NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Shawn Langdon’s first race of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season came in Houston, but his second will take place at zMAX Dragway for the eighth annual NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, April 28-30, leaving the 2013 Top Fuel world champion very little time to get prepared for one of the most unique races on the NHRA circuit.

Langdon, who recently joined the Kalitta Motorsports team as the driver of the 10,000-horsepower Global Electronic Technology dragster, is just fine with the challenges the race presents, embracing the one-of-a-kind experience it offers to both drivers and fans.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Langdon, who has 14 career wins. “It’s a great facility and I just love racing there. There’s so many cool things that go on with the race that I really enjoy. It will be my second race back and that track has a great surface, especially when it’s cool. I’m excited. There’s a little different staging process with the four-wide set-up, but to me it’s not much of a task. I’ve raced it enough times, I’m very familiar with it and I don’t think it’s much of a difference.”

Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the race that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including a broadcast of the finals on Sunday, April 30 at 5:30 p.m. (ET). It is the sixth of 24 events during the 2017 NHRA season, meaning Langdon is four races behind his Top Fuel counterparts. 

Again, though, Langdon welcomes the challenge. He will have to play catch up in a loaded class with the hopes of cracking the top 10 and earning a ninth straight berth in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, but that quest is what will make the next several months exciting.

“For me, I thrive off the pressure,” Langdon said. “That’s what I love, moments like that. It’s what you live for as a driver. It’s been a pretty good thrash trying to get everything ready to go and we’ve got some ground to make up, but I’m ready to get back in the mix of things. We’re (148 points out of 10th) but I’m not nervous about it. I know we have points to make up, but we’re going to prepare ourselves the best way possible. It wouldn’t surprise me to go right out and be successful.”

To do so at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, one of the most thrilling experiences in all of motorsports, would provide an impressive early-season boost. With four 10,000-horsepower dragsters rocketing down the dragstrip simultaneously, Langdon will be challenged by the likes of points leader Leah Pritchett, Tony Schumacher, back-to-back world champ Antron Brown, and defending race winner Force.

Joining a Kalitta Motorsports team that already includes standout Doug Kalitta and rookie Troy Coughlin Jr. will be beneficial in a number of ways for Langdon, a three-time winner in 2016. 

“The good thing about working with guys like Jim (Oberhofer), Rob Flynn, James (Riola) and Connie (Kalitta) is they’re very talented and have been doing this for years,” said Langdon, who won the fall race at zMAX Dragway in 2012. “It’s just a matter of making laps in the car. I’m very excited to work with everyone. It’s just a really tight-knit, close group.”

Mello Yello Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:15 and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, April 29, at 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 30.

Be a part of the action all weekend with a Three-Day Pass to the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals starting at $107.  Tickets for children 13 and under are free with any paid adult ticket; to purchase general admission or reserved seats please visit www.zMAXDragway.com or call the box office at (800) 455-FANS (3267).