, he strongly believes his team can compete for a championship.

“I feel very confident that we could go to that first race in Charlotte right now and compete for a championship,” said Langdon, who has 13 victories. “We still have a little ways to go, and you’re constantly trying to find ways to improve, but we have had a great car for the majority of the year. Everyone is getting into that Countdown mode, and it’s getting near crunch time, but I feel very confident right now.”

After a slow start, including five straight first-round losses to open the season, Langdon and his team, led by crew chief Phil Shuler, have found their comfort level in the summer. Langdon has lost just twice in the first round in the last 12 events, winning consecutive races in Bristol and Norwalk.

But with an important stretch starting in Brainerd and continuing through the Countdown to the Championship, don’t expect Langdon, who won the Top Fuel world championship in 2013, to change his style.

“My driving style is I bring it all year long, from the first test session of the year to the last race of the season in Pomona,” Langdon said. “I’m going to bring it 100 percent every single time, and I’m going to give it my all every time. With my driving style and how I mentally prepare myself, I try to do the same thing every time, and I try to do that in the Countdown. I really believe if I stay on my game, I feel like we have a great chance at the championship.”

To do that and score his third win of the season in Brainerd, Langdon will have to top a number of talented drivers, including points leader and reigning world champion Antron Brown. The star-studded list also includes three-time Brainerd winner and eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher, three-time 2016 winner Doug Kalitta, J.R. Todd, who won in Sonoma, Texan Steve Torrence, Brittany Force, Leah Pritchett, and defending event winner Crampton.

But after racing for DSR during the Countdown a year ago, Langdon has become even more acclimated with his team in 2016, and the results of that have been apparent in the last few months.
 

“I probably feel a little more comfortable now,” Langdon said. “We’ve gone 16 races, and we’ve gotten in the groove of knowing what to expect from one another. It’s a great group of guys to work with. The whole Don Schumacher Racing organization has been an easy transition for me, and I’ve just gotten more comfortable as the season has progressed.”

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 3 and 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, and the final two rounds of qualifying Saturday, Aug. 20, at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21.

To purchase general-admission or reserved seats, call 218-824-RACE (7223) or 866-444-4455 or log on to www.brainerdraceway.com. Kids 12 and younger will be admitted free in general-admission areas with a paid adult.